[LeoMcNeil]

That’s why we lose elections, only our guy is a conservative and the rest are heretics to the cause and unworthy of even the slightest consideration.

[ek_hornbeck]

That’s why we lose elections, only our guy is a conservative and the rest are heretics to the cause and unworthy of even the slightest consideration

You have to draw the line somewhere, whether it's over a single issue or the big picture. Otherwise you take this line of argument to the point that candidates like Jeb Bush become "acceptable."

[jjsheridan5]

That’s why we lose elections, only our guy is a conservative and the rest are heretics to the cause and unworthy of even the slightest consideration.

The debate over who is a conservative, is generally a healthy one. And you are right, that some go too far. But what you don't recognize is that both sides will, occasionally, go too far, including your side. The "no-RINO" side goes too far when they don't allow candidates to change their positions over time. Obviously, a great deal of skepticism needs to be applied to such changes, but it goes too far when such changes are rendered impossible. But your side goes too far (not necessarily you), when they view holding candidates up against mainstream conservatism as "purity tests", or make references to ideas like "then Reagan wasn't a conservative", (stated derisively) "only your guy is conservative", or "no candidate is perfect."

Don't worry: the mainstream conservatives will accept either Cruz or Walker, even though a miniscule number of voters (the type that comment on forums), may scream "RINO". And, no, the people who held those candidates up against the ideal were not conducting a purity test, but were a necessary part of separating the good candidates from the bad.

[celmak]

That’s why we lose elections

The headline states Too Many Conservatives Running In 2016 Primary; Who else has declared they are running yet? Get it now?