[Man50D]

especially the early enthusiasts for Rudy Giuliani, suggested that the social conservative leg of the stool is dispensable,

Conservatism by degrees is a bunch of baloney. A person can't be socially Conservative by opposing big government programs while being fiscally liberal by supporting spending to fund those programs. One is either a Conservative or not a Conservative. Duncan Hunter has consistently towed the Conservative line throughout his career while the other GOP candidates have held views on a number of issues contrary to Conservatism.

Thompson and Paul may have some of the package, but only Duncan Hunter is the complete package.

There is no package if you have only some of the parts. The GOP is fast becoming the party of one principle. The principle to win at all costs. That attitude will cost them the Conservative ideals the GOP once considered important.

[fetal heart beats by 21st day]

I saw an essay about this yesterday. I’ll try to find it.

It was about the GOP’s 3-legged stool: fiscal, national security, and social, and Dick Armey’s initiative one year ago, to attempt to push Giuliani, with the hope that the 2-legged stool could stand on its own.

Ha!

Look at the 2-legged stool’s collapse!