Let us please, for the sake of all that is holy, put aside the endless ad hominems and accusations.
Donald Trump was a far better President than Joe Biden has been, or ever could be.
But in truth: that is a low bar to clear.
We can argue back and forth forever whether the 2020 election was "stolen" about as much as how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, and it will get us precisely: nowhere.
We can argue about Trump's virtues and vices with equal fervor, largely because he's got a kettle full of both.
He loves America and wants us to be a great nation. But he is a poor judge of character when it comes to his associates and is easily distracted, which allowed his Administration to be undermined by permanent Deep State actors in the Executive branch.
He secured our borders - but allowed Federal spending to balloon, unchecked.
He kept us out of foreign entanglements while keeping our enemies at bay. He appointed conservatives to the Supreme Court. But he failed to use his power to rein in an out-of-control Administrative state that conspired against him at every turn.
He needed to focus on advancing an America First agenda - but wasted weeks and months insulting everyone who disagreed with him, regardless of their abilities and potential usefulness as well as the need to secure legislative victories in the service of his agenda.
For conservatives - largely because we are supposed to think first and emote, second - the question is: "What is the best path forward now to save our Republic?".
At this moment, I think it inarguable that our nation is in peril.
So, I would suggest that we let the process move forward. Let the primary voters decide.
If Trump wins the nomination, we are faced with a binary choice, and must vote accordingly.
The GOP may be feckless, disorganized and tin-eared, but they are not the threat to American survival that the radical, Marxist Left now presents.
Personally, I like Ron DeSantis because he is conservative and demonstrably able in an executive role.
But I will vote for whoever the GOP nominates, and the only thing that gives me pause is not Trump himself - warts and all - but instead, his loudest supporters, who have made this election a matter of personality and cult-level adherence rather than one of national survival.
Which, make no mistake - it is.