See I don't want a candidate just because the NYT attacks him (that is going to be true of whoever the GOP nominee is). That is a fine as one qualification I suppose, but what really matters is whether he is an actual conservative selling conservatism to the "average Joe". Trump is bordering on selling "truther" far left talking points. I don't want a bunch of paulbot types infesting forums because Trump won't discount conspiracy drivel. What you are describing is straight out of the Ron Paul playbook. He rarely endorsed conspiracy theories, but would never disassociate himself from people who peddled them.
Trump is an American success story first and foremost. Everyone seems to be having a really hard time categorizing him.
America first. Go Trump. Tell them the truth.
The beauty of Donald Trump is that he appeals not just to conservatives (minus the "true conservative" hysterics who end up voting for pro-amnesty conservatives anyway!), but to moderates and even liberals. That's why Trump is leading even the blue collar vote by an extreme amount. He doesn't come off as just a mindless, loyal robot of the GOP.
There's nothing particularly conservative about airbrushing Bush's record prior to 911, nor even after 911, with his immigration policies still in place.
The whole "we can't question Bush!" stuff is cute, but it doesn't sell with the rest of the electorate.
My top priority is whether the candidate will actually cut the federal government since that government is the enemy of conservatives and conservatism.