I concur with your statements, dirtboy, even about why all the rejoicing is going on.
But I really think it’s gone on long enough. If it continues into next year, it’s going be very destructive. I understand the logic behind the assertion that destruction and cleansing is good, but if what emerges from the ashes is something which is quite different than what this forum was in its glory, I’m not so sure that’s good.
I have said many times that we should all fight for our candidates in the primaries and the months leading up to them. I recommend supporting the most conservative candidate who has a realistic chance to prevail. After that, assuming my candidate didn’t prevail, I choose between the lesser of two evils, and vote for the one who supports at least some of my ideals.
That’s how politics work. Always will. I’m never satisfied, and never will be. But there’s always a new fight coming up in a couple of years where we can try again.
I’m less concerned about the Rudy-bashing, McCain-bashing, Hunter-bashing, etc., than my concern for this forum. We have eaten our own before, but this time we are losing some giants at FR that have been at our side for many years. That can only continue so long before there are no giants left. And we will be the poorer for it, not necessarily financially, but because those folks contributed to the conservative cause at this forum with their minds. We brand them as liberals today, but they wouldn’t have been here on our side for five to ten years if that were truly so.
The question I have is whether we can get past what is happened or whether we want it to continue. I fear it’s the latter.
*barf*
If it continues into next year, it’s going be very destructive.
***I doubt it will continue into next month. The smoke is already starting to clear.
Here's the problem. You and I and many others approached Bush from the right. He wasn't as conservative as we would have wanted, but he at least offered a fair amount to conservatives.
IMO the recently departed Rudy boosters generally approached Bush from the left. They were more in line with the Rockefeller wing of the party, and many attacked conservatives questioning the more liberal actions of the Bush Admin.
So when Rudy came along, it wasn't very far for them to move left and embrace him. However, it was a long, long ways for conservatives to go - too far. And their response was to engage in some old-school socon bashing and downright hypocrisy as they attacked Fred once he became viable.
IMO this was going to happen sooner or later. Plus, as you've noted in the past, waiting until next year would be too late. The front-loaded primary schedule has moved the battles to this year.
This dust-up was pretty similar to the Lucianne battle in 1999. FR got itself reassembled by 2000. The same will happen again. Especially if Fred gets in and gives the center and the right something to rally around.
...agreement that it is settling down, but ultimately it is up to individuals how far they want to push the owner.
“we are losing some giants at FR that have been at our side for many years.”
They chose to leave your/our sides with their methods.
“We brand them as liberals today,...”
They brand themselves with their liberal allegiances and attacks on conservative candidates.
I can.
The loss of any "giant" whose putative talents are openly and enthusiastically employed in the service of any demonstrably pro-infanticide or pro-gay "marriage" candidate is...
... well... is, perhaps, something less than a devastating and wholly irrevocable one for the conservative cause as a whole, all things being equal.
To put it mildly.