[so_real]

...and if Obama wins???

And, if Obama wins, or Tom Hoefling wins, or Virgil Goode wins a clear message is sent to the GOPe that conservatism (ie. Scott Walker) wins elections and not republicanism (ie. Mitt Romney). The republican brand is not damaged by Romney leadership. Conservatism is not redefined. And, as such, other conservative candidates on the congressional ballot in 2014 won't lose their opportunity through association. We will retain the House and gain the Senate. And, in all likely-hood, we will gain a majority sufficient to not only gridlock Obama's efforts in 2014, but also to push our own. Obama remains in the hot seat with regard to his history and actions and the window to impeach or arrest him remains open. He will either walk back his pre-2012 promises to the liberal extremists, and thereby damage the democrat brand, or he will fight to push them forward regardless and lose the independents in 2016. Either way, in 2016, the republicans will have a second shot at electing a truly conservative president.

If we elect Romney in 2012, we sacrifice the republican brand and lose both houses in 2014/2016. Hopefully Romney too will go in 2016. But whether he stays or goes, we will have one helluva fight for POTUS in 2020 with the very real probability of defeat as the GOPe will have learned nothing from Romney's "success". After all, they got what they wanted. If he we elect *anyone* else, we continue to make gains in 2014, unify our players toward a common goal and in defence of a common opponent, get a second chance in 2016 of electing a truly conservative president, and perhaps enjoy that president's second term in 2020.

It's not a "great conspiracy" theory. It's just an observation from an analytical mind as to what I would do if I pitched for the other team. As it happens, history will either show I was right or wrong. But as the signs continue to point to Obama throwing the election, I hope people wake up to what is truly at stake here and not just what they are being fed on TV.

[GilesB]

OK, I understand the concern about damaging the brand - but I will hold, and did hold, Republicans in congress as responsible for brand damage as Bush. They have to have some backbone, nobody ever promised them an easy stroll in the park - if they didn’t realize that this is war, then too bad for them.

We have the Tea Party now, and these folks understand the difference between the man and the brand, and they should lend some spine to congress, if not to the presidency.

If Obama wins, and that is the only realistic alternative to Romney, I’m afraid 2014 and 2016 elections are just fantasies, and worrying about damage to the brand would be much like watering the lawn while the house is burning down.

One of the problems the GOP has is her eagerness to scuttle flawed leaders (and which aren’t?) if the press latches onto a foible. Know why idiots like Pelosi and Reid and Biden and Debbie W-S still have power? Because even when they say or do something completely moronic (which is often) or corrupt (which is almost as often) the party unifies behind them and props them up until they get their feet back under themselves.

Not so the GOP, with the smallest misstep, leading lights of the party are ready to dump all over someone who has heretofor performed heroic feats of political bravery and gamesmanship. While on the one hand, I don’t think the party should turn a blind eye to wrong action (Denny Hastert’s featherbedding, for instance), I think they are far to eager to destroy their own - the way they did Newt, for example.

I, too, am looking for the perfect leader, but He won’t come by the ballot box. Until that time, I will vote first to save my country from the likes of Obama (the party be damneed - I put my country ahead of any party), and second to promote the conservative philosophy of liberty, personal responsibility and small government - but I’d rather be doing that promotion in a country I recognize than in one where I will be squashed for even thinking such thoughts.