Actually what I am reading on this thread and others is not that we need to compromise on important issues, but rather there is only ONE real important issue.
Principles be damned, the only issue is the aquisition and maintenance of political power.
All those campaign issues are just that, only good for the campaigns. "Once we have power, we can do whatever we please", seems to be the political realities we are being encouraged to adopt.
Well my friend, I am not part of that "we" any longer. I liked our principled role as "loyal opposition" much better than I "selling principle" for power.
It looks as if the close numbers in the last Presidential Election are being used to make conservatism look more like liberalism and therefore get a larger base of support. The problem is and many here, without stating it, are having a hard time defining what they support, other than getting and keeping office.