I argue that we're already in trouble if the spokesman for conservative principles is a transparent phony. Our mistrust has more basis in reality and record than Romney's two-year old devotion to conservatism.
sneaking suspicion is more important when you have another choice that is better.
But I don’t see how it wins out over certain catastrophe.
It’s like you are standing on a ledge, and the bear is about to attack you. There’s a bridge, but it looks shaky, and you have a sneaking suspicion that it might break if you run over it.
So instead you just sit their and let the bear devour you.
It just doesn’t make sense. If there was a better option, then it might. If the bridge wasn’t there, it would make sense.
But you don’t have to sacrifice your principles to vote for Romney, because you are voting for a man with a solid conservative platform. You only have to suspend your disbelief. That’s not a “principle”, that’s a hope and a prayer.
It’s not “unprincipled” to vote for a man who says he will do what’s right, simply because you think he might be lying. It may be naive, or simple, but when there are no alternatives, what’s the harm?