[entropy12]

Nominating Cruz is the easier task. Stopping the left and MSM (where majority of voters get their shallow information) from smearing Cruz is the much harder task. I am afraid it will be a Goldwater size loss.

Palin & Cruz will change the direction of country more than anyone else I can think of. Sadly both are vulnerable in the general.

[Mariner]

"Sadly both are vulnerable in the general"

EVERY Republican is vulnerable in the General Election as all the cultural and media entities line up against them every time.

Should we let that be the measure of our candidates?

I think not.

Let's put up our best, whomever that may be (too early to pick) and let the chips fall where they may.

[SoConPubbie]

Palin & Cruz will change the direction of country more than anyone else I can think of. Sadly both are vulnerable in the general.

The problem that those pushing Rand Paul refuse to acknowledge is that by his walking away from the Social issues and pushing an Amnesty plan, he is going to get creamed far worse than Mitt Romney.

Reagan started back 30% to Jimmy Carter and still won because he stuck to the conservative message.

Any viable conservative, and I don't include Rand Paul in that categorization because of the aforementioned policy positions, will have the same problem going forward.

Both the GOP-E, and the Left have it out for any true conservative.

It doesn't mean they can't win if they continually articulate conservatism and refuse to compromise, it just means it will be a tough road to victory.

[9YearLurker]

With a repeat landslide winner in Reagan, but ‘safe’ losers in Dole, McCain, and Romney, I don’t see how you can possibly draw that conclusion.