#####The GOP is now a fiscal liberal/social conservative party. Fiscal liberal meaning spending money on every program in sight - social conservative meaning "morality police" and establishing a theocracy.#####
I agree with you on the fiscal liberalism. But the theocracy charge is utter nonsense. Was America a theocracy from 1776 through about 1973? Listening to a lot of people, you'd think so. Social conservatives simply want an America like A) the Founding Father intended and B) like it was until activist social liberal judges changed it.
#####Without the war on terror, I doubt the GOP would get more than 45% of the national vote.#####
Then why is the GOP performing so well in states where the so-called "theo-cons" run the party (the south and heartland) while it's stagnant in areas where socially liberal Republicans hold sway? Lose the "theo-cons" and the GOP will perform nationally at about the level they perform in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The GOP is doing fine in those states. There are also several democratic governors and congressmen from red states so it is not like those states are locked down.
If the GOP would ease up on the theocon aspect, it would do much better in the blue states. There are actually several GOP congressmen and governors from blue states. They won election by focusing on fiscal issues rather than religious and moral issues. Without these senators, the GOP would be in the sold minority.
For example, several senators from blue states won statewide elections in 2000 and 2004 while Bush lost the state handily. There is just no way a that a theocon is going to win a statewide election in CA, NY, New England, the west or the northeast That is why guys like Arnold and Rudy have been able to hold offices in democratic strongholds.
Look at how well Keyes did in Illinois. He ran as a total theocon and got less than 27% of the vote in a state where Bush got over 44%.
If the GOP would just soften the theocon assault and just concentrate on national defense, reducing spending, instituting fair taxation, strong border control and property rights, the democrats would never win another national election. Instead we waste all of our resources trying to force religion into schools.