Ditto what you said. Although I'm not so sure the Pubbies aren't moving to the left and leaving us conservatives out to dry. The elation of so many that a lib like Rudy is running reaffirms my fears.
All of you who talk about running on the Platform, are missing a big part of the puzzle. I have been trying to be nice but the platforms for both major parties are to throw bones to various groups and then leave the convention happy as everyone got the piece of the pie. Have sat on platform committees at various levels.
After the conventions be it county, state, or national candidates don't run on the platform. They cannot afford to in the general election because platforms are usually more far left or right then a candidate wants to run so they run to the middle to get the votes of the middle of America who BTW have the final say. Run too far right or left and you cannot win in the general. Fact of life that has been known for years by candidates. In our case as Republicans, candidates run to the right in the primary and to the center in the general.
Personally I would like to have a candidate who doesn't pander to me if they don't share my belief 100% because then I know where they stand and I have more respect for them. If I agree with a candidate 80% of the time I feel happy. Some candidates I agree with their stance more and don't like them for various reasons -- ethics being #1 but they mouth the right words or vote the right way while at the same time they are not ethical at all. I will take the 80% over that candidate that panders any day of the week and is unethical.