I believe Rudy is "conservative" on more issues than his loudest detractors will acknowledge.
He mentioned every one of them in this speech.
But the speech highlights through absense all of those areas where Rudy is not a conservative.
I can enthusiastically back Rudy in a general election, despite his liberal positions on a host of issues.
But I'm not ready to say that being a good speaker and having the right view on a few points is enough to win me in the primary. Hunter is much better on the issues, Romney is as good a speaker and more conservative, Gingrich is every bit as smart and has much better position on a broad range of issues.
Heck, Hagel is a lot more conservative than Rudy is. So is Brownback and Huckabee.
Clinton was a great speaker who could make people swoon by the way he spoke, if you didn't listen too closely to what he said, or if he was speaking on an issue where he was in agreement with you. I do think we need to pick someone who can speak more clearly this time around (Cheney does that very well, btw), but that's just the first step.
In the general, I can way two bad options, but in the primary I'm not ready to give up the entire abortion issue on a whim. If Rudy wasn't so completely pro-abortion, if his position was one indicating a tough struggle -- but he sounds like a man who has no respect for life if it means inconveniencing the sexual appetite.
I can't argue with you. You make valid points. And you do it in a civil and respectful way. You're to be commended.