The Republican Party proved in the 80's with Reagan and in the '90's with the Congress that it can "get its members elected" by proposing conservative policy positions, appealing to the best in people, and exhibiting honest leadership. That just happens to add up to a conservative philosophy but not many people will vote for the philosophy alone.
"The Republican Party proved in the 80's with Reagan and in the '90's with the Congress that it can "get its members elected" by proposing conservative policy positions, appealing to the best in people, and exhibiting honest leadership."
In general, I agree with you. However, whatever the GOP might have thought or did 12+ years ago is not reflected in what it's thinking or doing right now. The GOP minority in Congress has basically turned it's back on conservatives and made a dash for the center-left on the hope that it can preserve what seats it has. They've tacitly accepted that that they will be a minority party for the forseeable future.
I really do feel badly for my conservative FRiends in the GOP. While I left the GOP many years ago and have little use for the party at this point, I do realize that there are a lot of conservatives who were and are invested in the GOP.