From what I gather he seemed like an actual Libertarian -- a decent man who simply did not believe the federal government should play a role in social justice or "evening the playing field" for minorities and the disadvantaged. I think that philosophy is a joke in terms of a governing philosophy as do most, but always got the sense he believed it and his heart was in the right place.

I think much of today's GOP is anything but. Most strike me more like the Dixiecrats of the 60s in that they cry "states rights" and "federalism" when it suits their purposes but otherwise are the first to use government power and money to further their own interests. In their regions they are pro-tyranny-of-the-majority authoritarians but suddenly are finding themselves to be the minority and simply can't take it so they throw a big hissy fit and accuse the actual majority of being despots and oppressors. They don't know how to compromise though ... it's just not in their DNA. It would be amusing if it weren't so damn ugly and hateful.

Goldwater, in my halfway-informed, "I saw a documentary about it" view, seemed more like he'd fit in with people like Rand Paul or the Libertarians today. Not the awful spectacle that has become the GOP (which really just flat out deserves Trump although I'm hoping Hillary isn't a bad enough candidate to deliver him the WH).