I can't say that I blame you. This is a very tough time for conservatives and the choices are not easy. I have some paleocon friends who think the same way you do. I felt the same when I was younger, having voted Libertarian rather than support Dole and George HW Bush. I supported GWB and while I don't regret it I am very disappointed, like most people here.
Where we are is our fault. We squandered the authority the public gave us and now we have no credibility. In addition, the demographics have changed, and that cannot be overcome in a democracy. Personally, I'd like to see them require a college education to vote, but if anything the power will be spread thinner and thinner, to include illegals at some point, as the tyrrany of the majority will destroy what few constitutional limits remain.
We have seen it in Europe. We see it in Canada. California, certainly. And it will overtake the nation as well. So we are where the conservatives in Europe were about 40 years ago. They said they would wait it out as the socialist system would implode. The socialists have figured out how to keep the carcass alive for a long time before it dies. The Europeans are in decline, but it has been 40 years, and collapse is not imminent. The point is, I am 54 and cannot wait that long. I want to make a difference now.
Finally, let me point out one other thing about your argument. You are basically rooting for your country to fail. That's what the Democrats do. They hope the war will fail, the economy will falter, etc, because it presents political opportunity forthem. No matter how bad the intrusions on my liberty get, I may even leave the country at some point, but I will never hope for America's failure.
Ouch! I am hoping for the GOP to wake up and represent its people. I used to vote for the "lesser of two evils", but that is clearly why we are in the situation we face. I didn't think GWB would be so much in favor for open borders and outsourcing our engineering. I chose the "lesser", and got the same thing as if I'd voted Democrat. Actually, I think there is a possibility that the Dems would make an attempt to protect American jobs.
I'm 57 now, and getting downright jaded with our crop of "representatives".
We squandered the authority the public gave us....
Are you a "representative"? I cannot begin to voice my anguish over what has been lost through compromise. Now I have my back to the wall with only root beliefs remaining ... something I will not compromise.
Personally, I'd like to see them require a college education to vote...
I'd like to see evidence that our "representatives" actually understand the Constitution well enough to know they take their oaths seriously.
Basically, I have no remaining faith in the system. Too many elected and unelected officals have betrayed this Nation.
It is simply wonderful to spar with someone as thoughtful and polite as yourself. I've degraded to "hit and run diatribe" because of the assaults mounted by the Bush/Rudy 'bots.