See that is reasoned and persuasive thought that I am open to listening too. I just don’t understand how someone who seems to have such high expectations as well as analytical capabilities as you, doesn’t see Trump for the conservative imposter he is. I don’t mean that as an insult to you so please don’t take it that way.
Trump doesn’t claim to be a conservative.
Cruz wasn’t a Tea party guy back when he was going to run for AG in Texas. Then Perry decided to stay on as Gov and he ran for Senate. Before that, he was the establishment prospect for AG, having worked for Bush at the FTC.
Trump isn’t the fake here. He has been in the public eye since Ted was living in Alberta as a child.
DC “conservatives” haven’t achieved much of anything since about 1986. If Trump can achieve, something (anything!) on illegal immigration and trade, it will be the first time in 30 years !
As for the rest, given the surrenders we have seen in DC the last few years, who cares what their “campaign” positions are. I’d rather have Trump being up front abut not being a down the line conservative, than “lie now, and surrender later”.