At any rate, you and I agree: the circular firing squad we conservatives seem to form every election cycle has got to be disbanded. It’s as if, to some, the word pragmatism is of no value whatsoever.
We had a glut of conservative candidates at the beginning of 2011, and all because of, really, petty politics and childish favoritism, once a group chose their own messiah, there was no rallying around anyone who naturally jumped out in front early on, because the prevailing mentality here (and elsewhere) was: damn the torpedoes, it’s either my guy or no guy.
That’s the key really, we have to realize here we are only part of conservatism, part of the movement. We have to be willing to set our favorite pet candidate aside early, to allow another, perhaps not as “perfect” as we would individually like but still far more conservative than a Romney or McCain, to support and increase any natural early momentum such a candidate may enjoy early, so as to ride out the “chosen” candidate that comes along later. Or else 2016 is going to be another defeat like 2012.
Not that it matters much anymore, unless by some miracle Obamacare gets repealed or at least defunded. It’s still reality though. The Dems sure don’t fall for things like Operation Chaos. I don’t understand why we let ourselves be equally duped.
And this thread is a testament to the fact that its still going on today. I posted a fact which should be self-evident to anyone and everyone who was on this website last year. Is Gingrich the perfect human being? No. Is he a down the line conservative above reproach? No. Was he the most conservative candidate who had a chance of beating Barak Obama? Absolutely. I loved Rick Santorum, I loved Michelle Bachman, and I loved Herman Cain. None of those three were ever going to win the election. And every time Gingrich built up a head of steam and began to challenge Romeny, their supporters doubled down and went after Gingrich with everything they had. So, no of course this website was not the only reason why Gingrich lost, but it did help drive the conversation.
I'll say this for Santorum: For all the good it did him, he spent as much time going after Romney as any of them.