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if we organize around positive rather than negative principles; if we declare what principles (not candidates) we are for.

Agreed. We need to make a distinction between timeless conservative principles and the partisan political choices available for any one particular vote.

When these two categories get mixed then all we get are posts in which otherwise sane FReepers scratch each others' eyes out over some failing or other of some candidate.

There are obvious RINOs, then there are RINOs that a FReeper might vote for over a lib or a leftie, then there are (rarely) conservative Dems that might be a better choice over a socialist-lite RINO, then there are elections in which no principled Conservative could vote no matter who was running.

Principles vs. partisanship should be clearly defined and separated IMO.

There are obvious RINOs, then there are RINOs that a FReeper might vote for over a lib or a leftie,

Voting for a RINO no matter what is still rewarding them for being a RINO. Your vote is the one thing you have and if you toss it to a RINO, your putting your stamp of approval on their actions.

then there are elections in which no principled Conservative could vote no matter who was running.

The one thing Conservatives have is our vote and we should never hold it back. I've wavered on this at times, but now I realize we need to make ourselves heard and that may mean supporting a Conservative third party - that's the only way the GOP will realize that we are still out there and still voting. If we don't vote, they won't know we exist and they'll continue chasing moderate (liberal) votes.