re: #286 AJStrata

There is no pure ‘conservatism’. There is a conservative movement which can accept and support some common ground, and are willing to join in political organization to progress that ground.

Purists feel they can dictate that ground. They can’t. You can’t change people’s beliefs. You can only join forces where those beliefs overlap, and enjoy the diversity where they don’t. Purists want to tamp out the diversity - it makes them uncomfortable.

The GOP’s problem right now is that the “diversity” they are willing to accept includes racism, bircherism and birtherism, but not environmentalism or support for abortion rights or gay rights. The diversity which they won’t tolerate is where the votes are available to pick up.