{Shudder}

I also agree with you 100% on your summary:

"If our Republican office holders would actually govern by Republican principles without fail, Republicans (and the rest of the population) would win every time."

Even the "47%", much of whom IMHO would already be easily labeled as "conservative" (read: retirees & vets...people who contributed) are having a hard time relating to a candidate who is having such a hard time relating his ideas to the voters.