Conservatives didn't "lose". Conservatives have suffered a painful but necessary amputation of putrid flesh. We will have to wait and see if we need to cut out more.
You, Rush and Sean, can pump any wild dreamed up excuse you want to but the facts are clear: The culture of the country is much different that it was a decade ago and hard right conservatism lost. The only silver lining I saw in the dark cloud of the election for conservatism was marriage amendments being passed in five of six states. Other than that, it was a complete bust.
I do, however, think libertarian principles of freedom of choice and sanity won and I truly believe that Republicans will have to embrace more of them to get back control of the government.