"Most folks here demand that we purge the impure"Disagree. While it is true that *some* folks here demand a purer conservative candidate, *most* folks here simply want a candidate to give them a reason to vote for them.
Merely claiming to be a republican isn't sufficient. Similarly, taking the stance that I *owe* a candidate my vote is insulting. Votes are earned and quite frankly, the GOPe hasn't earned a single vote in quite awhile.
Earn my vote. Give me a reason to vote for you. I can be reasonable. I *want* to be reasonable. Right now, conservative candidates are working damned hard to earn votes. They are articulating problems and solutions and why it is in our nation's best interest to vote for them.
And similar to your point, what are the GOPe candidates doing, other than threatening, "Vote for me or the Dem wins!"
And yes, sometimes compromising in the legislative process is understandable in the overall furtherance of conservative goals. However, chronic capitulation to, or flat out agreement with, the liberal agenda towards the nation's detriment is confounding and not at all worthy of my support, much less my vote.
So apologies, but you may want to consider that you may be as tone-deaf as the GOPe. For me, it's not a matter of conservative purity with the GOPe - I've yet to see any candidate (including Reagan) who would pass a 100% conservative purity test. It's a desire for a given candidate to differentiate themselves in a way that prompts me to cast my vote for them. For now, the conservative candidates are *easily* earning my vote. The GOPe apparently can't be bothered to try.
Most was probably the wrong word. Most vocal would have been a more accurate term.
Since I only trust politicians about as far as I can throw them and few have missed any meals, I don’t put them through a popularity contest to earn my vote. I believe that the exercise of political power will cause them to change their behavior regardless of what they think. They are all opportunist little worms and will wake up one morning with a certain devotion to the conservative cause when we make them do so.
They read tea leaves. They pay people to read tea leaves for them. They consult psychics, toss chicken bones, and every once in while they even go back to their districts. When they see conservatives winning, when they see liberals losing, when they see voters express disapproval, they modify their behavior. Voting for Democrats or staying at home has the opposite effect, so I don’t do it.
The “pure” candidates are the ones being purged by the GOPe