I find it deeply unnerving that so many voted for Romney. I just...do.

[gtar100]

12. A lot of those reasons are why progressives have issues with Obama, not necessarily conservatives.

I've never heard conservatives lament about keeping Gitmo open (worried about closing it, yes; but not any concern for the people there or the possibility of injustice). Their worry about the use of drones in the Middle East is that it isn't enough...if they even are aware of it. And no complaints about the oppressive police state because that is targeted mainly against progressive movements. Discussions of right-wing violence are quickly hushed.

Your point on the deficit and taxes is about as close as it gets to the conservative heart and mind. But they are driven by slogans like "tax and spend liberals" and shit like that. If they were honest about the deficit and US debt, blame would include republican's never-say-no policy to defense spending and the amount of unnecessary money spent on corporate subsidies that benefits nobody but the recipient. But they don't. They focus on welfare programs instead.

You make a lot of good points on issues with the Obama administration, but they just aren't the reasons that I've heard conservatives give for not wanting him as president. But your last paragraph I'd say is pretty spot-on based on some conversations I've had. They really did believe he would be moderate, even after he went all tea-party on them.