If you didn't catch David Brooks New York Times column on Friday, it's not dissimilar to many of his pieces over the past year or two.  You see, it's become quite fashionable for so-called Republican moderates, in the media and in office, to express their guilt.  Such expressions come in a variety of forms.  For Brooks, it typically manifests itself as an attack on some symbol or symbols of conservatism.  No doubt he feels a need to establish and affirm his "fair-minded" bona fides—to definitively demonstrate his enlightenment, and show that he's not one of the great unwashed.  In this instance, the method for accomplishing that objective is an assault on the three kings of right wing talk—Beck, Limbaugh, and Hannity (BL&H).

Those who read this blog regularly know that I am not a fan of extreme rhetoric—from the Left or the Right.  As such, I often take issue with BL&H.  Although I believe Brooks' analysis of their power is mischaracterized, the intent of this entry is not to refute his argument;  but rather to examine the phenomenon of conservative guilt.

A confluence of two factors is behind the trend.  First, the Democrats have unrelentingly and successfully labeled Republicans as incompatible with the interests of the middle class.  Second, and more important, the GOP has gone more than 20 years without a messenger who can simply and persuasively make the case for why its platform is a prescription for prosperity, regardless of economic class.

Over that 20 year period, a pundit class has emerged to fill the leadership/communication vacuum.  So, instead of the party, its positions, and values being delineated by a strong politician or group of politicians, they have been defined by the opposition, and a cadre of loud, but charismatic civilian ideologues.

Of course, this has had terrible consequences for the GOP.  It is, after all, never good to lose control of your brand.

In attempts to disassociate from unflattering portraits painted by partisan Democrats and bellicose right wing commentators, and ingratiate themselves to the Left, Republican politicians have veered catastrophically from their core principles and become something very unattractive to the electorate—big spending bureaucrats who still can't match the Dems when it comes to constituent group give aways.

After years of Bush 43 and an undisciplined GOP-controlled Congress, it should be abundantly clear to all Republicans that you simply cannot out-pander the Democrats.  And, following nearly a year of Obama, and several years of a Democrat-led legislative branch, it should be even clearer that those forgotten principles are, in fact, the right formula—for all.  Expanding old, and piling on new, government services is very empathetic—until the system collapses from its own weight because there's no longer enough productive capacity to create jobs.

Hence, message to Republicans:  get back to your roots; find and elect persuasive leaders.  Your task should actually be much easier than before.  Obama's been a gift.  Since you were apparently incapable of making the argument in the abstract, you can now make it based on readily available and comparable facts...or at least exceptionally convincing circumstantial evidence.

Don't feel guilty for not expanding government.  New/bigger entitlements today have calamitous consequences tomorrow.  There is no better way to express true compassion than through ensuring/improving our long-term economic viability and way of life.  Focus on leveling the playing field and creating a sustainable economic system on top of which all have an opportunity to succeed—and are encouraged to do so.

A safety net, in the end, is meant to catch you when you fall, not ensnare you when you attempt to break free.