re: The GOP needs to return to its proper philosophical roots
Unfortunately, I can count on one hand--maybe two--the number of major politicians in the party who understand these principles.
Without them, you get things like McCain, who, sometimes in almost the same sentence, can talk about tax cuts and "the evil rich," or Constitutional rights and "campaign finance reform."
"Whatever will sell" is not a principle, and if the Republican Party does take the "how do we appeal to this demographic" route, it won't work.
I'm waiting to see who ends up head of the RNC.