Conservatives need to decide on one candidate early.
Can you imagine that the GOPe wants major network Anchors to be questioners again instead of Levin, Rush, Laura and Sean?
Conservatives need to run their own debates with conservative hosts asking the questions.
There are 9 listed moderate to very conservatives listed above vs. 4 GOPe Tea Party hating Rinos. That means our vote is split better that 2-1, and assuming Christie drops out its 3-1.
We need a conservative caucus convention to select one person so we get more than 30% in every primary and can elect a conservative.
On Freerepublic Palin would lead, and Cruz would be next.
I like Walker, but he has no name recognition.
We must break the party rule of GOPe, this means we need to outsmart them. In a debate Cruz could do really well but only if there isn’t a dozen people on the stage making it impossible for Ted to beat the crap out of Mitt, Jeb and Huck.
I would like to see Sarah Palin ask the questions.
I agree with everything you say, and even suggested myself many times that we need a conservative convention to pick our candidate before the primaries. However, it’s too late for most of that in this election cycle. This should have been organized immediately after the 2014 election when we saw what a travesty that primary was.
Still, I think that things are looking good this time around, because Cruz is such a dynamic personality, he is solidifying support on his own. Palin is great, but I think there is only a snowball’s chance that she would run, and I doubt she could get the nomination if she did.
Most of the other conservatives have significant drawbacks, either political or ideological. Carson, for example, has no political experience, so he is a non-starter in a Presidential race. West only held a House seat, and he couldn’t hang on to that. Santorum, well, frankly he looks like a “nerd” and Americans don’t elect those types to the Presidency. Walker is pretty solid, but I don’t think many conservatives would pick him over Cruz, simply because Cruz seems more bold and outspoken.
This apparently has been a problem since the founding. My current reading list is now focused on "Madison and Jefferson", and I'm around 1792. They went thru this patriotic war, with patriots like Paine (ie, GOPtp)... yearning for freedom from George-III, fought, died... and then persevered thru Confederation squabbles, Shays rebellion... and then elected Congresscritters, begetting Senators and President and cabinet... only to be "sold out" to the monied interests of the Northeast (ie, like the GOPe) and guys like Hamilton.
I wish Ted Cruz jumps in and does so as early as possible since currently the RINOs are hogging the limelight and lining up the cash.
That is not necessarily a negative at this point.
Remember when Alan Keyes was arrested and handcuffs for trying to attend a debate.
Keyes out debated all comers.