apologies for derailing the thread folks..
domestic policy, republicans have right to some extent, as far as federalism and support for personal and economic freedom is concerned (this is before big govt conservatism overtook the party). were this the party it was till reagan, it would be great.
Unfortunately the aspiration to reform the world in your image is a very liberal tendency, and these days the republicans have more of a globalist/interventionist agenda than the liberals.
Obama is much less of an interventionist than McCain, and McCain does in no way stand for fiscal or social liberty. If someone reflecting republican values was running, Id support him over Obama. That assumes the person supports small government (included: reduced military spending not just reduced social spending), less domestic or foreign interventionism (a liberal/neo-con trait), free markets and self interest as first rate social pillars (McCain has a dim view of self interest and is big government when it comes to economics).
Just being opposed to gay marriage and anti abortion doesnt mean jack.