Young Republicans and closet conservatives, things are looking good again. We’ve taken a beating over the past few months — over the past few years, really — and good fortunes appear to be on our side once more.

It started with the breakdown of the Bush Administration at the hands of the financial crisis, which propelled a young, inexperienced Senator from Illinois to the White House and sparked a nationwide backlash against the Republicans in office and conservative values as a whole. People from all corners, backed by the liberal establishment in the media, slammed the Republican Party for every single thing — we were elitists, racists, homophobes, and misogynists all at once and the momentum was just not on our side. The truth was distorted and we couldn’t do anything about it. The ineffectiveness of Mitt Romney surely didn’t help. And Todd Akin, 47%, and calls for self-deportation only added to the widening sea of obstacles in front of us.

Heck, in November 2012, everyone seemed to embrace the liberal punditry and pronouncements of the Grand Old Party’s miserable demise were tossed around like an old football. We just couldn’t keep pace with the changing of the demographic guard, and liberals certainly weren’t shy about sharing their excitement. As minorities grew in number, so too would the Democratic sphere of influence.

Dirt was being heaped on top of our “coffin.” And, boy, was the scrutiny unrelenting.

But, fast forward to July 2013, and the political landscape doesn’t quite look the same. Things have changed. The president’s approval rating is slowly deteriorating, as voters are finally growing tired of the inactivity on his part and the speeches being put on perpetual repeat — enthusiasm turned to doubt, and the next step is utter distaste. President Obama’s time is up, and he’s out of ideas. The same regurgitated speeches don’t work anymore, after years of disappointment. His most significant piece of legislation — that bloody Obamacare — is coming apart at the seams, with more and more Americans turning their backs on this version of socialized medicine (specifically, what it means for their wallets). Even some partisan Democrats are voicing concerns about its messy implementation and myriad of hidden costs. Not to mention, the clouds of scandal haven’t yet cleared. They’ve only fueled further distrust of Big Government.

Furthermore, the Senate will be up for grabs in 2014 (with many describing the fight as a virtual toss-up), and Republicans seem poised to reclaim the prize from their rivals. On top of that, the House will be theirs for a little while longer now and its possession can best be described as secure for the time being. Thanks to clever redistricting, the majority will stay in place. Republican control of both chambers is within reach, and that sobering reality would haunt the Obama Administration until the end of 2016.

After a sunny few years, the Democrats are faltering. These “new” tax-and-spend policies aren’t what they were made out to be. Their president has never been more unpopular, and his vision doesn’t carry the same energy as in 2009 — Detroit is straight bankrupt, and President Obama still claims to have “saved the auto industry.” It’s laughable, really. Meanwhile, Republican governors are turning their states around, creating both stable jobs and branding a positive image for the party as a whole. The likes of Chris Christie and Rick Perry, among others, are proving that conservatism still works in this country — despite what Chris Matthews may tell you — and the former is well on his way to bigger and better things.

A “Christie Administration” doesn’t sound too shabby. And polls are indicating that it’s not unlikely.

So, my fellow Republicans (and you closet conservatives out there), this isn’t the time for despair, self-doubt, and soul-searching. That should have been done eight, nine, ten months ago. Bless his soul, but Mitt Romney isn’t walking through that door anymore. We have survived the worst of it, and emerged stronger because of it.

Now, it’s time to look ahead to 2014 and 2016. Those could be huge years for the party, if we do the right things. Let’s keep the momentum on our side now.

And, still over three years away, “Christie Administration” has a certain ring to it. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.