The Last 5 Republican Presidents aren't conservative enough for today's Conservatives-

".. the GOP has drifted so far right that it's retroactively disqualified the only Republicans since 1960 who've actually managed to, you know, win national elections. Based on their public statements, policy proposals, and accomplishments while in office, none of the modern Republican presidents—not Richard Nixon, not Gerald Ford, not George H.W. Bush, not even Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush—would come close to satisfying the Republican base if they were seeking election today."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/237737

Sarah Palin.

Jesus In Name Only

Where is the outrage of the NON-rightwing republicans? The true moderates, real Buckley conservatives, even the progressives? They don't want to be democrats but their party is no longer recognizable. Why don't they stand up and take back their party? What benefit do they get by leaning that far to the right?

It just makes them appear more Right. For example, in Ike's day, abortion and gay rights were never even talked about. I'm pretty sure Ike and his kind opposed both, but since they weren't issues it made Ike appear more moderate.

Likewise, Reagan never mentioned gay marriage, because it didn't even become a topic until the 90's.

IMO, I disagree with the OP. Reagan was far more conservative than Bush II, and he was a true believer. He opposed the MLK holiday, and only signed it into law when both Houses passed it with veto-proof majorities.

I also don't think taking away civil liberties like the Patriot Act and warrant-less wiretaps are necessarily conservative. They seem downright fascist to me.

Even if many are now saying, "Wait, do I really want to go that far right?".

Remember when people use to use the term "Compassionate Conservative"? No one even bothers anymore, they don't have to.

Even Bill Clinton overtly worked to reduce military spending, Obama wouldn't dare. Doesn't even mention it.

All the energy of industry and politics is moving towards Corporate Fascism and I am less and less hopeful we have any power to stop it. At this point I don't see elections even slowing it down.

not moderate muslims
not moderate christians
not moderate republicans

like the drug war, walking back from the edge is nearly impossible.

for a 2nd term. The RNC refused to invite Mary Louise Smith-former head of the Republican National Committee and Robert D. Ray, longtime Republican Governor, both from Iowa. Already then these lifelong Republicans were not nearly conservative enough for the mouth-breathers the gop was targeting.

He was pretty much a live-and-let-live libertarian on many social issues.