No, I am looking for an argument from those who say Trump is the greater evil. You didn't read the first few lines. But you still might be able to help in the dialogue - can you tell me what you are "conserving" if Hillary wins and my scenario plays out?
In the first place, anything we say is incidental to the fact that Conservatives will not vote *for* him, so anything I say beyond that is theoretical/academic. This isn't a matter of changing people's minds - It's a formulation that represents how to get the disparate factions of Conservatism to back your guy.
There is no leadership - It's way-of-life, which is why all the dirt-thrower's accusation of butthurt over Cruz are so very misplaced and off target.
But I would submit that Trump is invariably more dangerous than Clinton in what he represents - The same thing that Romney represents, which is a leftward swing - an adoption of liberalism within the party that is supposed to be the bulwark against liberalism. If the Republicans are liberal, then who rises in opposition to liberalism?
Answer:We do. The moment the Republicans loft a liberal candidate, we will be their enemy. And we will fight against them tooth and nail, because that's what Conservatives do.
So in the abstract, the fight against Trump is the preservation of a party with which to protect the principles of Conservatism - If the Republicans are that no longer, then we will leave it to die (which it will) and seek another party more in line with our way (as many of us have already done).
And he's not "my boy" - he's the GOP nominee. I didn't vote for him, and I'm a refugee from TOS because I was arguing with his supporters while there were primaries to be contested.
Welcome - Me too, though I just walked away.
Do not conflate Conservatism with the Republican Party - That has not been true for decades. I will guarantee that Conservatives will stay true to principle regardless of the Republicans. Many, many (including me) have left the party long ago.
It doesn't matter what the Republicans do outside of their commitment to Reagan. We will remain committed to Reagan (/Goldwater). I didn't leave the party, the party left me.
And I do not care if the world comes down around us all - I know Conservatism to be right, and I will be a Conservative till the day I die. Republican, not so much. Without the principles of Conservatism, Republicans stand for nothing.