I’d say loud public discussion and openly planning for a congressional backlash race in 2010 by conservatives at all level is our best strategy. Before I’d seen it from the standpoint of discouraging him from going to war with the American center. But I now also realize he can afford to do so better if his base is less inclined to fight him–if the political cost of going up against the American center appears significantly greater and the prospect of crossing his base is reduced. The prospect of losing congress might make the base less inclined to start that battle.

Also an openly planned backlash campaign in 2010 may help channel public resentment and possible fear into constructive political action. Neither the nation nor the GOP need the kind of destructive paranoia that plagued the first 2 years of the Clinton administration.