There is much writing about the need to adapt, and to accommodate ourselves to the fads of the age. It has always been thus; sensible conservatives, we are told, know that last ditches are smelly places because they contain rotting corpses. By instinct I am a last-ditcher; by instinct I am not a sensible conservative.

It is unChristian to despise anyone, but I despise ‘sensible conservatives’. They are Quislings, Petainists; I am a Gaullist of 1940 vintage. St. Athanasius made himself unpopular with the ecclesiastical sensible conservative by holding out for Nicaea when the voices of caution counselled accommodation. It is no accident that much of the recent scholarship on Athanasius adopts a tone critical of his refusal to compromise. Our age cannot stand a man of principle who stands and fights and thinks he can do no other.

Before he was shot in 1946, the French traitor, Pierre Laval, asked who but a fool could have believed Britain would fight on and win in 1940; Churchill was that fool. When I was a young academic, contemporaries used to tell me that only fools believed that the Soviet Union could be defeated; Reagan and Thatcher were those fools. It is always easier to take the broad road – and we know where it leads.

The British Conservative Party took on board the lesson of ‘sensible Conservatism’ after 2005. Its reward was to take office in coalition with the Liberal Democrats (a misnomer, as they are neither liberal nor democratic). It current leader panders to liberal fads. None of this helps Conservatism.

Conservatism is founded on the deepest insight Christianity gives us into ourselves. We are fallen beings. We have power to do good, but give us the chance and we will do evil. Liberty will always go to license, if allowed. Freedom will always become tyranny, if allowed. The less Government does, the better, but it needs to do certain things: it needs to secure defence; it needs to secure law and order; it needs to ensure that those unable to take care of themselves do not starve; it needs to raise the taxes necessary to do these things. When it goes beyond these areas it risks eroding our ability to do good, as well as evil.

I am not a democrat. I dislike democracy intensely. I dislike the need to pander to the ignorance of the electorate almost as much as I dislike the base instincts of the electorate which really wants bread and circuses and would vote for anyone who bribed it with enough of someone else’s money. I am with Churchill in thinking it the worst form of government – except for all the others.

No foreigner, however well-meaning, should offer advice to the Great American Republic. But really, was Romney the best the conservative cause could offer? Obama is the quintessence of the modern democratic politician; like Clinton he can feel your pain whilst actually being its source; and he can make you feel better by telling you fairy stories. Peter’s money will never be safe in his presence, and as long as Pauls outnumber Peter, he’s safe.

Jessica loves the film ‘True Grit’ – well, from somewhere the Republicans are going to need to find a man of True Grit. They say ‘cometh the hour, cometh the man’ – well, you’re late. So I have provided a picture of a great conservative instead.