In Reagan's case, as he drew the party in a new direction, his concessions were largely made before the full duplicity of our opponents were realized. I doubt very much that he would be willing to take those same decisions, given the broader map that we can see today.
GHWB got my vote, primarily as the successor to Reagan, and I was willing to give latitude to him as a war time president.
GWB got my vote the first go-around with much happiness, though with my trepidation toward his being his father's son overlooked in the face of his promised Conservatism.
He got my vote the second time around solely because of the war. I was already pretty thin on tolerance, but felt the war was more important. I have never regretted a vote as much as that one, and by the time the immigration bill happened, I was so pissed at him that I would wax apoplectic at the mention of his name. I am against him. I oppose him. I cannot wait for him to go back to Crawford, that I might begin to forget his very existence.
Largely due to Bush II and the last Republican Congress, I am not willing to sacrifice principle for expediency any longer. It is that self same expediency that has lost us the Congress, and seen our "Law and Order" party break the law and preside over the most heinous loss of rights and sovereignty in my lifetime, or at least the attempt to do so. Enough is enough. No more expediency. No more broken glass. I am more than ready to remove the whole lump and cast it from my presence.
Yet, in the midst of my ire, do I find acquiescence and the meat of Conservative political sustenance? No! I am left to chew upon the gristle of a gun grabbing, baby killing Northeastern RINO, and another BOHICA moment.
No more! I will never vote for another RINO ever again. There is no way I will compromise. You may keep your tepid promises, I vote on record. Conservatism is now my only political cause. I have renounced my membership in the Republican Party, and am proudly and solely a Conservative. It is NOT negotiable.
Life is NOT negotiable (and never has been).
Marriage is NOT negotiable (and never has been).
2nd Amendment is NOT negotiable (and never has been)
Immigration is NOT negotiable (and certainly is never going to be).
Strong Defense, Fiscal Responsibility, Small Government, I can go on and on.
No! I will move no more. I am asking only for what Republicans are supposed to stand for. If they can't at least do that, they will have no support from me.
/rant
Thanks for speaking my mind...