No offense CP, but you sound like every GOP centrist/moderate/liberal/RINO we've ever heard talk about this.
Just ask the RNC Treasurer's Office (Mike Retzer) if you can find anyone there who will tell you the truth. From what I can see, conservatives are definitely heading out the door. Maybe not critical mass yet, but definitely a trend.
It is generally accepted that conservatives are 30%+ of the base. The GOP cannot afford to lose even 1/3 of that, and yet that seems to be happening. Not necessarily people re-registering, but simply folding their arms and putting away their checkbooks (as I have).
This is a problem the GOP could easily have avoided and must have foreseen in dealing with some of the hot button issues the way they have. Consequently, they must also have decided early on to take the hits they are taking now (and which will, I believe, continue unless there is a dramatic shift to a true conservative agenda).
Two or three weeks ago I received another GOP funds solicitation call. I said my piece. There didn't seem to be much disagreement, or inclination to debate the issues, on the other end of the line. I think they've been hearing a lot of this.
Conservatives are more than 30 percent of the base. They're well over half, I'm sure. Also, I'm not a centrist, moderate, or RINO. I'm hard-right, believe you me. But a true fighter against the Left must consider what is still big enough to stand up to them. The Republicans are the only institution in this country with the ability to stand up to the Left. They DON'T, for the most part, but no one else even CAN. Therefore, we have to keep playing the game. Also, the GOP does prevent some even worse damage from being done. And that matters.
I agree with you that the GOP "could easily have avoided" this problem. But they haven't. So the question is what we patriots should do. I say we have no choice -- if we're serious -- but to fight within the system. The GOP system.