On judges, taxes, abortion, health care, the federal budget, cabinet nominations, term limits - again and again he has not only been willing to make a deal, but has LED the charge to compromise with liberals. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that no matter what happens in the Presidential election, it is more important that we have a cohesive group of Senators, large enough to sustain a filibuster, and led by a true conservative, than a compromising Republican in the White House or leading Congress. Dole could have stopped that. We didn't have to have the biggest tax increase in history - but it's no surprise after Dole helped Bush do the exact same thing. It is ridiculous that the GOP has been unable to get its agenda through a Congress it controls.
History is clear.
When we have a consistent vision and fight for our beliefs, the American people rally and we win. Remember, all of those were accomplished in the face of the most concerted media opposition desperately fighting for their liberal agenda. When we have no vision, waffle and waver in our support for what we say we believe, and when we cut and run in the face of stiff opposition, we become a laughingstock, even contemptible, in the sight of the American people. In every case, the media smelled fear, the GOP ran like rabbits, and the Democrats piled on for the kill. Even the liberals respect Pat because they know he stands for something - even if they hate what he stands for.