Rush was just on Mark’s show, talking about McCain and the Dole letter (which isn’t exactly a “scold”). I can’t do him justice (but that’s what the Levin show archives are for), but one guiding principle he leaves conservatives who want to win the Right way with: Bringing liberals/moderates into the Republican party is a great thing, but only if you convert them. Instead (my words, not his), with McCain as your standard-bearer, you’re compromising on some issues from the offset.

In short? Ideas and principles, people!

From Rush’s own show earlier:

I have a couple quotes here from Ronaldus Magnus, first one is from 1975. Some of you might want to needlepoint these on your pillows. “I don’t know about you,” said Reagan in 1975, “but I’m impatient with those Republicans who, after the last election, rushed into print saying we must broaden the base of our party, when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.”
I would suggest to you that that’s exactly what’s happening now. Republicans want to fuzz up and blur the differences between ourselves and the liberal Democrats. Second Reagan quote, 1976: “Don’t give up your ideals, don’t compromise, don’t turn to expediency — and don’t, for heaven’s sake, having seen the inner workings of the watch — don’t get cynical.”

On Hannity’s radio show earlier, Mitt Romney, meanwhile, was talking about the importance of protecting marriage, as well as sounding credible on the war and economics. By contrast, the Arizona senator, by his own admission, isn’t into social issues (he’s being honest, and you have a choice….). McCain has said that economics is not his thing, and what he does say can sound to the left of Obama — who today I heard declare his love for capitalism during an appearance in New Jersey.

There’s a choice here for conservatives based on where the candidates are today.

(Note: I hear Andy McCarthy will be on Mark’s show at 7:15.)