Sure they did. We had some very emotional debates about each and every one of them on this website. I remember that you were involved in some of them.
The point is not that Rove and Co. stuck us with Romney. Conservatives are purists by nature, and many of us got caught up in the flavor of the month when Mittens was never polling above 25% and the nomination was there for the taking. I recognized Gingrich's many flaws, but I settled on him and tried to get others to see the logic in doing so, as opposed to first Bachmann, then Cain, then Santorum, none of whom ever had a chance of winnning. All they did was take votes away from the one legitimate challenger. Now were're stuck with Romney, and I'm being as enthusiastic about the man as I can be. The point in politics is to understand that you never get everything you want and do what it takes to win.
They all had flaws, that was the problem, it was easy in 1980, because clearly Reagan was head and shoulders above everybody else.
You’re spot on, FRiend. Now it is what it is, but Obama has still got to go.