What is a moderate Republican?

[Peter the Lefty]

The perception of a moderate is so skewed because of how far right the GOP has moved in the past 5 years. 5 years ago, Christie would be (and was) considered a hardcore conservative. "Hugging Obama" is not a policy that places you further to left on an ideological spectrum.

The GOP has been as nuts as it is today at least since the Gilded Age.

Eh, it's had a few phases of being less nutso (the 50's, for instance).  But I would definitely agree that it is just as nuts now as it was then.

[Peter the Lefty]

The perception of a moderate is so skewed because of how far right the GOP has moved in the past 5 years. 5 years ago, Christie would be (and was) considered a hardcore conservative. "Hugging Obama" is not a policy that places you further to left on an ideological spectrum.

The GOP has been as nuts as it is today at least since the Gilded Age.

Eh, it's had a few phases of being less nutso (the 50's, for instance).  But I would definitely agree that it is just as nuts now as it was then.

The GOP has, since 1877 at the very least, been the party of the aggressive, insane variety of capitalism.

True, but there were at least a few phases wherein one could win a Republican primary as an open "moderate" who supported at least some progressive elements. 

[Peter the Lefty]

The perception of a moderate is so skewed because of how far right the GOP has moved in the past 5 years. 5 years ago, Christie would be (and was) considered a hardcore conservative. "Hugging Obama" is not a policy that places you further to left on an ideological spectrum.

The GOP has been as nuts as it is today at least since the Gilded Age.

Eh, it's had a few phases of being less nutso (the 50's, for instance).  But I would definitely agree that it is just as nuts now as it was then.

The GOP has, since 1877 at the very least, been the party of the aggressive, insane variety of capitalism.

True, but there were at least a few phases wherein one could win a Republican primary as an open "moderate" who supported at least some progressive elements. 

When?

The 40's, 50's, 60's, and 70's, for instance.  True, they also had nutjobs like Taft and Goldwater and Buckley and Reagan, but they also had Nelson Rockefeller, Hugh Scott, and even Gerald Ford, all of whom I can't see winning a Republican primary today.