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G26ster wrote:So the goal is to WIN! So let's see. The troops wanting to win select their preferred general. The troops who didn't get their general selected stay home and don't fight for the selected general. That's the way to win for sure. Yeah, right

To take this analogy further:

It's easy to lay the blame at the feet of the soldiers who won't fight for the new general, but what blame lies at the feet of those who elected that general despite repeated, earnest warnings from the rank and file (whose support would be needed for the win) that many had a moral and ideological roadblock preventing them from ever fighting for him. Either the "winners" doubted those convictions or didn't care, but it's clear that the warnings weren't heeded.

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I'll leave this digression where it is and agree with Charles that supporting the NRA has never been more important than it is now.

I already liked Cruz, and last night he elevated himself several notches in my view.

As for the pledge, first, I do think that last night's speech was supportive of Trump and upheld the pledge. More importantly, I think that pledge comes with some basic, common sense, tacit terms and conditions. The unprecedented nature and outright extremity of Trump's behavior in his personal attacks against Cruz' family would easily exempt Cruz from the obligation almost as clearly as if Trump had followed through with his hypothetical situation and shot a person on the streets of New York. I would say this even if Trump had apologized, which, of course, he hasn't.

Mr. Trump may never understand that some things - for some people - are never for sale at any price. I admire Cruz for holding to his principles and standing firm in defense of his family's honor.

I think the speech was in a way a conditional challenge to Trump - to uphold the core conservative principles and not to waiver from them, and in turn, the Party will unify behind the ideology and anybody who advances it.