We should start a list of all of the conservative warriors who have been excommunicated from the conservative movement and branded as "RINOs" by the Trumpettes for the sin of opposing Trump or not endorsing him. Just off the top of my head, I have:
Cruz
Carson
Scalia
Rush
Levin
Trey Gowdy
Jeff Sessions
James Dobson
Steve King
Phil Robertson
Bob Vander Plaats
( ~sigh~ did Rip Van Winkle just wake up and notice what seems to be news? ) Each and every one of those you list, and many MANY more, are routinely "excommunicated" for a variety of reasons long before Trump ever came along. You are choosing to focus on Trump alone for your own personal reasons, and are employing a variation of appeal to authority to rationalize your current viewpoint. It is dishonest to make them all Saints who are being excoriated by "Trumpettes".
On the other hand, Trump supporters are clearly demonstrating to you something you are choosing to ignore - recognition of current events, even new found realization and epiphany that candidates for the Office of President have different logical requirements than the Supreme Court or the House or Governor.
This latter thing is key. Especially now that no President, even Madison or Jefferson could save America by getting elected to that office. It looks like modern Americans believe the President to be a kind of quasi Supreme Court justice. That is just so wrong.
I think what the insurrection is saying is that they do not want Scalia or Thomas, Madison or Jefferson as President. They want a bulldozer with a flamethrower mounted on top to level the place to the ground. On the other hand, when we get to the Supreme Court, the discussion will change accordingly.
I would ask our friends using a Conservative litmus checklist for President if they believe Clarence Thomas could save America were he elected to that office?
And this doesn't even address the 800 pound gorilla in the room - can a evangelical Constitutionalist, even without NBC issues, get past the current electorate? I pushed hard for Alan Keyes who surpasses Cruz and even Reagan on both God, and the Constitution. But I was naive then to believe any of the dozen swing states ( the ones we do not already have ) would elect him over a (D)ummy. And the electorate is worse now than in 2000, and gets worse each and every day.
I believe that people are realizing that they do not want to fall on that sword again and hand yet another 4 to 6 Supreme Court selections to the enemy. America CANNOT survive that. That's a throw of the dice, you really feel like gambling on that bet? So like Bush43, they are making what looks like a reasonable judgment that they have a guy who can get past the electorate, however with the added benefit that he will fight this time around, defend not only himself, and America, and get those absolutely critical 4 to 6 Justices into place ( maybe the first one can be Cruz ).
I would say that the majority on that list are definitely Conservative as far as I’m concerned but Carson is definitely not one of them. I think a lot of us were fooled by him. I believed with my whole heart Gowdy was now I think I’ve been fooled by him too. Rush is establishment and always has been. Levin is, “ If those Republicans do something one more time I’m leaving the Party,” blah, blah, blah he used to be worth listening to now he’s a joke selling books. The Liberty Amendments won’t work because it ultimately requires politicians following the law or voting in a way that doesn’t benefit them. Hello!!! Where the hell has he been? Horrific economy! Stealing us blind! Still manage to vote themselves a raise. Look at all the lawbreaking going on now by this Administration and the “cough, cough” opposition party turns a blind eye. Get real. Levin dropped his basket just like Beck did.
But Scalia and Robertson not conservative? Hahaha that’s hilarious!