One of the disadvantages of a two party system is that the path to power requires that you forge alliances with people who do not share every element of your political philosophy. Democrats hate each other, but manage to band together to win political power.
Most folks here demand that we purge the impure and that through some miracle, our 30% block of true conservatives go out there and win national elections. I don’t see that happening.
"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.