Already, I’m hearing from people who insist that criticism of, or even a lack of enthusiasm for, Ted Cruz or Rand Paul or Ben Carson is some kind of heresy driven by impure or devious motives. Opposition to Cruz means you hate the Constitution. Skepticism about Paul is a sign you want eternal war. And reluctance about Carson is wrong because YOU JUST DON’T GET IT!

If this is your first rodeo and you’re shocked by the nastiness of the conversation, all I can tell you is what I would tell the guy who complained when his prison cellmate “Tiny” insisted on braiding his hair: “This is the nice part; it’s going to get much, much, worse.” 

I remember the days when our criticism of Newt Gingrich (or allegedly insufficient enthusiasm for, variously, Gary Bauer, Fred Thompson, Rick Perry, or Michelle Bachmann and many others) caused many friends on the right to say really dumb things about National Review (though it’s amusing how many people act as if I don’t remember what they said. That’s why I will have to leave a nice note explaining why they’ve woken up with a half-starved ferret sewn into their abdomens).