What to make of the "future" of the republican party?

[vi5]

Every pundit I've heard waxing political about the next 4 years and who is likely to become leaders in the republican party between now and 2008 mention the same names. Rudy Gulliani, Tom Ridge, McCain, Pataki, Schwarzenager, even Specter.

Now please do not misunderstand me for a second. I loathe each and every one of these guys. But what does everyone think this says about the direction of the republican party that most of these guys are pro-choice, pro-stem cell research, and pro-gay rights? Yes, I realize that they sold all of that out to cast their lot with bush and I will never forgive them for this and they will never ever get one of my votes. But I'm finding it interesting that every face being cast as the future of their party are social moderates. Is this just a realization on the part of their party that the religious extremism is only going to carry them so far and that they will get what they can with bush in office and then have to turn center or left down the line?

I don't know. Either way I'm not hopeful about much at this point. I'm just looking for people's thoughts on this aspect of things. Don't flame me. Again I DON"T LIKE ANY OF THESE GUYS. I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR ANY OF THEM. I'm simply thinking about the social issues that supposedly were our downfall, when in fact the alleged shining beacons of the "conservative values" party all agree with us on most of the social issues. I guess I just want to do anything to not believe that the country is headed backwards on some of these issues.