You make a strong case, counselor.
I tend to think this “Rove’s support=THE MARK OF THE BEAST” thing is like so many things, an overreaction (and mind you I hate the guy). But Rove as Hitler and NRSC (and NRCC) as Al Queda seems to be the current FR consensus. I’m more inclined to be automatically skeptical of Huckabee’s choice, Harris.
And as you know I’m always skeptical of the self-proclaimed Kings of Queen of the “Tea Party” who are built up by hype. Anyone can claim it, anyone can give a nice speech.
Paul support is always a red flag, but not necessary damning, Mike Lee is alright, isn’t e? Unfortunately a lot of normal conservatives pal around with the Paul crowd because we do agree with them on many things.
I’m not making a recommendation as of yet but I certainly don’t see an open and shut case here and I’d give a look to Harris and Flynn too, they don’t appear any less worthy than Brannon at first glance despite Brannon having all the FR hype.
At the very least Tillis doesn’t appear to be any kind of Dewcrist RINO or Lindsey Graham style b*tch boy and his nomination wouldn’t be cause to set ourselves on fire in disgust.
Mike Lee never was a Paulistinian, and he had a sterling résumé and conservative bona fides (clerked for Alito in both the Third Circuit and SCOTUS, appellate and Supreme Court litigator for Sidley Austin, Assistant U.S. Attorney in Salt Lake City, general counsel to Gov. Huntsman back when Hunstsman was conservative, etc.) prior to his Senate run. If Ron Paul supported Lee, he must have been misinformed about Lee, or it simply was the case of Paul supporting the guy who could beat someone he really wanted to see lose (Bennett).
Brannon, on the other hand, may well be a fine medical doctor, but the only things we know about his politics (joining the Ron Paul cult and donating to the anti-Federal Marriage Amendment, pro-drug-legalization, anti-death penalty, pro-carbon tax, anti-national defense Paultard B.J. Lawson) are HUGE red flags.
Let me put it this way: a Ron Paul endorsement should not be disqualifying, but if a candidate’s connection to the Ron Paul cult is the only thing we know about him then we should run away from him as fast as we can.