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OF course the war was a factor and given the closeness - if it wasn't for the war, we'd still have the Senate at least. Heck, if we didn't spend so much money in Rhode Island, we might still have the Senate.

And no compassionate conservatism was not a winner in 2000. Clinton fatigue was the factor - and even that was only good for 48.5% of the popular vote.

Conservatism wins big (1980,1994) nonconservatism loses or wins barely (1996,2000,2004) but with that said, it has to be done in a way that appeals to the individualistic nature of the American people.

Let's just take this as the pause that refreshes and find our identity again.

I still think a number of those famed soccer moms and their naughty daughters from the 90's were swayed by compassionate conservativism. They loved the focus on education and many in the mushy middle still do. Also, recall we were in the midst of an economic downturn in 2000 and people were worried. Tax cuts and the tax rebate made sense to the worried middle.

Conservatism wins big (1980,1994) nonconservatism loses or wins barely (1996,2000,2004) but with that said, it has to be done in a way that appeals to the individualistic nature of the American people.

You generalize big-time and I think gloss over the zeit geist of these elections. In 1980 Reagan won because any Bozo who offered a positive message would have beaten Carter's disastrous 4 years and pessimistic view of America. The economy was in the tank and Carter said it was our fault. The New Morning in America was a winner. Further, Reagan did have his list of "non-conservative" actions as well but he did run on conservative ideals even if all his actions as President didn't follow all those ideals. Then in 1994 I believe we benefited from Clinton remorse as well as the Contract with America. Clinton's first big issue was gays in the military and the socialization and intrusion into the health care system. There was plenty of Democrat corruptions from being the party in charge to sweeten the election too. Again, 1994 was a mid-term election and the usual voter impatience was easily capitalized on by Newt.

Let's just take this as the pause that refreshes and find our identity again.

Agreed. What to do about Iraq? Do we support privatizing Social Security? What will we counter the Dems push for nationalized health care with? When families have to pay hundreds of dollars a week for coverage will we succeed with a message of "tough it out"? When ridiculously priced college tuition costs bankrupt graduates and families, do we give them the "tough it out" message again? What's our identity on these specific middle class pocketbook issues? How do we avoid the Democratic lure of socialism? To quote Bush, "A litany of complaints is not a plan"