"Why is OReily trying to rehabilitate the left?"
Because OReally is no conservative. He's a look-at-me blowhard. He's stupidity re: the oil companies proved that, if nothing.
He just looked conservative because the Old Media was so bad for so long.
Couldn't say it better...
"He's stupidity re: the oil companies proved that, if nothing. "
Read this article by Thomas Sowell
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell1.asp