[tobyhill]

The problem with the Republicans is that when they built this big tent party they invited too many NE and NW Republican Liberals that haven't given a crap about what us good-ole Southern Conservatives thought and they would rather take down the party than meet the base even half way.

[George W. Bush]

...they would rather take down the party than meet the base even half way.

If they want a suicide pact, we can't stop them. But my vote can't be blackmailed. And I'm more scared of them than Hillary. If Rudy gets the nomination, it will be the end of conservatives in this country. We'll end up like Canada or Britain: our choice between two very liberal parties.

Better to lose one election with a conservative or a moderate than to lose every election hereafter to an entrenched system of two liberal parties.

I think Rudy will help Democrats downticket. His presence on the ticket will harm conservative or even moderate Republicans at every level.

[CommerceComet]

The problem with the Republicans is that when they built this big tent party they invited too many NE and NW Republican Liberals that haven't given a crap about what us good-ole Southern Conservatives thought and they would rather take down the party than meet the base even half way.

To meet half-way, both parties have to move. I have yet to see anyone proclaim on this forum that they would never vote for Newt or Duncan Hunter. "Good-ole Southern Conservatives" got their candidate in 2000 and again in 2004 and for the most part, the NE and NW liberals in the Republican Party came along.

Supporting the candidate of their choice isn't taking the party down. Throwing a hissy fit because your candidate lost and voting third-party is taking the party down.