Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent streak.

I think the liberals are going to try to blame - and they already are - this entire mess on the right and on President [George W.] Bush. I think Republicans dropped the ball on actually articulating why we got into this economic mess, but it's not too late.

Can I give a little advice to the old man on Capitol Hill? Stop saying teabagger. Ask your younger staffers what it means.

We focused so much on saying, "Don't vote for them and here's why" and we didn't tell the American people "Vote for us and here's why."

Conservatives need to figure out a way to motivate by reason and persuade through emotion. Meaning that when they talk about our issues, it can't come from a selfish place - "Give me a tax cut. Where's my tax cut." We have to get back to that "shining city on the hill."

Republicans and conservatives have to figure out that Democrats have plenty of rope to hang themselves on their own. But you have to give voters a reason to vote for you as well.

Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent streak.