The only thing that has changed is that the right wing is no longer in control.
That is why Buchannon left.
But you cannot go far. Because of the need for the Republican party to win it had to liberalize a bit in order to garner a majority. They are riding the fence closely as the 2000 election revealed.
Bush, as leader of the party, is doing what he MUST DO to keep the party in the majority.
It is quite simple.
Lead, follow or get the heck out of the way. We must win to keep the rat infestation out. That is politics, not principles.