Republican Economist Bruce Bartlett

[ItsjustMe]

[Caliman73]

1. That is half the answer.

The other half, if he was self aware is:

Unfortunately, that is the nature of Conservatism as a whole. Conservatism serves only the very few, very wealthy people, so we tend to have to rely on populism and "culture war" issues to have any appeal outside that tiny, wealthy base. It creates a cycle, in which we become more and more extreme, courting the worst elements in society for the purpose of electoral expediency. That typically ends in ignominious defeat, and we have to start over again. I suppose we should really take a look into whether it is a good idea to allow people wo accumulate so much wealth that they can subvert the will of the majority, but we aren't going to because the wealthy people who keep conservatism alive in the culture, will not allow it.

[uponit7771]

3. +1, "...Conservatism serves only the very few..."

[IHaveNoName]

2. In fairness, Bruce can't be labelled a Republican any more.

He considers himself an Independent, fiscal conservative and socially liberal. He got fed up with the GOP right around the start of the W. administration.

(Full disclosure: I'm friends with his wife.)