Frustrating, isn’t it? I’ve seen better retorts to fact on bathroom walls than the ones I’m seeing these days at FR from so-called conservatives. In the 15+ years I’ve been here, I was under the allusion so many here had principles. Any discussion regarding comments Trump makes that may be worthy of analysis by supposedly critical thinkers somehow turns into acusations of “you keep wearing knee pads for the ruling elite!†or similar profound declarations. Hell, I understand how Fatwas get carried out now.Frustrating? That depends if you really think that you can actually change minds here. Personally, I have no such allusions with many of the characters here. I would use the word "depressing" instead of "frustrating".
In regards to your characterization of the counter arguments encountered here, I would say your assessment of their quality is pretty fair.
1) establishment good
2) Trump's comments about healthcare, taxes, governmentt subsidies, Pelosi, Obama, the Clintons, abortion, and doing his daughter, are normal conservaty things we can overlook.
3) if you bring up Cruz's history of calling out Republican leadership or mention that he was called an ass by GWB, it's merely because he's doing the Bushies bidding. (Or because he's owned by Goldman Sachs. Never mind Trump has taken loans from Goldman Sachs and of the two men, only one has failed to pay back creditors)
Frustrating was ten years ago. This is just depressing as hell now.