The "moderate" Republicans know that being strong and principled is not only right, but would result in a landslide victory. However, they aren't because they know somewhere, inside the DNC headquarters/George Soros vault/whatever, there's video of Grahamnesty with 10 year old Mexican boys, McCain strongly denouncing the US in North Vietnamese propaganda films, Mitt Romney drinking Diet Coke, etc.
Also, a lot of "Republican" politicians are Republican only because they know that's the only way to get elected in their districts. Trent Lott was like that. Mark Foley was like that. When they get to Washington, they like to let their hair out, try to get invited to all the cool Sally Quinn/Ben Bradlee parties, and will only act "conservative" around election time.
Sorry if I'm sounding cynical, but I'm reading rumblings of certain Republicans who are talking about "mending, not ending" Obamacare, just like they didn't end Social Security, Medicare, and MediCaid.
What are you talking about? The Republicans never talked about wanting to end Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and simply enough why should they be ended?
NCIS is a fictional show. Are you saying you use that show for information on Republicans?