And you would have conservatives go where, exactly? The reality is we're going to have to settle for getting what we can now and fighting another day for the rest.
So, if we would just stop this crazy practice of standing for principle, our principles would prevail, eh?
I know what you are saying. But Conservatives have been waiting to fight another day since forever; Reagan was the exception, not the rule, and the mainstream GOP (and certainly not the Dems) will not let that happen again. Even the current President Bush is more moderate than conservative, though he has done some good things. He also has done some things that make traditional small government conservatives cringe.
The only way to change is for conservatives to get together behind the conservative candidates completely; the moderates are not enough. Now, I know what you would say: the liberal dems would wind up winning. But losing may be the only way to turn the GOP to the right.
Otherwise, if the Conservatives continually roll over and elect the moderates, the GOP has no incenive to move to the right. And the country winds up with policies that are only marginally (if at all) different from those of the left.
Tell the GOP: elect the Conservatives, or watch from the sidelines.