I think there is a reasonable threshold beyond which you should refuse to concede on an issue of principle. I am normally a person who insists on principle above all other considerations, but in this election I have chosen to deviate from Principle because the pragmatic argument is simply too powerful.
Then they were not really principles you held to begin with. 'Reasonable threshold'?
Tell that to the Christians in Iraq, Egypt and Syria who are being told to 'convert to Islam or watch your family die'. To men, that might be a 'reasonable threshold' to surrender your principles, even though there is no guarantee that the Jihadists are not going to kill them and you anyway (making sure you and your family die as Muslims). It can be argued that deviating from principle because convert now, repent later and save your family is a powerful pragmatic argument. Certainly a powerful pragmatic argument to the reasoning of men, except that denial of principle will cost them their salvation since Christ said explicitly that if we deny The Father before men, He will deny us before The Father.
That's life and death there. This is just politics we're talking here.
Anytime you would choose to surrender a principle for pragmatism, you've surrendered your principle completely because you obviously are not governed by it. It was never a principle to begin with. Just a guideline that can change for the sake of expedience.
We have from Trump the most significant concession on an issue of principle; that he will nominate conservative judges, and he has even supplied us with a list for our perusal.
You have no proof of character that he will nominate such judges, and no hope that the Senate will confirm them given the Democrat promise to block any such nominee. To surrender principles because of a fool's hope that Trump will NOMINATE someone Conservative - is beyond foolish. You will end up hearing from Trump that the REALITY of getting a Conservative Justice confirmed is not gonna happen, so Trump has to nominate a less-than-radical liberal that the Senate will agree to confirm. Because, if anything - life is a sporting event for Trump and he has to 'win', he cannot risk 'losing' a nomination. Your faith in Trump has exceeded your own foundation in what you claim to be principle.
It has become a contest between a rather unprincipled Oskar Schindler sort of fellow and a True believer Socialist-Fascist psychotic hate-witch.
So Trump is Reagan, Trump is George Washington, Trump is Patton, Trump is Jesus and now Trump is Oskar Schindler. Trump is all things to all men and all things on every position. What were you saying about True Believers again?
There is a point at which insisting on principle should require you to lose the political debate
A perfect illustration of Isaiah 30:10 being displayed there.
The most significant issue of principle is whether or not we are going to survive. At the moment, that is the only principle which we should be insisting on defending.
Tell that to Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego. They chose principles over pragmatism.
So you are willing to surrender EVERYTHING, for the mere promise of "surviving". That is how slaves are made. Thanks for demonstrating.