W Bush was much more liberal than Dole. Dole wanted to abolish 4 cabinet depts and he understood foreign affairs.
W advocated “compassionate conservatism”, expanded the size of govt and gave up on the balanced budget. The republican agenda shifted from the contract with america to giving pork to local districts to keep incumbents in power. The Chris Shays of the 90’s was more conservative than the Tom Delay of the 00’s
But that is not what was peddled at election time. All was Conservatism. People were willing to bet on W, even after his father, because he sold himself as a solid Conservative. By his second election, the only reason he got in is because of the war. The same with the House and Senate. They sold Conservatism.
The difference is the tone in leadership, and the control of the leadership in getting seats elected. It is the Baker "Big Tent" you are complaining about, and you are about to vote for yet another Baker moderate, and Bush's heir apparent.
the only way to get what you want, the Reagan Conservatism, the Contract with America, is to burn that big tent down.