Who gives a rip about what the Republican party thinks?! Who did the party prevent from running? Is there some great conservative who really wanted to run, but the party held them back??
Wouldn't it be great to have a nice, solid conservative as the candidate. And you think we don't - because of the party? No, the party doesn't vote for candidates - it's the voters, stupid! (or more accurately perhaps - the stupid voters 8^)
Conservative have a grand history of being home to the congenital complainer. Those individuals who, when everything is not perfectly to their satisfaction, take their ball and go home. Why? For the sole purpose of the chance to gloat "Na nah! See - I knew you couldn't win without me!".
Those who don't vote - for lack of a preffered candidate - may think it's principled. I disagree - it's simply petulance & whining...
This has been my argument all along. Anyone could have jumped in. As the voting process moved along, this is what we're left with. It's childish to sit home and blame the establishment. People act like this is just another run-of-the-mill Democrat vs. Republican election. Well it's not. The survival of the country is at stake and I think Romney gets that. I was a strong Perry supporter and was disappointed when he dropped out. That doesn't mean I'm going to sit out the most important election of our lifetime.
Since you asked...
“Who did the party prevent from running? “
Money. They refuse to fund those they do not want to run. It is a HUGE machine to get going and the party can stomp a candidate or promote them.
By your comments, you obviously haven’t a clue how this thing works.