To the outside observer, it appears as though the party is largely divided between those who believe it is moving too far from the base and those who believe it is moving too far from the center.

The party’s standard-bearer, who will no doubt emerge in time, will have to be a person willing and able to work with both factions. It’s walking a tightrope, and a thin one at that.

Perhaps the party could benefit from applying some of the principles of group therapy – engaging in intra-party dialogue in order to better establish their common ground and using that as a basis for further building.

Certainly the stereotypes which are floating around out there are harmful, and can only serve to foster further divisiveness. I have known a number of conservatives and Republicans (overlapping in many but not all cases) who are among the most kind-hearted, intelligent and decent people out there, and to hear those stereotypes applied to such people is distressing.

That said, stereotypes are typically born of observation, and overthrowing them is going to require that all the high-profile Republicans/conservatives out there start walking the walk.