I am tired of voting for the lesser of two evils, only to have the gap between the two evils narrow each time I am presented a choice. I feel like the frog that was put into room temperature water and the heat slowly increased. We have now reached a point where I realize the water is hot and I am in danger. (...that the lesser evil is so close to the greater evil that my party's identity is lost.)
Is there no longer a home for those of us that see a difference between good and evil? For those of us that see that the founders based citizen's rights on a fundamental morality based upon a common consensus of what is right and wrong (that actually descended from a common belief in God)?
Ronald Reagan invited us into the party, along with Democrats that had a belief in morality. From the tone of the Rudy supporters, I guess our welcome is being withdrawn. Alienating those of us that hold socially conservative values removes the reason that those of us on both the right and left of other issues have to vote Republican. Without these votes, you must take a large number from the Democrats just to break even. When they see the candidates and see the same thing except for a percieved difference in their stance on the War on Terror, they are going to vote for the anti-war candidate. This is one of the unlearned lessons of 2006. When there is little perceived difference in the parties, most of those "moderates" that Rudy needs go home to the Democrat party candidate.
Nonsense. No Rudy supporter is suggesting anyone leave the Republican Party. On the contrary, most believe that we should have a fair primary season and then unite behind the winner to beat the 'rats.
It is those attacking Rudy who are threatening or promising not to vote for him & calling those who support him RINOs, traitors, sell outs, phony conservatives, etc. That is of course your right, but don't expect to get any sympathy whatsoever for the false charge that the anti-Rudy crowd are being "forced out of the Party". If those who oppose Rudy have the numbers to nominate another candidate, then Rudy will deserve to lose. If not, then whining about losing a fair fight and running to a third party or staying home because Hunter or whoever got outvoted will make those who whine look like sore losermen.
Very good post, Ingtar.