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Here's the problem: we have one party (the Democrats) that has gone from being a Center-Left party under Bill Clinton to a European style Democrat-Socialist party under Barack Obama. On the other hand, we have the Republicans, who have gravitated from being a Populist/Conservative party under Reagan to a Center-Right party under Bush 41, and a Centrist party (right-leaning foreign policy; left-leaning domestic policy) by Bush 43's second term.

The RINO contingent would now have their party move to fill what they see as a vacuum created by the Democrats - on the Center-Left. Which would leave us with a political spectrum much like Europe's: ranging from Socialist to Liberal.

Sound like a plan? Yes. A rotten one.

"The RINO contingent would now have their party move to fill what they see as a vacuum created by the Democrats - on the Center-Left. Which would leave us with a political spectrum much like Europe's: ranging from Socialist to Liberal.

One thing I believe you left out of your equation is the relative position of the parties to the general electorate. I think that there are many conservatives that are clinging to a 40 year reality, which is the country is a center right country. I don't believe that is accurate anymore, especially on a handful of very specific issues; Environment, Civil Unions, Immigration and Health Care. People may self-identify themselves as conservative, but on these issues the polling results clearly favor the Dems.

Let's take gay "rights" as defined as the ability for same sex people to engage in domestic union. While a majority of Americans don't want gay marriage, an equal majority is in favor of civil unions; and the trend favoring civil unions is growing. Furthermore, the fault line on this issue appears to be very generational (and somewhat racial as witnessed by the strong Black opposition to California's Prop 8), with the young supporting and the old resisting. This would signal over the long-term, support will grow for civil unions, not shrink.

I try to look at political realities not through lenses that are clouded by my own ideological beliefs, but through the empirical and numerical realities. Perhaps this is because my educational background is in accounting and economics. The issue specific (not ideological identifying) poll numbers and demographic trends do not favor and will not favor the traditional GOP positions for the foreseeable future.

While it may be a noble endeavor to hold on to what you feel are "core" beliefs, it may be a losing one when it comes to the country's elections; and a long-term one at that. If you want to cling to positions that are less and less popular in the country, so be it. But realize, those choices will have consequences and one of those consequences may be political irrelevance.