Take heart, GOPers

In contrast to what he says, there isn't much that President Barack Obama is doing that makes many of us confident about the future.

But watching much of the Conservative Political Action Conference, and seeing some Republican governors and minority leaders in Congress at work, does. There's Bobby Jindal. Sarah Palin. Mark Sanford. Haley Barbour. Mike Pence. Eric Cantor. Newt Gingrich. Even Mitt Romney — who has been more impressive each time I've seen him, lately.

A review of the list does give me a good deal of confidence that the Republican Party does have quality leaders, and there are men and women there who are capable of advancing. Any of those named seem viable as potential future presidents. But my optimism does not come from any one of these names, or even from the collection of them together.

It comes from something much grander than personalities, even those in this group.

It comes from principle. Again, for the first time in years, Republicans are standing — together — for something. They're standing — together — for the things we elected them to fight for.

Few Americans agree with Obama's view of how the world works, and his view of government's role in life. He was elected because his personality was more likable than the caricature that the Bush Administration became in the last few years.

Americans don't like the idea of trillion-dollar deficits. None of us would take on a trillion dollars worth of debt — not when we were $10 trillion in the hole to begin with — and we don't think the government should do so, either.

Americans don't make friends with unrepentant terrorists like Bill Ayers, or with lunatics masquerading as a preacher like Jeremiah Wright. Americans don't think their taxes ought to go up. Americans prefer the government to leave them alone, rather than centrally planning every detail of every life.

Americans voted for Barack Obama — who disagrees with them on most issues — because the alternative was a Republican. And for the last eight years, Republicans had lost their way. There wasn't a whole lot of conservatism in the spending deficits, socialized prescription drugs or nationalizing the banking industry. There was a good deal of conservatism in Congressional Republicans' standing steadfast against the asinine "stimulus" bill the Democrats are shoving up our asses — and in those few governors' who have said they'll reject some of the money anyway.

These folks, and others of like mind, are fighting for principles far greater than themselves. They're doing what Republicans were elected for: to prevent government expansion. Because a government strong enough to give you anything is powerful enough to take it away.

They're standing for something. They're standing, together, for something important.

Seeing it makes me very confident for the future.