Never-Trumpers vs. Reluctant Trumpers

[Maj. Bill Martin]

If the trend among average Pubbies is away from constitutional conservatism and towards a Trump-style populism/nationalism, this country is screwed.

In that regard, I find at least some encouragement in the fact that Trump voters tend to be older, and that he only won a plurality of Republican voters overall.

[Bigun]

No, because that's what the numbers that any sane person can recognize say.  If you believe that someone other than the GOP or Democrat nominee has a reasonable possibility of being elected President in 2016, I think that's delusional.

And, as I have already said, that is because you have been conditioned to think that!

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

And, as I have already said, that is because you have been conditioned to think that!

I'd say you have a better chance of winning the lottery at this point.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Yes, it would be delicious to see and hear the moaning and groaning on the left if Hillary goes down. Only slightly more worse than the idea that Trump is the president.
Nevertheless, the defeat of Hillary would mean a number of good things: (1) socialism is not entirely the leading trend in politics (2) a fem-nazi  will have been defeated (3) appealing to the fact of your (female) genitalia does not automatically grant you high office (4) one rare positive aspect of Trump's campaign (love of your country) is still regnant for the majority of Americans.
No doubt, Trump's election would signal a lot of negative things as well including the destruction of the conservative movement in the country. That is what I am most worried about with a Trump election.  If the trend among average Pubbies is away from constitutional conservatism and towards a Trump-style populism/nationalism, this country is screwed.

Conservatism has been trending populist for a long time now.

[Bigun]

I'd say you have a better chance of winning the lottery at this point.

Buying a winning lottery ticket is a completely random occurrence.  Casting a well considered vote is anything but!

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Buying a winning lottery ticket is a completely random occurrence.  Casting a well considered vote is anything but!

They're both extremely unlikely events.

[roamer_1]

I can agree with many of your sentiments, but the facts are elections very often come down to voting for the least worst candidate. It would be great if we were always presented with an excellent choice to vote for, but that is rarely the case.

It has been my experience that there is always a Conservative choice. This year, my vote will go to Castle... He is an actual Conservative - And if there is a Conservative, that is where my endorsement will go, with every bit of enthusiasm that the Republicans will no longer receive. And if, by chance, there is a day that I cannot back a candidate that I believe in, then I will simply abstain

I'll admit Trump is the worst of all possible Pubbie candidates. 

He's a liar and a sham. He won his position by way of outright slander. There is simply no way whatsoever that I would reward that kind of behavior with my endorsement. A person of such low character cannot be trusted in any case. Those that do put faith in such a man will surely and quite predictably rue the day.

That won't be me.

[Smokin Joe]

Conservatism has been trending populist for a long time now.

No. Conservatism is a set of values. They haven't changed, despite attempts to redefine the word. The Republican Party has been trending populist, generally abandoning Conservatism. The two are not synonymous.

[Bigun]

No. Conservatism is a set of values. They haven't changed, despite attempts to redefine the word. The Republican Party has been trending populist, generally abandoning Conservatism. The two are not synonymous.

Exactly so! 

[Bigun]

They're both extremely unlikely events.

Well YOU casting a well considered vote may be an extremely unlikely event but I'll assure you that my doing so will not be!

[roamer_1]

I simply cannot understand why anyone would refuse to look at the entire range of options. It makes NO sense to me whatever!

Me neither... but admittedly, it took me a lot of thought to break past the normalcy bias surrounding that big rhinestone 'R'. A lot of folks are still on the other side of that.

[Bigun]

Me neither... but admittedly, it took me a lot of thought to break past the normalcy bias surrounding that big rhinestone 'R'. A lot of folks are still on the other side of that.

That is patently obvious!  All you have to do is read the last 20 or so comments on this thread to see that!

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

No. Conservatism is a set of values. They haven't changed, despite attempts to redefine the word. The Republican Party has been trending populist, generally abandoning Conservatism. The two are not synonymous.

Welp, conservatism as defined by conservative media has been trending populist for a long time now.

[Axel]

Me neither... but admittedly, it took me a lot of thought to break past the normalcy bias surrounding that big rhinestone 'R'. A lot of folks are still on the other side of that.

The difference is, this is a national election. The most progressive or most conservative candidates rarely make the cut because most voters don't identify as "very conservative" or "very liberal". Completely different story if you're talking about a local election or even state elections.

[roamer_1]

The difference is, this is a national election. The most progressive or most conservative candidates rarely make the cut because most voters don't identify as "very conservative" or "very liberal". Completely different story if you're talking about a local election or even state elections.

There is no difference. Vote for what's true. Do what's right. It works every time.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

And, as I have already said, that is because you have been conditioned to think that!

What conditioned you to think that someone who can barely get to 10% in the polls has a legitimate shot at actually winning the Presidency?

[Maj. Bill Martin]

There is no difference. Vote for what's true. Do what's right. It works every time.

If it worked every time, Ted Cruz (or substitute your preferred candidate of choice - I wanted Rubio) would be the nominee.

[roamer_1]

If it worked every time, Ted Cruz (or substitute your preferred candidate of choice - I wanted Rubio) would be the nominee.

Why would you think that?

[INVAR]

What are you talking about?  The reality is that either Hillary or Trump is going to be elected by voters, and my objecting to that doesn't affect it's "legitimacy" one way or the other. 

Your vote lends legitimacy to whatever you empower.

Which is why I will not be lending a vote to support either NY liberal Democrat running in the Uniparty for Dear Leader.

I do not care if 99% of the country will vote for the bastards, I will not be lending a hand to empowering them to office.

Period.

[Bigun]

What conditioned you to think that someone who can barely get to 10% in the polls has a legitimate shot at actually winning the Presidency?

My long held belief that doing the right thing is ALWAYS the right thing.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

My long held belief that doing the right thing is ALWAYS the right thing.

Begs the question of exactly what the right thing is, though, doesn't it?

Has everyone you've ever voted for won?

[INVAR]

Begs the question of exactly what the right thing is, though, doesn't it?

A nation that is totally unmoored from our foundational principles and religious heritage will do whatever they deem fit in their own eyes and declare it good.  It no longer knows what 'the right thing' is anymore.

So everyone becomes their own arbiter of right and wrong because society no longer shares a common morality or set of principles and dooms itself to ruin.

“You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes," - Deuteronomy 12:8

"In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." - Judges 17:6

That was precisely the cause of how Ancient Israel wiped itself from existence. 

So too, it would seem is our fate, by our own failed reasonings that justify ideas anathema to our foundations.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

Your vote lends legitimacy to whatever you empower.

Which is why I will not be lending a vote to support either NY liberal Democrat running in the Uniparty for Dear Leader.

I do not care if 99% of the country will vote for the bastards, I will not be lending a hand to empowering them to office.

Period.

That is why for years I've wished we had the ability to either give one vote to a candidate, or take a vote away from a candidate.  If HRC is going to be the next POTUS, at least she could know she won with a negative number of votes.

Might also be a way of giving other parties a legitimate shot.  I could seriously see Johnson pulling out a win this year.

[Bigun]

Begs the question of exactly what the right thing is, though, doesn't it?

Has everyone you've ever voted for won?

Doing the right thing is doing what your convictions tell you to do.  That is what I have always done and fully intend to keep right on doing until I assume room temperature.

Nope! But enough have and the only one of them who actually moved the ball toward less government was Ronald Wilson Reagan.   I'm looking for the second.

[Longmire]

Has everyone you've ever voted for won?

Of course not...meanwhile all sorts of damage gets done to the nation and the Constitution these folks claim to cherish. 

Fortunately not all conservatives are so afflicted.