What Barack Obama's Victory Means to Conservatives

Conservatives should be concerned about what the new president will bring to the table in terms of a liberal agenda, but the real worry isn't just president-elect Barack Obama's new administration; it's also what he and the new Congress will do to expand an already enormous, bloated government.

But while the campaign for president and its outcome stole the show during this election, there were other local issues around the nation that brought a mixed-bag of results for conservatives. As the transition between the Bush administration and the incoming Obama administration draws to a conclusion, Conservatives should be asking themselves the following questions:

• How will conservatives fare with a Democratic Congress in 2009?
• What will the White House be like with Obama -- and *gulp* -- Joe Biden in it?
• What will the fallout be from the passage of gay marriage bans in Arizona, California and Florida?
• How do conservatives rebound from 2008?

Now is the time for conservatives to refine their message and reassess their priorities. If they expect to regroup over the next four years, they'll need to strike a more inclusive tone that will appeal to young conservatives and right-leaning independents.