"And your hatred of religious conservatives is obvious, to an extreme degree. You are willing to split the party just to get this non-conservative nominated."
You don't read well, do you?
Where did I say that he was "my man"? I've been complaining that the cirticism is extremely one-sided, unfair and lacking in intellectual honesty and that it is intended to stifle debate. Did it ever occur to you while you may not agree with his stances on abortion and gay rights, that he may have something else to say which is still worth hearing, and which may influence the party in a positive direction?
I have said in many of these posts that Duncan Hunter has a snowball's chance and that I wouldn't vote for him, but I still want to hear what the man has to say just in case he does have something pertinent or new.
Since when did pragmatism and enlightened, truthful debate become dirty words in the republican party?
I don't think the criticism of Rudy has been lacking in intellectual honesty at all. The man's positions are a matter of clear public record, and he has done nothing to refute that record. At least Romney is pandering to the conservative wing of the Party. Rudy and many of his backers here are arrogantly saying, in effect: "We don't need or want those nasty social conservatives."
You really have nerve accusing others of intellectual dishonesty and unfairness. When has anyone in this country tried to force you to join any sect, or submit to its dogma, as you accused? Has Duncan Hunter, or any of the other genuine conservatives, forced you to submit to any religion? As for stifling debate: Opponents of Rudy have tried repeatedly to document his many failings, which specific data, and all many of us hear from his advocates are demogogic slogans and hateful abuse heaped on "religious" conservatives.
Enlightened and pragmatic debate is exactly what I am trying to promote, not childish, emotional slogans about how Rudy "talks tough" and "has street smarts." It's going to take a lot more than tough talk and street smarts to defeat Islamofascism or the other potential enemies we face. It's going to take sober, detailed expertise in national defense, which is a field Gingrich, Hunter, and others know and have fought for in Congress for years. It's going to take recognition of the alien problem as an invasion, which Rudy certainly lacks. It's going to take respect for our society and the threats it faces from domestic social Marxists who hate the entire American cultural tradition.