The GOP has to break away from the religious right and social issues, otherwise the party is doomed. Luckily I do see possibilities on the horizon in the form: Chris Christie, Scott Brown, Bob McDonnell and Marco Rubio.
You can't just kick people to the curb over night unless you want to embrace a good 20 to 30 years of Democratic rule. And it must be said, that amongst younger generations, there isn't a big group that will embrace the GOP the minute they stop caring about the unborn. They are also liberal on economic issues as well. At the same time, I actually don't think Democratic policies are in the best interest of the country on a lot of issues and as such the price of such a strategy is too great.
I should point out that certainly Rubio and McDonnell and maybe also Chris Christie (there is some conflicting info here) are pro-life.
The Republicans need a slower approach. Drop some stupid ideas like the FMA, reinvolve state's rights on social issues, be more effective advocates for their issues, and take a more balanced approached on defense (perhaps something like Newt's "Cheap Hawk" idea) as a way to bring Libertarians back into the base. THe main problem with this is they insist on 100% domination of the platform of any party they are involved, which would be just as bad as the Moral Majority's dominating it. Coalitions are about sacrifice.
THe key is the GOP can't go back to the 1950's where they won in northern New England, NY, PA and got murdered everywhere else (see 1958 Senate map). Rino elitism is not the answer to the GOP's problem. An out of touch centrist is just as much unelectable as a TP extremist.
Exactly how will losing part of a coalition lead to 20-30 years of Democratic rule? I'm curious to know. Plus, my generation (Millenials) will consider the GOP once you stop the worship of Reagan and stop alienating people who don't fit the base.
I think you really just don't want anyone who doesn't think like you in the party from what I see.
Both parties used to have ideological diversity and were able to win in areas, but not anymore.
What is the problem that conservative Republicans have with moderate-liberal Republicans anyways? RINO is a stupid term. It just means "(Insert group slur here)-lover". The GOP wasn't a conservative party in it's origins.
We lost that diversity when the New Deal Colition broke up.
