[jjsheridan5]

Third party talk is soul food for suckers ... The most certain means of electing liberals is to believe in and vote for 3rd party Candidates.

Why are you raising the issue of 3rd party, when no-one else has in this thread. It is a classic strawman argument (raise an issue that hasn't been raised, and then shoot it down).

More importantly, you raise the idea that "only after we achieve majorities in both houses can we afford the luxury of purifying the GOP." While I would question the use of the word "purify", since this isn't about "litmus tests", "acting noble", or "purification" (all heavily loaded words, that don't accurately describe what is occurring at the grassroots), the underlying point is also exactly wrong. The lack of a cohesive, Reaganesque message is primarily due to this misguided notion of simply voting Republican and then trying to sort it out later. The result is a party that stands for nothing, is easily demagogued against, especially to less informed voters, and has zero chance of gaining traction with non-white voters, and misguided, well-educated, liberals.

"Whomever wins the GOP primary deserves your vote. Period." As powerful as the "Period" clause is, whomever stands up for conservatism, both rhetorically and in practice, deserves your vote. No one else does.

[Buffalo Head]

"....whomever stands up for conservatism, both rhetorically and in practice, deserves your vote. No one else does."

Such an all or nothing attitude just allows more liberals to get elected or retain their seat. The kamikaze Conservatives just can't seem to understand that to govern and change things, candidates must win more votes than are in the choir.