The main thing that has hurt the GOP is not being conservative enough when it had control of Congress, caving in to the Demagogue Party, making deals with Kennedy and other toads. McCain-Feingold is an excellent example of “not conservative”, since it violates the First Amendment.
Granted the GOP is far from perfect...nonetheless, neither are the Dems. The longer we focus on and broadcast our own imperfections, while being silent against the far more egregious errors of our opponents, the greater the democrat majority grows in this country.
There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging the obvious mistakes, etc.; however, at least do so while reminding the country of who is the lesser of evil of the two available choices.