Case in point is conservative Professor Stephen Bainbridge who laments on "What might have been" for the conservative movement without Bush's optional invasion and occupation of Iraq:
"It's time for us conservatives to face facts. George W. Bush has pissed away the conservative moment by pursuing a war of choice via policies that border on the criminally incompetent. We control the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and (more-or-less) the judiciary for one of the few times in my nearly 5 decades, but what have we really accomplished? Is government smaller? Have we hacked away at the nanny state? Are the unborn any more protected? Have we really set the stage for a durable conservative majority?"
I used to think this way back in my political party days. If only the Republicans could have both Congress and the Presidency, they would eliminate the IRS. If only a couple of Libertarians could get elected to Congress, then the word would get out. And on and on and on. Such is the tragedy of placing hope in political office, precisely because there is little to no hope that it can offer.
For a more religious perspective on this issue, check out my post here.
