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Probably no more for either of us to add on our positions. I understand yours, while disagreeing with it.

What we must guard against is creating internal strife within a common cause. I still liken this to a battlefield and would go back to that for an analogy. In wars there are bad decisions, bad strategies, and stupid mistakes. Winners do not fixate on them, but rather move on to the next task at hand and try a different tactic. I also believe in broad front tactics. Interestingly, your ‘best case’ scenario wouldn't be possible if everyone committed to your strategy. Thus, in your best case scenario, we would both be choosing the right course of action. Wars take small and large unit actions.

The only thing that I'm very, very certain of going forward is that we have already passed a tipping point. Things are likely to change quickly and radically in our near future. We need to be ready to come together when that happens, no matter what past tactical mistakes we assign to each other.

Instead of picking at scabs with this type of article, I would recommend that you be straight forward about your strategy and reasons for it here on FR (as you have laid out in your responses to me). Yes, you will find many if not most disagree with your plan of action, but I think the vast majority agree with the summation of the problem. Regardless, your input and reasoning are valuable points for everyone to consider.

What we must guard against is creating internal strife within a common cause.

In many ways, this is what has bothered me the most about the Romney run for POTUS. His run for the WH has probably done more to divide the conservative movement than anything in my lifetime. The open hostility that has been expressed to me and others who won't vote for Romney has been shocking. I can understand why someone would vote for Mitt out of pragmatism as I can understand someone withholding a vote from Mitt on principle. His mere presence on the top of the ballot forces conservatives into that dilemma. The one thing that we can agree on is that Mitt without constraint is not a good thing for either the country or the conservative movement.

Interestingly, your ‘best case’ scenario wouldn't be possible if everyone committed to your strategy.

I agree. For my scenario to play out at least some conservatives in purple states are going to have to hold their noses and vote for Romney. Conservatives in solid red or blue states can withhold our vote - there are enough RINOs in my state that Mitt doesn't have to worry.

Instead of picking at scabs with this type of article, I would recommend that you be straight forward about your strategy and reasons for it here on FR (as you have laid out in your responses to me).

I've been involved in Mormon apologetics since I signed up on this forum a decade ago. Long before Mitt Romney decided to run for POTUS. It has been a passion of mine since I became a Christian 30+ years ago and the Holy Spirit saved me from Mormonism when I was a very naive about spiritual matters. I have no intention of stopping just because it is inconvenient to Mitt Romney and troubling to his supporters. As I stated earlier, I'm a Christian first, a conservative second, and a Republican third. I'm not going to let a third tier priority derail a first tier priority.

I have tried to present my views. Some Romney supporters have been understanding of my position, but most have been dismissive and insulting. They are apparently offended because some people won't vote for their candidate and they either try to shout the critics down or bully them into silence. Very few respond with anything of substance. Conservatives need to realize that regardless of this election's outcome, we will not have an ally in the WH. I'm very concerned that Cicero may be proven right and that the enemy within the gate will be far more dangerous than the enemy outside the gate. Despite the abuse, I have no intention of going away and will continue to express my views.

I apologize to you about my testy response last night. It was pretty snarky. I had just been dealing with one of those unreasonable knee-jerk Mittbots whose sole purpose on FR seems to be to insult anyone who hasn't completely committed to Romney. I was still annoyed at that attempt to shout me down and took it out on you.