I find your analogies to be flawed and won’t address them. What I will do is repost something I wrote to another FReeper on another post. This FReeper was denigrating Jim Robinson for refusing to vote for Romney. You haven’t done so, but you are making some of the same erroneous assumptions about the power of Ryan to hold Romney in check.
What follows is my previous post after quoting the person I was responding to:
“It is ..... surprising to see Jim Robinson actively working to defeat Romney ... and doing that has the result of giving David Axelrod a free gift. If that doesn’t shock a longtime Freeper, well, have nice day.”
No, I am not shocked I am pleased to see such courage. Romney is NOT conservative. Romney will “de facto” be painted as the “Conservative” candidate by the MSM. Therefore, he will damage the brand “Conservative” by his future actions. It is quite possbile to discern those actions based upon his past actions. When Romney screws up, and he will, the brand of “conservatism” will suffer because most people aren’t wise enough to know that Romney is not conservative. This will hinder, possibly for a very long time, the chances of getting a real conservative as POTUS.
Once again, you imply that Jim Robinson (et. Al.) are giving support to the Dems by “opposing” the election of Romney. That is “spin” and an incorrect interpretation of what is going on. Also, it is insulting and denigrating. To protect conservatism from being maligned by a “false conservative” is an honorable and courageous thing to do. It is the only “correct” thing to do.
This stand has NOTHING to do with providing support to Obama, it is about protecting conservatism. You should stop saying or implying such a thing as Jim Robinson supporting Obama or his minions.
If one protects and insists upon true conservatism in a GOP candidate....that IS in the best long term interests of the country and the GOP. To sell out and support Romney for the pragmatic expediency of “removing Obama” does NOT fix the problem, it actually makes it worse.
No one disagrees that Obama is horrific...very horrific. However, if one compromises on bedrock principles (opposing abortion, opposing the Homosexual agenda) in order to get rid of him. Then they are using gasoline to put out a fire. It will not work, just make things worse. You will be replacing one wrong with another and do more damage in the process. Obama is evil, but Romney is NOT the answer to Obama.
If Romney isn’t the answer to Obama, then who? And by that, I mean somebody with a reasonable chance to defeat him?
All of my time and money is going to support conservative congressional candidates and local candidates. I refuse to give Romney a dime of my money or a second of my time.
Since I live in Texas, it doesn’t really matter who I vote for. Obama has no chance whatsoever of carrying my state.
As much as it pains me to to say it though, when it comes time to vote, I will probably hold my nose and vote for Romney. In politics, sometimes the only choice you have is to pick between the lesser of two evils.
I find validity in some of your analysis - except that I submit that you risk making “the brand of ‘conservatism’” an idol outright.
And I’m not so sure that “conservatism” has that much cachet outside conservative circles.
So I guess then, it’s a weak counter-argument - imho...
Also one could argue that assuming Romney does well during his tenure, it follows that Ryan would succeed him under the rejuvenated “conservative” moniker/brand (kind of the “soft-sell” approach) - continuing the recovery from the Obama years.
Optimistic - I know...
I’ve had all of these thoughts myself.
I will vote my conscious, but I trust that G-d has this election well in hand. If it is truly for the best that Obama has a second term, then Hashem will will it so.
sorry mark, but i cannot ignore principle this time...doing so only invites it again next time, as the campaign of *FEAR* has been ramped up in every election which Ive been priveledged to participate...
bambam sucks, and he WILL go for broke in term 2, and ive made peace with that... I will trust Gods plan and promises...not another political campaign of empty lies, rhetoric and moral failures...
let the beast called bambam take off the mask and go for *it*, maybe we can right the ship while ive still got the energy to fight...
The logical flaw in your proposition is that it assumes Romney to be equal or worse than Obama. Obama is much worse. Be clear about this critical fact, and the conclusion follows that Obama must be defeated, and Romney is the only option to do that.
Also, be advised: I saw John King on Anderson Cooper (CNN) a few weeks back discussing how the Obama campaign was going to allocate scarce resources to supress the conservative vote in swing states - specifically by using the abortion record of Romney to keep conservatives from voting for Romney, enough to give Obama the Presidency. What ever they do with paid media, they are likely to reinforce with their online efforts (e.g. trolls). I'd be suprised if they are not sometimes on FR trying to whip up discord under a false flag. Don't let them manipulate your emotions - stay clear about the big picture.
Romney/Ryan's administration will have room for people of Christian conviction and constitutional conservatives, Obama's will not. Obama's administration will have room for known perverts and communists, Romney/Ryan's will not.
Obama Must Be Defeated!
“Obama is evil, but Romney is NOT the answer to Obama.”
Uh, yes, in fact Romney is the answer to Obama. Electing Romney as President of the United States in 2012 is the ONLY legal way to remove Obama from office. It’s not the answer I would have picked. It’s not the answer I want. It’s not the answer I like. But at this time, it is THE answer! The ONLY answer. Doing ANYTHING else except electing Romney as President gives Obama four more years to finish off our country.