you know, I have to wonder, what is the difference between a moderate and a RINO? Because I've seen you say some good things about some moderates before.
I consider myself moderately Conservative on some issues, and strongly Conservative on others. I am strongly Conservative in the areas of illegal immigration, fiscal policy, leaving the UN, Second Amendment rights, and other traditionally Conservative areas, but more Libertarian when it comes to social Conservatism, which I do not really regard as Conservatism, since they want to use the government to control freedoms. I do side with moderates in many cases here. In that regard, I am in favor of gay rights, and also a woman's right to choose (although I am in favor of reversing Roe v. Wade).
When it comes to social issues, I take a strong 10th Amendment position, and maintain that some things are not the Federal government's business. If a state wants gay marriage, or to legalize pot, it is their business only. Conversely, if a state wants abortion to be illegal, no gay marriage, and weed to be illegal, that is also their business. At any rate, I believe it to be unconstitutional for the Federal government to stick it's nose where it Constitutionally does not belong. I maintain that this is a more Conservative position than that of the Social Conservatives. I believe that the term "social Conservative" is an oxymoron.
Also, where I side with the moderates is over the silly and fabricated issues, such as those who call Obama an illegal alien who stole the presidency being idiots.
That being said, I have bashed Bush during his presidency, but I have also given him credit where credit is due, such as his tax reductions and choices of judges. Now I bash Obama, but will also give him credit where it is due, such as his finalizing lifting travel restrictions on AIDS patients. This is because I am not beholding to any one group, based on the letter that comes after a person's name.
So, all in all, I am mostly Conservative, but also use a little common sense on issues. This means looking at all sides of an issue carefully before making a decision. In that regard, I will occasionally side with the moderates, because their position makes sense to me.