I'm not advocating the election of Democrats. That may well be your interpretation of what I stated, but it is not.
If the political will is there to NOT vote for squishy, liberal Republicans, and the GOP is shown that your vote is not a "given", then (and only then) can you exert the type of influence you seek.
Electing liberal Republicans is no better than electing liberal Democrats. If you think differently, then you're part of the problem and not the solution.
If the mushy middle Bush stands to gain outnumbers the fundamentalist right Bush stands to lose, it's simple mathematics. I think that's the case right now. Instead of gaining influence, you may be marginalizing your voice.
If you really think that the volunteer citizens who run politics in this country at a level lower than the presidential concern themselves with winning the votes of people who are clearly looking for a reason not to vote for your candidates, I am sure that you have not been a member of too many party organizations.