Yes I realize that in using the phrase 'Red October' in the title I have eschewed using it with any historical meaning, both in the name of the submarine from the book.movie and October 1917, thus possibly equating the Bush Administration with Lenin and the Soviet Union, which obviously wasn't my intent, just the irony of the phrase Red October popping into my head, and referring to Red States.
The Iraq headline was on CNN for quite a while - I truly hope it works out. The Sunnis must be a part of the new Iraq in order for it to work. The sooner things become stable and function, the sooner we can bring our troops home. Good news in Iraq shouldn't be partisian - it is truly good news for all of us.
Just commenting on the the update. The other Ryan (and you, by extension) are right. The quote by Pence summarizes perfectly what I- and I assume many other conservatives, particularly young conservatives- are thinking. What is most important- being popular or being principled? It's rather disheartening. At least when Brian Mulroney disappointed western Conservatives in Canada by becoming a rehash of the Liberals, they had the option of breaking away and founding the Reform Party. We're stuck with only two parties, thanks to various campaign finance and election laws that make it damn near impossible to have third and fourth parties, and right now, those parties are increasingly looking like one another (well, if you look beyond the fringes of either).
As I am fond of saying, I am a conservative first and a Republican second. If the Constitution Party (or even the Libertarians) could win elections, maybe I wouldn't have registered with the GOP. Seems like we're stuck though. For better or for worse.
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