'What Conservative Movement?'

Verbatim post from Riehl World View:

Gary Bauer aside, Bush 43 was correct, there's more than enough evidence to conclude there is no genuine Conservative Movement in America today; mostly, it's a term of art to define a fairly lucrative industry. Had there been, there would have been no need for the Tea Party to rise up; there would be at least one, if not more top notch conservatives running for President this year and the self-professed leaders of said movement would be leading something, as opposed to running book clubs, now fatted institutions and selling speeches to anyone interested in hearing them discuss Republican politics and some ideals they, in large part, don't even fight for when it comes down to it.“What is this movement you keep talking about in the speech?” the president asked Latimer. Latimer explained that he meant the conservative movement — the movement that gave rise to groups like CPAC. Bush seemed perplexed. Latimer elaborated a bit more. Then Bush leaned forward, with a point to make. “Let me tell you something,” the president said. “I whupped Gary Bauer’s ass in 2000. So take out all this movement stuff. There is no movement.”h/t Erick Erickson for this in Time. My operating assumption for years has been that, for the most part, would be conservatives who rode Reagan's coat-tails to Washington have long been corrupted, at least in their thinking, as they've institutionalized themselves across so many foundations and think tanks now beholden to the same major funding mechanism that funds Republican politics. At this point, it's impossible to separate one from the other, though they'll continue to tell you they aren't one and the same. That's ridiculous. When an organization like the Heritage Foundation comes up with the underpinnings of Romneycare and now Obamacare, whether they've since backtracked, or not, what else is it that you really need to know?What Is a Conservative? Mitt Romney’s advance toward the Republican presidential nomination has provoked a lively conversation about what it means to be a conservative in America today. TIME asked a number of right-leaning thinkers to answer one of three questions to help define both their ideology and their challenges for the future.In fact, among those who chose to answer the question: Is there a crisis in the conservative movement? Reason's Nick Gillespie is by far the most honest and accurate, while making the most sense.At least since the election of St. Ronald Reagan, self-styled conservatives have repeatedly revealed themselves to be the biggest frauds or most delusional suckers in American politics. Conservatives ostensibly believe in limited government and individuals who are smart and moral enough to use voluntary associations and free markets to meet the needs of all God’s children. But under Reagan and, more recently, George W. Bush and a Republican Congress that spent like LBJ on a bourbon-fueled bender, they cheered an immense increase not just in federal outlays and borrowing but also in centralization of power in Washington.Before telling us that Mitt Romney is testament to the great success of Reaganite conservatism today - with a straight face, I hope - National Republicans Online editor Rich Lowry tells us there is no crisis in the movement today. Of course not, because there is no genuine movement and the only crisis that might gain Lowry's attention would be if NRO's donations took a nose dive. Does anyone believe Lowry is leading anything today that does anything but give Republicans a more right-leaning alternative to what progressive Democrats are trying to do at any point in time, as both parties ultimately combine to grow government and infringe upon the individual liberty of Americans? If Lowry leads anything, it's a shell game wrapped within a marketing scam based upon a brand he's all but destroyed.This isn’t a crisis; it’s a primary. A dispiriting one, to be sure, but it shouldn’t obscure the significant strengths of contemporary conservatism.Not that it matters a great deal, but I'm not ready to speculate on where things go from here for conservatives and to do so would make this post too long to be worth reading. It's something I want to think about and I would encourage other conservatives to think on it, too. But if the 2012 primary tells us anything, it is that, effectively, there is no genuine organized grassroots conservative movement in America today and the vast majority of those in Washington portrayed as leaders of some imagined conservative movement are little more than Republican Party toadies, more protective of and concerned with their place at the trough in Washington, than they are about advancing anything like genuine conservative ideas and ideals.

I agree with the all of the above except on one point,the conservative movement is alive and well with Ron Paul.Stop the whining,get back in the game,stop supporting frauds like Gingrich and Santorum,and vote for Ron Paul and give him as many delegates we can so he can lead a fight on the convention floor or just maybe a walk-out and let these frauds and hucksters have their precious GOP.