Republicans decide their ideas aren't the problem

The Wall Street Journal reports that most Republican leaders are concluding that they lost the election not because of the positions they took but rather because of how they sold those positions:

Two weeks after their presidential election defeat, Republican Party leaders are falling into roughly two camps as they struggle to explain what happened and devise ways to broaden the party's base.

Some top GOP officials worry their message is wrong for a rapidly diversifying population, and that fundamental shifts in policy may be required. But the more dominant voice, and the one gaining currency within the center of the party, says such drama isn't necessary.

In their world, President Obama only won because Mitt Romney sucked as a campaigner. If Republicans had just nominated someone who was a better salesman, everything would have been fine for the GOP. As Governor Ultrasound put it:

"It is critically important we remain true to who we are," Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said in an interview here at the meeting of the Republican Governors Association. "We have to figure out how to make our principles more attractive to emerging voters. But if we abdicate those, we become a very different entity."

So apparently they think that if they offer up the same crappy old song with a new singer, everything will be better the next time around. That's pretty much a perfect definition of denial'and it's music to Democratic ears.