I appreciate your points and your list of Republicans who lost, but I don't think it's fair to use this particular election to say only moderates can win future elections. I think it's fairly safe to say this election showed it is very difficult for any party to control Congress for both terms of a two-term president. Historically, the majority party loses just like the Republicans did this mid-term election. What it does prove, IMO, is the majority party must do something really significant to keep the majority all eight years. Given a long-term war the likes of the Cold War, a do-nothing Congress, an MSM cheerleading for the Democrats, RINOs stabbing the party in the back, a president stiff-arming his base in support of amnesty and "big government conservatism (?!?!?)" it's little wonder we couldn't hold onto the majority.
marron's post #32 got it right.
What I am saying is that we scared them away, and in doing so, we lost.