OK, to follow up on my last post, Sirk ...
You've been a friend from day one that I came on this board, and we've shared a few behind the scenes exchanges that have been enjoyable and built camaraderie. Trump doesn't really "stir me up," but the rush to embrace him certainly has.
I truly mean it when I say that his showmanship is a dangerous thing, and while you have a valid point that conservatives need to wake up, a true conservative mimicking his style is ill-advised at best. I also mean it when I say that he can't be trusted as a conservative. He obviously hasn't been most of his adult life, and this "sudden conversion" is suspect at best.
It does pain me that people I like and respect are being, as I consider it (with apologies if I'm wrong), deceived by his showmanship. We have, as conservatives, been vocal about mindless liberals' nine-second soundbites and 30-second Madison Avenue slick spots and the negative impact they have on campaigning. And now we're going to embrace the very same thing in Trump? That just doesn't make sense to me.
Putting it all aside, we need to end this feud and get back to where we were. My being irked at seeing what I interpret as you fawning all over Trump ... ? I guess I need to get over it. But I need to be less aggressive in addressing you and others regarding support, or whatever it is you are giving the guy.
I truly hope and pray the guy self-implodes or is deflated by other candidates. In my opinion, he would be a millstone around the neck of the GOP. His style is abrasive, it puts off the independents and moderate Democrats who might be tempted to vote Republican next year, and there are so many candidates more qualified than Donald Trump to carry the party banner.
But we can't let our friendships, cyber or otherwise, be destroyed by our disagreement over who he is and his impact on the nomination process.
I apologize for having offended you. I apologize to everyone else I offended. I haven't changed my mind, but I can tone down the nonsense.
Your turn, brother ...