Conservatism wasn’t defeated in Tuesday’s election. Conservatism wasn’t on the ballot. McCain’s claim of “Maverick” status was aimed at the center. That strategy failed. Karl Rove won two elections by beginning with the base, then broadening from there. The 1994 mid-term elections brought Republicans power in a landslide by appealing to the base. Reagan won two elections by appealing to the base. McCain’s appeal to the middle was a loser. In planning for 2010 and 2012, don’t forget those lessons.

To prove this point, just look at exit polls from Tuesday. Twenty percent of those calling themselves Conservatives voted for Obama. WHAT?!? One in five Conservatives didn’t see enough difference between the “Maverick” and Obama to keep them from voting Democrat. In the 2004 election, more people called themselves Conservatives than Liberals (34 percent to 21). In 2008 Conservatives still outnumbered Liberals (34 to 22). Running to the center, trying to appeal to moderates and liberals, is a loser. A LOSER! Don’t allow it to happen again.

The outcry from the left and from the media will be for “unity.” Much pressure will be on the House and Senate to allow President Obama’s campaign promises through Congress on a fast track. Was there unity after the 2004 election? Was there unity in September and October during the economic downturn? No. Liberals don’t unite. They stand on their principles. They’re wrong, but at least they stand on their principles.

What are Conservative principles? Lower taxes and cuts in spending. A strong national defense. Smaller government. Free trade. Republicans have lost power in the last two elections because they haven’t stood on those principles. Will you learn the lessons of 2006 and 2008? We’ll see over the next few months.

President Obama, as the new leader of our nation, needs to be a successful President. We Conservatives wish him much success. But not at the expense of Conservative values and First Principles. We can wish him success, but oppose him when it comes to higher taxes, an environmentalist energy policy, left-wing judges, a United Nations-based foreign policy, cuts in defense spending, increased spending, open-borders immigration policy, government intervention in free trade business practices, etc.

Especially in the Senate, the power of the Republicans will be in voting against Cloture. The immigration debate lost in 2007 because of Republican cloture votes. Without cloture, those measures would have passed the Senate, then the House and have been signed by the President. When liberal measures come before you in the next Congress, use the power of Cloture. After a bad bill has passed Cloture, you Conservatives will be far outnumbered. A Democratic Senate will pass the bill to Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic House, then on to a Democratic President Obama. Your only power is in Cloture. Use it!

Three places Conservatives will be watching our Republican leadership in the next few months will be 1) Card Check Union organization, 2) Reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine, and 3) the Freedom of Choice Act.

We Conservatives demand that our Republican leadership get its act together to oppose Soviet-style union tactics such as card-check legislation. With this new tool in the unions’ playbook, more and more businesses (large and small) will have to deal with unions instead of directly with their employees. As business costs go higher and higher, more and more workers will lose their jobs and more and more companies will wash their hands of the whole mess and head overseas. Pay a U.S. union worker $29 per hour plus benefits, or a Mexican worker $4 per hour. It’s a no brainer. Oppose Card Check legislation.

President Obama will reintroduce the Fairness Doctrine to silence talk radio. Supporting this measure would be nothing short of suicidal for Conservatives. The Fairness Doctrine isn’t fair at all. It doesn’t seek balance in newspapers, nor print magazines, nor television. Only talk radio stations. Privately owned radio stations are open to free markets. If liberal talk radio was successful, it would sell. Advertisers would flock to it. Instead conservative talk radio is wildly popular. Advertisers do flock to it. The Fairness Doctrine is a direct attack on Free Speech. Even Democratic Senators such as Cardin and Van Hollen (both from Maryland) are suspicious of the Fairness Doctrine. Oppose it as if your (political) life depended on it. It does.

Finally, Conservatives are unanimous when it comes to abortion. President Obama is on record in saying that his “first act as President” would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act. This new legislation would overrule every state law that limits abortions, or access to abortion. As federal law no state would be able to limit abortion (including late-term or partial-birth abortions), and states wouldn’t be able to demand parental notification or stop minors being transported across state lines for abortions. President Obama has made his intentions clear. What are yours?

The party of Ronald Reagan is not dead. The Republican Revolution of 1994 was never defeated, it was surrendered. Conservatives stand for:

·        Fiscal responsibility: Lower taxes, cuts in spending, less entitlements and smaller government.

·        The strongest national defense in the world. Peace through strength.

·        Traditional values: Pro-life and the defense of traditional marriage.

·        Common-sense immigration policies: Secure and defend our borders, demagnetize America (cut business loopholes, benefits and entitlements for illegal aliens), and never offer amnesty for those who by their very presence in the country are lawbreakers.

·        Energy independence through national exploration, drilling, refining and new technology. 

Conservatives are tired of watching Republicans screw with a winning playbook. When real Conservatives are on the ballot, they win. When moderates and centrist RINOs run, they might win, but they seldom keep their power. Do we want to gain seats in 2010? Do we want a chance against an Obama re-election campaign in 2012? We’ll see over the next few months. We want to see your strength. We want to hear your voice. We’ll be watching your votes!