Is Dean Goldwater, Reagan, or Gingrich?

Few past party chairs have had as much potential to change the country as Dean. I thought I'd add a historical perspective.

In 1964, Republicans were at a crossroads. With the exception of Eisenhower, they had been in the political wilderness since FDR's second term.

Even then, many elected Republicans didn't really reflect the ideology of disaffected groups: Christians, strong anti-Communists, and racists angry with Lyndon Johnson.

Republicans gambled on nominating Barry Goldwater---who presented himself as far more conservative than he actually was. They lost---and BADLY----but Goldwater's loss allowed Republicans to move right-ward.

In 1980, Reagan used his charisma to hide his ultra-conservative views. People thought of him as a kindly grandfather, who used phrases like:

"Government is not the solution to our problems, Government is the problem."

The seeds sown by Goldwater (and Nixon) allowed Reagan to race-bait, anti-communist, and he essentially formed the Christian/Republican alliance. He won two strong terms, changing the face of American government.

And lastly, in 95, Newt Gingrich helped recapture the House for the first time in decades, by presenting a "Contract with America." His ideas built on simple Republican ideas as old as Goldwater, Nixon, and Reagan. He emphasized winnable issues and capitalized on Clinton's weakness.

Are we completely in the wilderness (1964)?
Are we on the verge of using our progressive ideas for victory (1980 and 95)?

What can we learn from Goldwater, Reagan, and Gingrich----and use to recapture Congress, the White House, and beyond?