In recent days it has been reported in several spheres that Republicans have all but conceded defeat in the 2008 Presidential and Congressional elections.  Among the sources of such rumors are Neal Boortz and Rush Limbaugh; far from Gospel, but clearly not moonbats.  An honest evaluation of recent events tends to lend credence to the defeatist rumor.  Senators Voinavich, Hagel, Lugar, and Domenici have all voiced opposition to the war effort in Iraq.  The defecting Senators appear to be flailing for political cover, and show not the slightest courage of any conviction.  In truth, they all deserve to be soundly defeated.  Hopefully in  a primary, but most likely by a quasi - socialist Democrat.

The Democrat strategy for the 2008 election has crystalized.  They promise peace through defeat, Environmental Purity through Government oppression, and free HealthCare through class warfare.  The Republican strategy has not yet crystalized - but appears to be something like; "duh, dat won't work."

Such is the result of electing those who posess political skill, and lack any conviction to conservative principles.  These poloticians are quite willing to expouse conservitive talking points as long as the polls are in agreement; but the moment popular opinion changes - so does the position.

It is time that the basic principles of conservatism be restated and clearly articulated in the party Platform, and campaign themes.  The underlying priciple of conservatism is the concept of the "Sovereign Individual."  It is from this concept that the constitutional endowment of unalienable rights comes.  It is the belief that it is the individual that is sovereign, and that the State is the recipient of sovereign authority assigned by the individual to promote the common good.

From the concept of the sovereign individual flow many of the aspects of free capitalist societies.  The right to own private property, the right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure, the right to bear arms, the right of free speech,  and the right of free passage are all examples of rights which come from the concept of the sovereign individual.  It is the concept of the soveriegn individual, that is, the empowered individual; combined with the belief that a strong national defense is needed to safeguard the empowered individual, that comprise the underlying principles of conservatism.

The empowered individual in a free capitalist society can be definitively shown to have advanced human standards of living far in excess of any other social/economic/political system in history.  This novel approach has enabled the free societies of the Western World to achieve accomplishments beyond even the imagination of those only a few generations ago.  Yet, almost inexplicably, societies have gravitated toward lessening the power of the individual, while increasing the power of the State.  History teaches us that Government that is vested with absolute authority will eventually turn on it's population and become oppresive and totalitarian.

The limitation of Government power and the corresponding empowerment of the individual are the basic concepts of conservatism and the best method of preventing totalitarian oppression. 

It should now become a common portion of Conservative campaign rehtoric, that conservatives support and promote the sovereignty of the individual.  All campaign issues, and platform positions should be discussed in terms of how they support the individual as the sovereign and how they limit the governments ability to be authoritarian and eventually totalitarian.  The Democrats are moving sharply towards expanding government authority and power.  In essence, they are promoting moving us one step closer to totalitarian oppression. 

During this upcoming election cycle, we will often here those who contend, "There's no difference between Democrats and Republicans!"  We must be quick to point out that there is a vast and crucial difference.  Democrats clearly believe that Sovereignty is vested in the State, and apportioned to the people as the State sees fit.  This is found over and over again as Democrats strive to equalize outcome in health, wealth, and education.  Conversely, Conservatives believe that Sovereingty is vested in each and every individual, and that it is apportioned to the State only with the consent of the individual.  Accordingly, Conservatives recognize that such a system often distributes health, wealth, and education on unequal terms - we believe such to be fair and in aggregate, far better for all parties.

Remember - poor people in most of the world battle starvation, poor people in America battle obesity.