[rockrr]

Hildy is right.

"Conservatives" who stayed home last time gave us an unwitting (and dimwitted) preview of the likely outcome of '08. Because too many weren't unwilling to compromise with an unpalatable set of choices, the balance of power shifted. Those who shouted "I refuse to vote for a "RINO" (codespeak for anyone they don't like)" treated themselves and their neighbors to the taste of defeat.

"Rudy is a RINO. He cannot energize 30% of the US electorate which is conservative."

Sorry, but there may be 30% of the electorate who are Republicans, but conservatives are but a portion of that number (remember the GOP as the "big tent party"?). Now it may or may not be true that Rudy can energize enough support to win the race (He definitely isn't my first choice!), but unless we suspend our inter-party differences, no one that we put up will beat the Dhimmicrats. They ARE energized after their "big win", and are gullible enough to believe that they are "fated" to win.

"No conservative will vote for a RINO candidate, just because he wears a red tie."

You can count me among them. I steadfastly refuse to vote for ANYONE because they wear a red tie (I hate them!), but I'd rather vote for a "RINO" before throwing my vote away (or giving my country away).

The problem is that by the time we eliminate everyone that anyone calls "RINO", what we end up with is UNELECTABLE. Sad fact, but fact nonetheless.

Put up the very best that you can, promote the heck outta him, but don't pout and have a tantrum if (more like when if he's too extreme) he doesn't survive the primary.

Who knows - I may even hold myself to my own advice and (gasp!) pull the lever if McPain gets the nod (I can't believe I said that!).

"RINOplasty has taken on a whole new meaning."

Nope. Still means the same thing - cutting off your nose...

[Lexinom]

Cheney, Hunter, and Brownback are in office.

I see a lot of people on this thread demanding that we get used to and get over mass child-dismemberment posited as casual "choice", to accept the grabbing of our arms, and to embrace the Hispanicization of America. Given the choice between a gradual evolution toward that leftist utopia (frog-in-boiling-water paradigm) or a sudden submersion into four years of Hillary Hell as a wake-up call followed by the ascension of a Reagan conservative, I would take the latter. Looking long-term, the net result of the second option may in fact be better because it would draw out the antithesis between good and evil all the more starkly.

That said, I'd support any of the GOP candidates with the exception of Rudy and possibly McCain.

[Hildy]

You said it all. Unfortunately, the people here are stuck in the 1970's, thinking Ronald Reagan is just around the corner. And he's not. The country has changed immensely in the past 30 years. There are some here who just don't want to admit it.

[Candor7]

I'd rather vote for a "RINO" before throwing my vote away (or giving my country away).>>>>>>>>>>>>

What? I would be giving my country away in the same spirit that RINOs are giving the country away

I prefer to emulate our RINO leaders instead of voting for them.

And that after voting straight Republican tickets in the last 4 federal elections.

The Republican party abandoned me, not vice versa.

Like I said, I will vote WHEN and IF I have a conservative Republican candidate to vote for. I and millions of other conservative Republicans have learned our lesson.And if the RNC hasn't learned that lesson yet, they will have another in 2008.