It happened in 2008. The GOP nominated a big gov't RINO, leaving honest conservatives no choice but to look elsewhere for a candidate to support in the general, write in a candidate of their own choosing, or stay home.
It may happen again in 2012. With the exception of Ron Paul, all the other candidates have proven big government records, despite their words to the contrary which is what got them elected to their previous offices. And by big government, this means Dept. of Education, Sarbanes-Oxley, TARP, debt ceiling increases, Medicare Part D, PATRIOT Act, and on and on.
If, as in 2008, the GOP nominates a big gov't candidate, honest conservatives such as myself will once again look beyond the GOP for a candidate to support in another party, as a write-in, or stay home.
Get the message, GOP. We are not playing the game of "lesser of two evils" any more. Either the GOP nominates a candidate who will in fact materially reduce the size of fedgov, or our vote will go elsewhere. The choice of Democrat vs. Democrat-lite is no choice, and therefore it matters not which of those wins the presidency.
I look forward to a day when all the candidates running for the GOP nomination are reliable small gov't candidates. Unfortunately, for far too long, the opposite has been true.
For this current cycle, among the remaining four candidates, the only choice in the GOP for small government is Ron Paul, none other.
No one but Ron Paul.