Really. Well, your overall response sounds like you chose to ignore what I posted in favor of your usual forum sermon, "The Evils of Conservatism". LOL You're not fooling anyone, mister moderate. Your ongoing cheap pot shots at conservatism are noted and well documented for all to see.
Also, I haven't given up on the GOP, just yet. Simply making it crystal clear what I believe might transpire in the next decade or so, should the liberal establishment continue gaining ground within BOTH major parties. Anyone who can't see the leftward shift America has taken in the last 75 years, or the strides that center-left policy has made since the 1960`s, is living in the outer limits of the twilight zone.
Look, if you want to ignore the facts, if you want to ignore history, I can't stop you. If you think there isn't a reconstituted liberal Rockefeller-wing within the GOP, then what explains the promotion of liberal Republicans like Giuliani and Romney in the last election cycle? If you think the Democratic Party is not populated by 99% liberals --- maybe its 97% or 98% --- then what explains them nominating liberals for president since the end of WWII?
Some more facts.
40%-50% of Americans choose not to vote, for whatever reasons. Now that is defeatism. Many of the remaining Americans who do choose to vote, don't pay attention and therefore, are not well informed. Most conservatives and traditionalists blame this on the public school system advancing a politically correct leftwing agenda. Its easy to see why so many Americans have gained a liberal minded political conscience. Especially with younger Americans falling prey to the constant liberal drumbeat from all aspects of society covering the last 45 years.
In addition, you can't overlook the Independent voters. Available data shows they constitute 25%-30% of all voters. These are the voters who swing elections for either of the two major party candidates. They are what GW Bush called, "compassionate conservatives". They live their lives as conservatives, but don't believe they can tell anyone else how to live. A tough nut to crack, for the party of "no". Make that the party of "right", if you know what I mean. Appeal to the Independents and you'll have their vote for a generation or more. Reagan understood that.
Reagan also understood for the GOP to succeed, its social and fiscal (economic) wings must stayed united and the moderates must have no voice in any decision making. Reagan talked about this in his run up to the 1980 election.
For anyone interested, you can read about what Reagan had to say in two speeches he gave in the 1970`s: The New Republican Party, 4th Annual CPAC Convention, February 6, 1977 and Let Them Go Their Way, 2nd Annual CPAC Convention, March 1, 1975.
Reagan was crystal clear and so am I. He believed in the Constitution, Federalism and conservatism. And he was a highly successful two-term Governor and President.
Conservatism is not evil, but it is telling that you equate criticism of the actions of a small subset of the conservative movement that you belong to with an attack on conservatism itself.
Your cluelessness regarding my philosophy and beliefs is indefensible given my obvious lack of brevity in expressing my opinions and thoughts on an ongoing basis.
Since I believe the average FR reader quite capable of discerning the truth from my posts, I will not rehash how your claims regarding their meaning are off the mark. That will be clear to the casual observer.
The moderates have been shown that picking a moderate for President doesn’t work. The conservatives likewise have been shown that dividing themselves amongst 4 different candidates, and wasting their time tearing down each other and excommunicating people for any minor deviation from the “purity” of the “conservative belief” as defined by themselves most certainly is a path to failure, not salvation.
But just as the moderates are too stupid to get the message, it appears some conservatives won’t get the message either.