[americanophile]

In reality the number of people who will sit home on Election Day out of spite or a misguided attempt to practice adherence to their particular conception of conservative orthodoxy is really quite low, no matter what they claim. For those of us who deal in reality and recognize that politics by nature involves compromise, we’ll go with the best option we have, as it is always better than allowing our opponents to make our choices for us.

[MarkDel]

I certainly hope you are right, but the 2006 Election has me convinced otherwise. The “we would better off long term by losing” nonsense was ALL OVER this site back then, and it turned out to be prophetic. I really think most of these people are planning on staying home if McCain or Rudy is the nominee. I also think there a lot of people in the Evangelical community who are done with the Republican Party unless we nominate one of their own.

It’s a BAD time to be reasonable my friend...

[DoughtyOne]

In reality the number of people who will sit home on Election Day out of spite or a misguided attempt to practice adherence to their particular conception of conservative orthodoxy is really quite low, no matter what they claim. For those of us who deal in reality and recognize that politics by nature involves compromise, we’ll go with the best option we have, as it is always better than allowing our opponents to make our choices for us.

You know what, that's a really great assessment.  Bush scraped by in the year 2000, by the slimest of margins.  In 2004, it wasn't much better.  Now you suggest that dumping those who are conservative, and voting in another person who will implemnt liberal policies, would be a great victory.

Number one, you don't have any margin.  Number two, providing you can get another leftist in there without us, what's the victory going to be worth when the guy will implement 25% cosnervative policy and 75% liberal policy?

I've argued both sides of this issue.  I know that it's a tough sell.  Either we stand up and demand a conservative, or the RP leadership will continue moving to the left, because it works for them.

Is that really what a conservative should hope for?  Should we spend another eight years without someone championing conservatism from the White House?  How about 16, 24, 32 years?  How long do we drift left implementing liberal policies 75% of the time?  How long do we allow this generation and the next to go without hearing good sound conservative principles, and seeing them implemented?

[dragonblustar]

compromise

If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.- Margaret Thatcher