But the Cruz supporters place conservatism above patriotism. I think you may inadvertently have expressed the root of the matter:
Cruz supporters understand that conservatism is patriotism and see no conflict between the two. Trump supporters have confused Trumpism with patriotism.
That might be the most dangerous element in the phenomenon of Donald Trump. His supporters such as yourself accuse others of cultism or religiosity and their opposition to him, when they should be looking in the mirror. It is their adherence to a grievously flawed man, their willingness to rationalize any grotesquerie, that distinguishes present-day Republican politics.
When this is over, whether Trump is the nominee or not, conservatism will have to recover from Donald Trump.
It is [our] adherence to a grievously flawed man I categorically reject your characterization of Donald Trump as "greviously flawed" and submit that it is hysterical, exaggerated, and irrational.
A huge majority of this forum, who didn't use to support Donald Trump, but instead started out supporting Ted Cruz, now have come to a position of overwhelming support for Donald Trump.
That did not happen in a vacuum, and, on average, every one of the members of this forum is every bit as patriotic and conservative as you are. It is wrong to insult their intelligence, political perception, or character.
Collectively speaking, there is near consensus on this forum that you are factually incorrect in your characterization of Donald Trump, to the degree that we are eminently willing to support Donald Trump's Presidential candidacy and nomination.
Your characterization of Donald Trump, interestingly enough, far exceeds the vehemence shown by even Ted Cruz himself, and happens to overlap rather strongly with that of the GOPe, the Left, the Media, and the Establishment in general.
You're insisting that we accept the hateful Establishment characterization of Donald Trump, and we reject that.
Donald Trump's campaign represents an existential threat to the Uniparty system, a system wherein, no matter who is in power, every member in good standing always has a place reserved for them at the feeding trough. If elected, Donald Trump is going to try to end that situation, to the best of his ability. Nothing good will happen in Washington until that initial step has been taken.
In supporting Donald Trump, our conscience is clear enough. He represents, by far, the greatest potential for steering the American ship of State for the next 4 to 8 years.
Conversely, these same people have weighed Ted Cruz in the balance, and he is the one who has been found most wanting. If he wishes to redeem himself, he will unify this party instead of attempt to divide it.
Thus you, Ted Cruz, the GOPe, and all other elements of Donald Trump's opposition are not going to win this debate in this community. The debate has moved against your preferred candidate decisively, and is concluding even as I write these words.
Thus, if you continue to propagate narratives which we deem to be false, and which seek only to undermine unity, and which serve no constructive purpose, please don't be surprised if your diatribes are met with an increasingly dismissive attitude.
The GOP electorate does not want a contested convention. They want the party to unite behind its presumptive nominee, Donald Trump.
Vote Trump