You are correct. I don't recall this sort of flaming even with the Buchanan or Keyes candidacies, only when the Rudy Giuliani group jumped in with an attempt to force everyone to go along with him "because only he can win", then promptly tried to redefine the meaning of "conservative" to include abortion, gun control and other issues that offend peoples' principles.
Sir, I supported Steve Forbes. Maybe before your time. There was some kind of awful about Keyes but I was always respectful of him. And this forum fought me tooth and nail about my support of Steve Forbes, but they never EVER told me I had to go.