I realize that this is purely anecdotal and probably not really indicative of the Conservative position nationwide. Many of the hard right conservatives that I encounter seem to think that their political views are held by the majority of the American people.
They are convinced that the Republican party needs to move farther to the right to win the next election.
Heh.
If the Obama policies are so evidently fascist what is the need to present a contrast? A solid middle-of-the road campaign should easily beat a fascist.
It’s a punctuation error. Should have been “What! Are…?” 
Meh. Cutting taxes is a standard shibboleth of all presidential candidates, and any real tax policy will originate in the legislative branch. By contrast, there are plenty of things the executive can do unilaterally on social issues: De-fund particular organizations, point enforcement groups at the “right” targets, appoint judges/administrators with the “right” philosophy, etc.
Everyone is prone to that illusion, but the hard-right more than any, I think. In fact, only 9% of the public are “Staunch Conservatives.”
Any hope that’ll change in his second term?
Sure, there’s hope, lots of it. Faith? Not so much.
The GOP is long overdue for a “McGovern moment”; here’s hoping Santorum is the nominee so that the GOP can lose in a true landslide. It’s 50-50 that they would re-assess their party’s direction (as opposed to, say, doubling down and nominating Rush Limbaugh next time), but it’s better than nothing.
Throughout my life, I’ve heard Democrats express similar reasoning, namely that the Republicans have become so extremely right-wing that the Democrats are guaranteed to win a landslide victory in the next election. Rarely does it turn out be correct. The Democrats have won a few major victories in my lifetime, but the Republicans have won a lot more. I don’t know which party will win in November, but history suggests that it’s foolish to expect a Democratic landslide.
Let me be clear, I only think this is the case in Presidential election. I expect Obama to get more than 300 EVs and 52% of the vote, which is a reasonably sized win, if not a blowout for a recent Presidential election. However, I do not think it will be an across the board Democratic landslide.
When exactly did you hear that? The Republicans haven’t been so far-right since 1964, and Goldwater supported the separation of church and state so they’re arguably to the right of him now (plus, the rest of the party was more moderate than Goldwater, with figures like Rockefeller). Hell, we’re on the centennial of the creation of the Progressive Party, which split from the Republicans. That sure couldn’t happen today; there are (virtually) no progressives in the GOP.
I think they hate Obama so much, and talk within the bubble so much, they can’t imagine Obama winning reelection against anyone. They think this is their chance to get a “true conservative” in the White House. It’s the “I don’t know anyone who would vote for Obama so he’s going to lose” thinking.