Remember 9 with 90? (Nine popular policy ideas that would unite 90 percent of conservatives?)

David Brooks writes on the mood of voters today:

Their homes are bigger. They own more cars. They feel more affluent. In a segmented nation, they have built lifestyle niches for themselves where they feel optimistic and fulfilled.

But they also feel that their neighborhood happiness is threatened by global problems that are beyond their power to control: terrorism, rising health care costs, looming public debt, illegal immigration, global warming and the rise of China and India. They regard these looming problems the way people used to think about crime — as alien intrusions into their private tranquility. And government seems to be doing nothing about them.

These voters don’t believe government can lift their standard of living or lead a moral revival. They want a federal government that will focus on a few macro threats — terrorism, health care costs, energy, entitlement debt and immigration — and stay out of the intimate realms of life. They want a night watchman government that patrols the neighborhood without entering their homes.

Republicans ought to be able to do this. The issue environment for Republicans isn’t great, but it’s not the same strong wind at Democrats’ backs that they had in 2006. (If it were, Hillary would be getting more than 48 percent against Ron Paul.)

Oh, one other thing - is it just me, or is the 2008 Republican primary race full of factions insisting, “If I don’t get a candidate who agrees with my entire agenda, I’m taking my ball and going home”? I partially agree with Patrick that I hope the GOP is big enough for men as different as Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee. (He wants one of them as the running mate of his employer, John McCain.)

Folks, you don’t always get a nominee that matches up perfectly with your issue matrix. In fact, most of the time you don’t. You find the guy who agrees with your top priorities and support him. You volunteer, you talk him up, you write checks if you’re inclined. You wear your buttons and caps, and you vote for him on primary day. We’ve got a fair vote. Do your best, then honor the results. Suck it up, people. Whining gets you nowhere.