You missed a couple of my points by a country mile but it's okay. We just disagree and I don't attempt to persuade after most FReepers and the Tea Party rejected Governor Perry. It became clear to me that winning the presidency was of no importance. Neither Cain, Bachman, nor Santorum would succeed in that effort. I'll vote for whomever is in the Republican slot in the general election. Making a statement by not voting does nothing and insults our right to vote. It's very likely Romney has been battered beyond repair. Most people don't know or don't like Santorum. Newt = great statesman with baggage too heavy to carry. The presidency doesn't matter nearly as much as the congress and local elections. What am I? I'm a sensible, fiscal conservative who believes social issues are controlled through good parents and churches demanding the best thing for their kids at the local level. I believe the president is but a figurehead.
Most people I've seen say they'll be showing up to vote for their Congressmen and writing in a President if there is no conservative choice available. I'm considering Newt/Palin or Newt/West myself. I definitely don't believe Newt has too much "baggage," certainly not compared to Obama. Most incumbent presidential elections are a referendum on the economy, so it was stupid for anyone to consider "electability" to such a degree. However, this is the first time we might lose even in a bad economy, because it's extremely unusual for the party to nominate a candidate who is both unlikable and way on the opposite end of the political spectrum from the party's base. Mitt from the beginning was the most unelectable candidate of the bunch except possibly for Gary Johnson.
Good parents and churches can't restore my legal right to stop my children from being aborted without my knowledge or consent. And they can't stop tax and legal benefits from being bestowed on homosexual couples as if their actions were equivalent to that of a married husband and wife.