you did four years ago? >> i think what i'm telling you to do is pick the more conservative of the candidates. and it's not to settle for something less than what you believe is the best. and sometimes the best isn't that great but it's the best. and as i've said, i'm not a perfect candidate. but i would make the argument that i believe that we're the best alternative out there. in the case of governor romney and john mccain, i settled for what i thought was the best alternative out there. >> all right. welcome back to "morning joe" live from java joe's. it is here, joe. it's caucus day. >> it is caucus day. >> and joining us now, prize winning columnist and associate editor of "the washington post" and msnbc analyst, eugene robinson. also, msnbc political analyst and former chairman of the republican national committee michael steele. i was noting a lot of republicans yesterday at the