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Seems to me there are two types of folks that are required for Republicans to win. Without bot, the republicans and both types of people lose.

The first type is the social and economic conservative. They want smaller government but still want government meddling in folks lives (as long as government meddles on behalf of their values).

The second is the libertarian (small L). They want smaller government and are willing to tolerate different values as long as their values are tolerated as well.

Granted, most people don't fall purely in one camp or the other, but fall along some continuum between the two.

The social conservative types drive away the libetarian types who don't want government involved at all. Social conservatives deride them as puritans and social relativists. Libertarians drive away the social conservatives, and characterize them as little old ladies too interested in everyone elses business.

As a result, we end up with horrible candidates that lose.

Unless the Republicans can focus on the issues that unite both (and the undecided) they willl continue to wind up under Democratic rule and get NONE of what they want and everything they DON'T want.