"Tonight was a loss for Republicans, not conservatism."
Correct, although we dont yet know how bad it is.
We may hang on to the Senate and the votes are really not counted yet.
But ... Conservative principles are as true today as they were yesterday and they remained popular in this campaign, and few Democrats in contested races ran on unabashed liberal agendas. They spread fear and doubt and negativism on Iraq but had less of a positive agenda than simply personal attacks on Republicans. In many cases they ran coservative on immigration, ran conservative on deficits and ran like paleo-con isolationists on war in Iraq. No wonder Pat B. is in the peanut gallery cheering on the Pelosi bandwagon - strange bedfellows.
Conservative views will be shown to be popular in marriage initiatives, etc.
The Republican party got lost over corruption, earmarks, immigration and other issues that made them lose touch with what their conservative base wants. One of the biggest is simply the lax fiscal discipline. Whatever the final box score, the GOP House and Senate leadership will have to do a serious House-cleaning and soul-searching to get back to the roots of what their party members believe and want.
Those core beliefs and roots are conservative beliefs: Not just to be for 'family values' but live up to them; not just preach 'lower taxes' but keep spending in control as well; put the American taxpayers, workers, patriots and citizens first, not some other elitist agenda.
We will get back on track, but it will be painful if America has to suffer the fools' leadership of the Nancy Congress in the process.