Some things just never change.  Back in 1976, President Ford ran for president against Jimmy Carter on a pale-pastel platform that was indistinguishable from the Democrats.  In fact, based upon the demographics of the electoral map, many conservatives voted for Jimmy Carter.

During the wilderness years of the Ford administration, Reagan issued an ominous warning about the direction of the party.  “Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?”

Reagan resoundingly answered his question 4 years later when he became the 40^th president.  Yet, despite his successful 8 years in office, we have moved backwards instead of building upon his success.  Now we find ourselves on the cusp of abrogating every rationale that justifies the existence of the Republican Party.  Every elected GOP leader is prepared to offer the Democrats a permanent illegal immigrant voting majority without exacting steep concessions for such a drastic capitulation.  They are prepared to raise taxes without a parallel agreement to cut government and close down agencies.  They are prepared to throw social issues under the bus.  Oh wait, they have already done that.  Most importantly, they are prepared to wave the white flag on Obamacare – the worst program ever created.

At some point, we must begin to question the motivations of the current crop of GOP leaders.  What is the purpose of seeking power for power’s sake, if we have no intention of fighting back against the radical policies of the left?  How in the world are we going to change hearts and minds of swing voters (or even minority voters) by endorsing all of Obama’s policies, albeit with a sour face?

Yet, Boehner and his merry band of unprincipled career politicians are committed to banishing conservatives from their ranks.  As we noted earlier, over the past few years the #4 leadership position was typically reserved for the former RSC chairman.  However, Boehner and the boys moved heaven and earth to ensure that one of their acolytes beat out Tom Price for the position of Conference Chair.  It wouldn’t have taken much on their part to throw us that bone; they would have still had full control over the legislative agenda.  Unfortunately, we are at a place within the party that not only do we not control the supposedly-conservative party, we are not afforded a single seat at the table.  We saw the same thing last year in the Senate, when Ron Johnson, a man who serves as the bridge between conservatives and the establishment, was denied the #5 leadership post.  We are seeing the same thing with leadership attempting to take over the Republican Study Committee.

This malevolent treatment of conservatives cannot stand.  We will never restore our Constitutional Republic unless we first retake the Republican Party.  When it comes to bread and butter issues, Americans need a choice, not a faint echo from the Republican Party.

The amazing thing is that we are fully capable of commandeering the party.  While the pale-pastel crowd controls all the levers of power, conservatives control the grassroots.  When is the last time you found an activist who is resigned to Obamacare manning the phone banks?

Headed into 2014, there will be much focus on the Senate races and whether Republicans can take back control of the Senate.  While it is definitely vital to wrest control of the Senate from Harry Reid, especially for the purpose of blocking bad judges, it is important to remember that the pursuit of 218 conservatives in the House (or even less) is more important than trying to win 51 seats in the Senate.  The majority has full control over the House, and it is in that body where we will ultimately make our stand for liberty.  Moreover, due to redistricting and Democrat-support being limited to urban areas, we are in a good position to build a near-permanent majority in the House.  It’s time we use our conservative districts to elect conservative members.

Unlike high-profile Senate races, low-turnout House primaries during the midterm elections will provide us with an opportunity to overpower Boehner and grow our majority within the House Republican Conference.  If we channel all our energy, frustration, and fears into electing conservatives in House primaries in conservative parts of the country, we will eventually assume control over important committee and leadership positions within the House.

We must begin working towards that goal now.  A new cadre of conservative House members will dilute the echo chamber of big government statism on both sides of both houses of Congress.

Are you game?  If you are an aspiring candidate or conservative activist in a Republican-leaning district, please email me at [email protected] with any tips and insights on the 2014 landscape in your neck of this great Republic.

Cross-posted from The Madison Project