It is not an excuse, MAP. It's the truth.
The Republican party has NEVER been completely conservative.
In my lifetime......was Eisenhower conservative? Was Nixon conservative? Was Agnew Conservative? Was Rockefeller conservative? Was Ford conservative? NO, to all of the above, and they were the standard bearers for the party.
Barry Goldwater was the only nominee running as a conservative before Reagan, and he got tromped in the national election.
I will repeat it because it's the truth. The REPUBLICAN party has NEVER been completely conservative.
NOTHING has changed.