Still, you do raise some good points, namely that, as the Republican party has grown more self-limiting, it increasingly loses its ability to win elections.
Conservatism could be defined as good ideas held by too-often nasty people.  I wonder if, a year ago, a hard-working old GOP RINO like John McCain took a break from campaigning to browse the internet and see what strongly self-identified conservatives had to say for themselves.  Maybe he spent awhile at Free Republic.  Then, he shuts off the computer, sighs, and decides that these cranky, divisive idiots not only are incapable of governing, but are not an army any general would dare turn his back on.
The result is an oddly leaderless party.  There is an increasingly illegitimate, isolated Republican leadership; a "conservative" base like the all-against-all prisoners in "Escape from New York," and a broad swath of the population that can't stand the policies of the Democrats, but wouldn't be seen dead with the Republicans.
Look at some of the resident posters here, like MaidintheUSA.  She/he/it has responded to some of my observations with wholly unfounded personal attacks.  He/she/it has never offered anything thoughtful, useful or positive here at RM.  Yet this poster presents itself as a good conservative.  The only result is fewer people who would care to have themselves associated with such dubious "conservatives."