Romney isn’t conservative enough for a solid conservative website freerepublic, but he is within the bounds of the Republican party (which, as we all know all too well, is not simply the “conservative party”).
As are some others whose names are bandied about as RINOs here.
Just listened to an interesting book, although not particularly well-written, “Empire” by Orson Scott Card. Not a fan of his politics by any means, but he had an interesting although misguided epilogue about party polarization and “lock-step” issue identification which would be an excellent launching point for a class on political science (Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a written version online to link to, and I certainly didn’t find it interesting enough to actually transcript it).
He suffered of course from the same problem he was critical of — having made his argument, he essentially demonized the “extremists” in both parties whom he accused of “demonization” of their opposition.
Anyway, on web sites throughout the internet, many followers of every politician come across like cults, and conservatives are no exception. Of course, nobody thinks THEIR devotion is cult-like (nobody ever thinks they have joined a cult).
No he is not in the bounds of the republican party, that is why after 17 years of campaigning and spending fortunes, including at least 60 million dollars of his own, the man still can not gain real traction among the GOP.
Why are you rino types always attacking freerepublic as being fringe people when we don't support your rino candidates, I guess the enemies of conservatism share a world view and a common enemy list.
By the way, when you make that kind of claim which is a basic part of your politics, you prove that you are here to move this site a little to the left.