[nopardons]

Time was, not so very long ago, that Republicans and especially Conservatives didn't even attempt to fight back. Time was, not so very long ago, the GOP was a BIG TENT ( which is a good thing ! ), with everyone welcome and wanting to get some ( NOT ALL and NOT IMMEDIATELY, EITHER ! )of their agenda passed. In order to do that, they all knew that it was imperative to get more and more and MORE GOPers elected. Time was, not so very long ago, the fringe eliment knew this too.

Times have changed and the fringers, not willing to accept this concept, went on their way or stayed home, and allowed the Dems to gain more ground, became more and more vocal in their condemnation of others, who were on their side, offended them and some split off. The fringe parties have either imploded, grown even smaller in number, or remained in the party, but doesn't support it or its candidates.

Tom can't win. Even IF Arnold dropped out, Tom can NOT win, because he has offended more Republicans, of EVERY stripe, than he has garnered supporters and he has NO cross over vote appeal.

There are two different worlds here...reality and delsuion. There are two distinct groups...those who want " purity " and those who accept the fact that NO politicain is " pure ".

POLITICS IS THE WORLD OF THE POSSIBLE . Those who refuse to adjust, lose.Losing isn't " principled " and it doesn't further one's goals.

[Robert_Paulson2]

it's been five years... five.
I remember cheif negotiator explaining tax code concepts that might get us out of our jams in this nation...

those were the days.
He's gone now.
Now we got the tombot extremists and the religiocrats calling for the heads of RINOs they cannot stand... we just aren't holy enough for them...