If you want to win, you can’t back down. Define your position and stick with it. If you are going to run for political office, you better have positions that you’ve thought about for years. Run on them. If you don’t win; so be it. Keep at it until you do. Grind down the opposition.

Don’t say stupid things. Think before you speak. Consider how the opposition might take something you say out of context.

But above all things, don’t ever back down. Don’t apologize for what you believe.

Looks what’s happening to the Boy Scouts. The organization is considering giving up elements of the Scouts’ oath as their leadership is asking, What is “duty to God”? What does it mean to be “morally straight”? World magazine reports:

“[T]he national BSA leadership announced a proposed change to its current policy of banning openly homosexual men and boys from participating in Scouting.”

If the BSA back down, it will mean the end of the organization.

I love the lyrics to Tom Petty’s song “I Won’t Back Down.” Although it’s not about politics (and he’s something of an Obama fan), it has a lot to say about, well, not backing down.

Well I won’t back down, no I won’t back down
You could stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won’t back down

Gonna stand my ground, won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won’t back down

Well I know what’s right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around
But I’ll stand my ground and I won’t back down

Who from the GOP will run in 2016 and has a chance to win? So far, the only guy who looks like he might generate buzz among conservatives is Ted Cruz. Consider this from the “Ragin’ Cajun” James Carville:

“I think he is the most talented and fearless Republican politician I’ve seen in the last 30 years. I further think that he’s going to run for president and he is going to create something. I’m not sitting here saying he’s going to win, and I think Senator DeMint is right. I’ve listened to excerpts of his speech in South Carolina. He touches every button, and this guy has no fear. He just keeps plowing ahead. And he is going to be something to watch.”

 Cruz is already being attacked by his fellow-Hispanics. That’s a good sign. They’re afraid of him. Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson had this to say:

“I’m not a fan. I know [Ted Cruz is] sort of the Republican latest flavor. He’s articulate. He seems to be charismatic, but I don’t like his politics. I think he introduces a measure of incivility in the political process. Insulting people is not the way to go. But I guess he’s a force in the Republican political system, but I’m not a fan. . . . I don’t think he should be defined as a Hispanic.”

 According to Richardson, Cruz is not an “authentic Hispanic” because he’s not a liberal Hispanic.

The same thing was said about Herman Cain’s “blackness” by poverty pimp Al Sharpton.

Cruz may be the guy because he is not liked by Establishment Republicans. Remember, it was McCain who called him a “whacko bird.”

We’ll know soon enough if Cruz refuses to back down when the GOP handlers take him aside and read the Republican playbook to him.