I remember a now deceased economics professor being asked if he was a liberal or conservative economist. He responded that there were good and bad economics, not liberal and conservative economics.

Many of us have long lost the use of the polar political descriptions. Most of us are “liberal” on some issues and “conservative” on others. The moral distinctions are shallow and meaningless.

All of us would like to alleviate poverty, war, injustice, and disease; the difference is determining which method will be best for the most. We know there is some combination of individual rights and incentives and government control and oversight, and the political debate is just a matter of a shift along some continuum.

The Libertarian minded Republicans and the Blue Dog Democrats are both economically “conservative”. The religious right threatens to drive many of their libertarian fiscal conservatives away and marginalize themselves permanently.

Obama may have been politically brilliant in putting Rush Limbaugh’s face on the Republican Party. In many polls Rush Limbaugh ranks less favorably than Jeremiah Wright. It doesn’t matter whether Rush is right or wrong. It is next to impossible to change a public perception and their perception of Rush is not good. Sarah Palin may have drawn a lot of support to the party, but she also drove some of it away.

To regain ground the Republicans need to put religion back in churches; and this includes abortion. By making this a litmus test issue the Republicans risk aligning the sectarian conservatives with the Blue Dog Democrats. There are many options to reduce abortions (which I support) besides government mandates.

Sectarian does not equate with atheism, but atheists are over 15% of the voters (probably more) and they also vote. Sectarian includes many non Christian faiths and many Christian faiths that prefer to keep their faith and politics separate.

The radical budget that Obama and the majority party is trying to force down our throat is the best opportunity the Republicans have for regaining power, but I wonder if they will squander it by diffusing their focus on issues of moral supremacy rather than practical action.

We are relying on the Blue Dog Democrats to bring some sanity to the budget because the Republicans currently do not have enough power to bring us back from the edge.

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