[Mr. Silverback]

Though Rudy is definitely the best bet among the Rudy McRomney set (and McCain is totally unfit) we conservatives are suckers if we decide to back a guy who doesn't fit our values 20 months out from the election. I can think of a couple of times when somebody that didn't have good name recognition even among wonks became the nominee of their party. Where, for instance, was Bill Clinton polling in November of 1992?

If Rudy's the nominee I won't sulk and throw my vote away on a third party, but anybody who is backing "the guy who's sure to win" this early is a media stooge.

[Argus]

It would be great if a more conservative candidate were to arise in the next six months or so, but where is this ideal candidate supposed to come from? I think the reality is that our choice is going to be one of the three front runners already up there.

I haven't voted whole-heartedly for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan. But, given the alternative, I happily pulled the lever for GWH Bush in 88 and 92, Bob Dole (who was at least as liberal then as Giuliani is now) in 96, and GW Bush in 00 and 04. National elections are rarely a pure choice - usually the lesser of two evils. That's just the way it is in America at this moment.