[goldstategop]

The point is a valid one - an election is won by assembling a coalition of people to win.

Conservatives have never constituted a majority of Americans and they live in a liberal culture.

To expect the rest of the country to agree with us on every point, is looking to be consigned to eternal opposition in the wilderness.

If we look overly ideological, we will lose. We win when we persuade other Americans there are things we both find necessary to preserve without agreeing with each other on every last item.

That’s the way it is in a free country. The Republican Party is a coalition after all. A purely conservative party has zero chance of winning anywhere in this country.

[Uncle Miltie]

Obama disproved your theory by winning 100% of leftists, none of whom stayed home. TURNING OUT YOUR BASE COMPLETELY IS WHAT WINS.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

The point is a valid one - an election is won by assembling a coalition of people to win.

Conservatives have never constituted a majority of Americans and they live in a liberal culture.

To expect the rest of the country to agree with us on every point, is looking to be consigned to eternal opposition in the wilderness.

If we look overly ideological, we will lose. We win when we persuade other Americans there are things we both find necessary to preserve without agreeing with each other on every last item.

That’s the way it is in a free country. The Republican Party is a coalition after all. A purely conservative party has zero chance of winning anywhere in this country.

---

Something I think that is forgotten is that the Republican base does not like people who flip their positions or who change their positions or principles to try to fir in. When a candidate starts doing that I always wonder when they are lying and when they are telling the truth.

Ronald Reagan didn't abandon his principles; he was a master of picking the important battles. He did not back down on the issues that he saw as the greatest threat to America such as defeating the USSR.

The greatest threat to America is our big government policies such as Obamacare, spending that will destroy our economy, and illegal immigration. There is not point becoming America's enemy by backing policies that will ultimately lead to the destruction of this country to try win an election.

We need Republicans smart enough to pick their battles without backing down. That's why instead of waffling on every issues as it come along; I hope the leadership can begin to decide which battles to fight and actually fight. Like Davy Crockett said “Make sure you are right, then go ahead.”

[sarge83]

We are not looking for purity, but we are looking for a party which shares at least 50% or 60% of our views and earns our votes through deeds and not yet another consultant orchestrated pack of lies. Right now we are treated like dirt by the big tent party.

Some things are deal breakers though for me: 2nd Amendment, abortion...