is being politically conservative but socially liberal even ALLOWED these days?

Or is the zeitgeist one of, "centrists need to go away"?

Moderates need not apply?

Being politically conservative but socially liberal sounds hypocritical.
Hypocrites are generally shunned from or mocked by society.

@InkyDarkBird said in #2:

Hypocrites are generally shunned from or mocked by society.
But are somehow constantly re-elected.

Angry Mitt Romney noises

what does "politically conservative but socially liberal" even mean

I think it means "impossible".
Either that or it means something strange.

If what you said is actually a thing, you shold be the opposite of it. People should be more conservative on their own, regardless what the government policies are.

Being politically conservative appears as a failure of imagination. What does that mean? Does that mean you're happy with the way things are? If so, does that mean you're Hillary Clinton? She was happy with the way things were, back in 2016.

American politics today is a solemn, serious choice between Coke and Pepsi, CNN or FOX. I know! You're against diversity hires, therefore you're "politically conservative." Jeez, whaev.

politically conservative [...] socially liberal [...] centrists

Vague terms that people mainly use as an excuse to let others do their thinking for them.

Form your own ideas on every debate separately. You can for example be for allowing gay marriage, and against forced gender diversity at work. Each of those debates has their own "center" which is little more than a statistical mode.

@LordSupremeChess said in #6:

I think it means "impossible".
Try reading this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockefeller_Republican