Here on FR you have to take Palin off the list because she is supporting McCain and that makes her a RINO. You can’t have Ann Coulter on the list because she disagrees with the birthers. That makes her a RINO. Thompson and Jindl have both been called RINOs here at one time or another. Get the drift? We’re too busy eating our own here on FR to be of any use in recapturing control in 2010 or 2012.
I completely agree. I am amazed at the number of people here who seem to thrive on "writing off" potential candidates as no one is a pure and conservative as they are. Funny thing is that so often, their opinions are not, IMO, rooted in conservatism, but in their own personal populist leanings.
The problem with liberty in our society is that if we have it, we must also give it to others. Conservatives who want to control the lives of others are really no better than liberals who want to do the same. Conservatism is a set of principles, not a set of litmus tests. Principles can be applied differently with different results, and still be rooted in conservatism.
Of course, I expect to be chastized for this post since it no doubt will gore someone's ox and make me a RINO in someone's eyes.