The money quote:
“When you have genuine affection for someone, it’s easy to block out his faults”
Ever.. so.. true.
That is the reality. At this point in time Trump leads just about everywhere.
So many of those who detract look at Trump's opinions before his conversion to conservatism in 2011. That's fine, but the important question for me is the consistency of his positions since 2011.
I'm of the group that thinks conservatives WANT to have people convert to our side. I want to give them a chance to grow in their conservatism. I realize it will be a process. But, if we're rejecting new converts, then isn't conservatism dying?
So, has Trump been consistent on the big issues, so far as I've been able to tell? Life, yes. Guns, yes. Freedom of religion, yes. America first, double yes with a bullet. Pro-military, yes.
I could go on, but those are the huge issues for me.
The fine points of a tax policy, or a health policy, or an energy policy, are not so much an indicator of degree of conservatism.
So, I think Hawkins is a ‘doctrinaire’ conservative who believes that “ethanol” is as much a disqualifier as is “guns”. I disagree.
He thinks that attacking one’s opposition during a campaign is somehow unseemly, but two things: (1) If Trump hasn't been subject to continual attack, then I'm blind, deaf, and mute; and (2) I WANT my candidate to attack. Romney, McCain, Dole, and the pansy class republicans bowing and scraping to political correctness is disgusting. GW Bush's refusal to defend his own administration still sticks in my craw as his greatest failure and the primary reason we have Obama.
And Trump has already attacked Hillary. And he's the only one with the guts to do so.
So, John Hawkins, if you read FR: I think you're wrong.
But the real question for each of us is IF our preferred candidate fails. I will gladly support Ted Cruz, or Marco Rubio, OR.... Will you gladly support Trump? Or would you be part of the conservative group Rush talks about that will vote for Hillary if either Cruz or Trump win?
“When you have genuine affection for someone, it’s easy to block out his faults”
Yep, we love Cruz. He’s been a true and loyal conservative.
So I intentionally examine my judgement for bias.
Out of respect I first assume a Trump fan does the same.