As many of you know, I am a Fred Thompson supporter. I am a conservative Republican and I will actively do my part to support and endorse Mr. Thompson should he declare his candidacy. If he doesn’t, I will support the next best conservative candidate. At this point, I’m not sure who that will be yet, but I was leaning towards Duncan Hunter.
Earlier on this thread, several thousand posts ago, I made the comment that IF Giuliani ends becoming the candidate the Republican candidate I will support him then and vote for him in the ballot box. I will vote Republican. I will do my part in seeing that Hillary, or Obama, or any other Democrat candidate will not become the next President of the United States of America. I fear for the future of our country, our military, my children and grandchildren, if the Democrats are allowed to control this country.
I am also on the record as saying that I do not believe in “not voting” nor voting “third party”.
Ever since I voiced my opinion on this matter, Reagan Man has been insulting me, calling me a Rudy Booster, Rudy Supporter, etc., and neither Jim Robinson, nor the moderators have stepped in to tell him to “knock it off” in spite of my requests.
So now I must ask this question. Are those of us who believe that we must all actively support the best conservative candidate now, but when the day comes to vote, we will vote Republican no matter whose name is on the ballot, no longer welcome here? Is Jim Robinson going to continue to allow people like Reagan Man continue his attacks on us?
I am quite confident that I am not the only one who would like answers to these questions.
Control your emotions. After you admitted to being a "future" RudyBooster --- should he win the nomination --- I backed off. You decided to not let go. That was your choice, not mine. I can't stop you from whining over my posting your remarks earlier. At this point you can't seem to help yourself. So, unless you really want me to, I have no intention of posting your remarks again. Remarks in which you clearly state a preference for Rudy, should he gain the nomination. Btw, Rudy gaining the nomination is an outcome, in my opinion, I don't see happening. We are 18 months out from the election. Anyone who runs around promoting a liberal to become the next POTUS, on this conservative forum, is fair game.
Bottom line. This is your obsession and your welcome to it.
No real conservative should be supporting Rudy now ... in the primaries.
If, God forbid, it's Rudy vs. Hillary/Obama/Edwards in November, I think good conservatives could disagree on whether the right approach is damage control by voting for Rudy or a vote of principle for a third party.
If you conclude a vote for Rudy will cause less harm to the nation than a vote for the Dem, I don't think you should be persecuted for that.
But it goes both ways. Neither should those who cannot in good conscience vote for Rudy be lambasted on a conservative forum ... called "unappeasables," "nutjobs" and various other flattering epithets.
And quite frankly, that's the kind of haughty disdain for principled conservatives, especially social conservatives, that characterized many of the departed posters.
Personally, I think anyone who is not pushing a liberal cause, who is not bashing other conservatives (either dead or alive) just to elevate their preference, and does not mischaracterize or lie in supporting their candidate or debating their opinion is welcome. I haven't seen you do any of the above, so you're ok in my book.
I did post earlier that I find the contention that anyone "owes" their vote to the GOP really offensive. When the party goes against the very things it purports to support, there isn’t much choice but to look elsewhere. Hence, I'll work hard to make sure the guy ain't Rudy, but if it is, people should not be harped on by others if they choose to go elsewhere. It is afterall, their vote. If the GOP and the RR Pubbies keep pushing Rudy into the top spot, it will be their actions that resulted in the loss, not the voters.
Perhaps we should all come visit one of your glaciers you mentioned earlier and chill out. ;-)
I am quite confident that I am not the only one who would like answers to these questions.
Nobody answered your question directly. This thread, which briefly turned into a hugfest over the banning of numerous people who have been here many years and on our side on numerous conservatives issues, is now headed into the toilet again.
My assessment at present is that if you support the eventual nominee, and if that person isn't acceptable to the Reagan Man crowd, you're not going to feel welcome, whether you get banned or not. Between now and November 2008 is a pretty long time for the kind of crap that's been going on in this thread to continue.
I've drastically cut down on my participation at FR for a couple of reasons, but this thread epitomizes one of them. I can't condone it. But if it's perfectly okay with FR management if this becomes an anti-Republican site next year, depending on who might get the nomination, so be it.
The line in the sand was drawn several weeks ago, and it looks like we'll have to live with that decision.
Even before the first GOP debate.
I don't understand it, I don't support it, and I think this thread ranks up with the most pathetic ever that has been allowed to run and fester on FR.
Can anyone tell me what happens in the scenario if Rudy wins? This forum will have already driven off most Republicans who would vote for him in the general election.
So now it's a third party site, attacking Rudy, easily infiltrated by DU who will say the same things.
I'm not a Rudy supporter. But I can envision the future, and this forum is driving off a cliff. Whether we can avert disaster is not clear to me, but the folks who are celebrating on this thread about it are so misguided.
I wouldn't have even made this post if I didn't care about the future of FR.