You are just wrong. Mr.Goldwater's beliefs late in life were entirely consistent with his earlier beliefs.
Conservatism is predicated on the belief that the activities of other people that cause no harm to others is unobjectionable.
Liberals and Puritans concern themselves with other people's activities. Fortunately, the Puritans are gone... it's the liberals we still have to worry about.
I think I see your error -it is one of not seeing the forest for the trees -more specifically, you see only the tree you cling to. Conservativism is being conservative -period -maybe you confuse Libertarian with Conservative?
As yo conservative -there is fiscal conservative, moral conservative etcetera -- [it] is an ideology LIKE Republicanism; conservatism comprises part of the Republican big tent. Moral liberalism is the banner you wave in this discussion -NOT moral conservatism. Moral liberals do comprise a portion of the Republican cause.
The Republican tent is quite large with many flavors e.g. libertarians and moral liberals -BOTH a minority within the Republican majority... Some moral liberals that put self gratification above the Republic have sided with the Democratic party where moral liberalism is the majority THEN again some moral liberals that put Republic ahead of self gratification have stayed with the Republican party... You simply have to choose, act, and accept your choice rather than whine like the DUmmies...