The Occasional Observer

The WaTimes columnist begins by asserting that Reagan was a radical-conservative, asking, in the spirit of Tom Paine, for the overthrow of liberal government, rather than for reform. He concludes we need a similarly audacious conservative in '08. One who presents a sharp contrast to liberals, and is equally impatient with GOP failings:

While bold, conservative answers to such worries would probably trump conventional liberal ones, if Republican candidates for president merely -- and complacently -- repeat 1980s-style conservative policy maxims, it's my guess an impatient citizenry will go with the more urgent-sounding Democratic Party call for change.

Americans are about to display their radical electoral impatience with failing government. If Reagan were running today, he would be the boldest candidate in the field of either party. But so far no Republican candidate has caught the radical temper of the times.

Is there not one Republican candidate today who is visibly impatient to, with conservative principles and values, "begin the world over again"? [my emphasis]

I wonder who he has in mind?