I think you do have a point in that many conservatives campaign and win on emotional “wedge” issues. Most people that I know that voted Republican in the last election did not vote Republican because they agree with the principles of supply side economics. Instead, their reasons for voting Republican was that they thought that if the Democrats won: Gays would marry, Minorities would take their jobs, Their Guns would be taken away, abortion would stay legal, and evolution would not be taught in schools.
I am not saying that there were not people that voted Republican because they do agree with conservative economic policies and other conservative principles, but you’re only talking about say 25 out of 100 people. The other 26 people out of that 100 that gave the Republicans a majority vote strictly on emotional issues. There is a reason for that old saying: “Vote Republican, it’s easier than thinking”. Because in many respects it is, Republicans make things seem totally black and white when they aren’t. The Republican party used to be the party of “Pragmatism”. Now they are the party of wedge issues and raw ideology. Wedge issues are what get them elected, but once in office, the reason why they typically have low approval ratings is that people don’t like raw ideology and don’t like the way they govern. Clinton was a centrist and was as pragmatic as a president could be. Consequently, the Clinton years brought about the greatest years of peace and prosperity our nation has ever had. That is pragmatism in action and that’s why he had the highest approval ratings of any president since FDR.
The fact is, there is no reason in Supply Side Economics, few economists subscribe to it and there are no Universities with Supply Side Economics departments.
There is no reason to Bush’s environmental policy of favoring industry interests over science.
There is no reason to having a government that promotes and endorses religious beliefs.
There is no reason to the federal government intervening in purely personal matters.
There is no reason in the belief that tax cuts without curtailing spending are good for long term economic health.
I can go on and on. I have to say though that I am sick and tired of raw ideology trumping reason and pragmatism. I would love to see a guy like McCain or Chuck Hagel or a Moderate Democrat win the Whitehouse in 2008 because these ideologues that are running things now if given time are going to run this nation into ground.