If asked here, there would be substantial numbers who would offer a knee-jerk, emphatic "YES"!!!
This despite: "Free Republic is an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web. We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America. And we always have fun doing it. Hoo-yah!"
This statement of purpose is why I got on board here, despite my meager contributions. I can only assume that various others thought this was an official Republican site.
Most imature political folks believe that an elected official can govern and get elected by being either far right or far left. They cannot. They cannot move any farther than the majority of those who elected them. In Bush's case he is about a far right as is possible to get elected and even that was down to the last 500 votes.
Its our job as conservatives to change the hearts and minds of the people. As we do so, the elected officials both Rat and GOP alike will move toward conservatives ideals.