If Willard is shoved down our throats, I’m voting 3rd party or write-in, as a staunch social conservative to make the point that we will never ever ever settle for Bush Sr, Dole, McCain, or Romney mushy moderates again!
And I bet millions upon millions of other so-cons do the same. And millions of others will simply sit out the election all together and wait for Rubio (versus Hillary) in 2016.
A strategy that gave us Clinton, Clinton again, and Obama.
And remember, George W. Bush was characterized as a mushy moderate in the 2000 primaries as well (soft on immigration and on social spending) - most rock-ribbed social conservatives would have to concede that we haven't had a true across-the-board conservative President in a quarter-century.
If staying home or voting third party was a real message, no one seems to have gotten it in decades.
And I bet millions upon millions of other so-cons do the same.
Where are these millions and millions in the primaries? Apparently wasting their time in the primary as well as the general, since Santorum has about the most shoestring organization in history. Perry couldn't even be bothered to prep for the debates. Don't even get me started on the ridiculous waste that was the Palin sideshow.
And millions of others will simply sit out the election all together and wait for Rubio (versus Hillary) in 2016.
Rubio is hardly a guaranteed lock for 2016 and the Democrats aren't dumb enough to run a 70 year old woman for President.
Social conservatives haven't worked hard enough to put Romney away yet in 2012, but they will somehow have their act all put together by 2016?
Magical thinking.