Canada's political mileau is dominated by a centrist liberal Ontario and the liberals are helped to keep power by a recipient maritimes, but the US Federal government, to a lesser extent is also dominated by centrist liberal states with large populations, also aided by recipient states.
Alberta would be quite comfortable if the US was really controlled by middle America, but it isn't.
Sadly . . . you're right.
But the internet is the great equilizer. True-blue conservatives have forums to unite and get organized like never before. I predict you'll start to see a definite trend to "hometown" values and principles starting with the 2006 elections. The 2004 elections will turn out to be a one-topic election . . . The War on Terror -- I include the War in Iraq in this. So we can't allow our venom to allow us to forsake Bush or his "compassionate" conservatism BS right now. But the "true" conservatives are restless . . . and Washington will feel our wrath in due time.