From John Podhoretz in "The Republican crisis > Party of ‘eat your veggies'"

If you want to know why Republicans and conservatives are in a political crisis, you need only consider the fact that the Right’s deeply held view now boils down to this: Taxes should not go up on the wealthy, and your health benefits should be cut.

Political folk talk a lot these days about “messaging” — a neologism designed to describe the way in which parties and politicians consciously characterize their efforts. It is only intended to be positive — i.e., “our messaging is designed to show we care.”

But what if there is very little way to convey a positive message with the policies you are advocating? What if your message is this: If we don’t do unpopular things, we are all going to die —

What of your “messaging” then?

The conservative movement and the GOP had better figure this out, and soon, because they are right on policy and horribly wrong on the politics.

And the politics are going to win out every time until the country is on the gallows and realizes its error.