I have to say, given the history you have presented, which I neither know nor have reason to doubt, that this makes sense to me.
EXCEPT that I am still trying to get the facts on the "Catholic/Orthodox" thing.
IF it is the case that such a caucus designation is forbidden,
AND SINCE there is no due process or right to appeal in the kind of autocracy which FR legitimately is,
THEN I think there will be more "demonstrations."
I don't know if that would be right or wrong, but I think it likely. On the one hand, this is JR's party, and mere manners would suggest that he gets to make the rules and we must follow them.
But on the other hand, we are all invited to contribute to the party. This is kind of what I mean by saying this is like the Vatican. It's one guy's deal, in one sense, but few will sacrifice to support something without feeling some ownership. The Pope knows this, and it accounts, at least partially, for the snail's pace at the Vatican.
But certainly, MY attitude, rightly or wrongly, was one of agit-prop. It was, um, heightened by cries of innocence from some caucus crashers of old.
But I think your account pretty just.
Yes, I have heard that bandied about too, but considering the bare fact that no one has proven it, and that there are "Catholic/Orthodox" caucus tags as late as January 2011, I am inclined to think it all sour grapes - Perhaps some caucus thread was denied on content or something...
If it IS ever proven, please do ping me to it so that I might judge the evidence.
If it does turn out to be true, I would stand with you.