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.
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.
***They may have damaged Duncan Hunter’s chances as well. Because we were hit with a double punch of “he’s not electable” and the socon bashing, which probably caused a lot of groundhogs to go back for better weather. I’m here to say “Winter’s Over!”, Come on out and support the best socon candidate whose views are closest to yours!
I hope Fred does get in, but every day he waits makes his challenge a bit harder.
I see the Rudy suppporters who have been banned from here less as liberals than those who are willing to compromise or hope for the best. They want to hold the Presidency for the GOP. Granted, we did have some liberals or moderates here (although the term is used fairly interchangeably at this forum) who truly backed Rudy for his positions.
My guess, and it’s only that, is that winning was more important than anything, especially after the spanking we took in 2006. In politics, being right on the issues doesn’t matter if you lose the election.
Anyway, EV smells an odor about me, and for 11,000 posts so far, not rejoicing in the bloodshed somehow paints a bullseye on your back, so I’m out of here. Lunch hour is about over anyhow.