I dont quite agree.I DO agree that the republicans as they stand now ARE NOT for smaller government AT ALL!!!
However,Im not sure about liberal leaning being important.Everytime gay marriage comes up on a ballot it looses,the country is now 51% pro life according to polls.Im not saying we need right wing religious kooks in there,but Im not sure if leaning left is AS important as some people think.
Now,saying that,Poweel is neither conservative on economic issues OR social issues.He is a dyed in the wood liberal through and through.Like I said YOU CANT BE Republican if your FOR higher taxes and more government.
I think that in the long run, the country will always be for more Civil Liberties, perhaps the term "liberal" isn't the right term... Let's say, "promotion of civil liberties".
You bring up gay marriage, and that's fine, but remember, at one time, segregation was fought by the "liberal" groups and look at where we are.
Abortion was the same way... now abortion is done (some disagree, but I've shown where the balance of abortion is no longer on the fence, but pretty clear cut that MOST people are fine with abortion... I am not talking about it being right or wrong, but MOST people are fine with it.)
While being completely "liberal" in regards to welfare and government aide and what not is obviously not something the majority of the middle class of America agree with, I think that being for MORE inherent civil liberties is something most will get behind.
Sure, gay marriage is in it's infancy and as such will meet with resistance, but that too shall pass.