They were “moderate” because that’s what the public wanted - continuation of FDR’s New Deal, i.e. socialism lite! Any Republican who even hinted at rolling back the New Deal got no where! Does Barry Goldwater ring a bell? The best you were going to get was a “sort-of-we-can-manage-it-better-with-conservative-principles” or as my late father describes “Me To-ism “.
The public wanted “socialist magic” how can a GOP politician say no if he wanted a career in politics. It’s still that way!
The public wanted another Reagan and instead got no one remotely close-the establishment stooge forced on him Bush moved left and every POTUS up to incl Obama moved further left.
Dems lost 1100 elected office fr 2010-2016-a record by 600.
Lerner, Russia, scamdemic, Ukraine-the losing would’ve continued absent 90% industry/institution/billionaires colluding, conspiring to rig elections.