I respect that answery totally, and if you come to that conclusion after looking at a ten year record, then that’s a totally valid point of view. I would only make the following potential caveats:
A: When looking at a ten year record, keep in mind the contrast that will occur when you look at candidates with no record of being the person in charge. For example, I saw where one Bachmann backer actually bragged that she had never issued such an executive order. Well no kidding, she’s never been an executive. Just need to keep this in mind is all I’m saying.
B: Keep in mind that there is a fine line between reducing the Federal government’s power and increasing state government power. What I mean is, and it’s a damned difficult thing to judge, is that a person could be Constitutionally consistent by believing it is ok for a state or a county or a city to do something while violently opposing the Federal government’s right to do the very same thing. THIS is the underlying issue behind every decision as Governor that Mitt or Perry made that will cause conservative angst. And of course, then there’s the issue of whether any government entity should be involved, and that’s a valid argument. Like I said, this one is tough to measure sometimes.
C: There are realities - yes, ugly awful realities - of winning elections in certain states that do not extrapilate to winning nationally. As conservatives, we will NEVER get the government we want without Florida and Texas going the right way in Presidential elections. And yet, no one - NO ONE - can be successful in those two states without doing some things on certain issues - like immigration - that cause consternation. Again, this is a damned tough and sometimes nuanced road to navigate sometimes. I don’t claim to have 100% clarity here, just pointing out the intellectual problems we will face as conservatives.
For example, a Perry Rubio ticket - which would be an infinite improvement upon Obama Biden - and preferable overall to a Romney ticket - would still cause some conservative heartburn based on Texas and Florida consituents that they’ve had to answer to up to now.
Just some thoughts on why picking the right person ain’t easy and will always be somewhat unsatisfying in the end.
I find it interesting that I am expected to compromise on core values (to vote for a candidate with a radically different vision of the essential nature and proper scope of government) whereas Texans have no similar obligation to compromise on illegal immigration (an issue in which those who support it are 100% morally wrong and treasonous).