[Sabertooth]

Then you have no claim on the GOP whatsoever, and no claim to being part of the "base." A wise GOP strategist would simply discount your vote at the outset, because you are unreliable.

Assuming someone is not considered part of the base, do you really believe the rest of this above?

By the political strategist's calculus, Bush has been extremely stupid, giving conservatives much of what they want even after they backstabbed him in 2000. Time will tell if the "My way or f***ing else" conservatives respond positively to Bush's outreach--or if they will remain true to form.

What percentage of conservatives "backstabbed" Bush in 2000?

What were the gross numbers of conservatives voted for Bush, and didn't?

[Poohbah]

What percentage of conservatives "backstabbed" Bush in 2000?

4,000,000 no-show conservatives relative to 1996--newsflash kids, BOB DOLE got more conservative votes than Bush ever did--translates to about a 4% shift in the popular vote, and about 9-10% of the total conservative vote.

When I was a Marine, we always spoke of "The 10% who screw up a good deal for everybody else."

Bush managed to win in spite of our 10%. Now, the 10% want to give Boxer a third term--and screw it up for everybody else.