[...] not run away like a coward.
The cowardly act is to eschew the very principles you stand upon for the convenience of the moment. Whether out of fear or some misguided notion.
The premise that I am operating under is that the Republicans have been rendered utterly useless precisely due to your line of thought - Somehow, a liberal Republican is better than a liberal Democrat...
The explicit effect of the voting practices like these have filled the halls of Congress with Republicans, no doubt - But also, at the same time, filled it more so with liberals, to the point that owning both houses has been completely ineffectual in stopping one of the most communist administrations ever foisted on the American people.
Voting for liberals, lesser or otherwise, continues the downward spiral to the day we accept our chains.
Voting for liberals ENDS Conservatism. I will do it no longer, and I care not about your fears.
Better the enemy outside of the gate than the enemy within. We've quite enough knives in our backs, thank you.