While what you say is true, it's not the fault of conservatives the Bush has installed RINOs who have kept them out of the RNC leadership. That process has denied conservative candidates of GOP support, indeed the GOP has actively worked AGAINST conservative candidates. Bret Schundler comes to mind; so does Pat Toomey, Bill Simon, Matt Salmon, etc.
An accelerated version of the process is what Schwarzenegger has done to the California GOP, which came within 360,000 votes of electing a conservative governor in 2002 but for Carl Rove's appointees having submarined that campaign. Since then, after fighting conservatives when they successfully instigated the recall, they foisted Schwarzenegger over conservative objections. Shwarzenegger totally starved every down ticket conservative in the last election. Now the party is in debt, totally disorganized, and the RINOs offer that the reason is that we need more of the same while they rig crooked deals to loot the state and bring eventual ruin when the GOP takes the blame for getting caught.
The point is that conservatism would look a heck of a lot stronger had the RNC not fought with us at every step. Our congressional results would look better. Our ability to field a national candidate would be greatly enhanced. For that we CAN blame the RNC and the President in particular. Leadership matters. While it is true that we get the leaders we allow, it is foolish not to acknowledge that the forces arrayed against us are real, they are powerful, and they are accountable.
I agree in part, but it's still our fault. Why have conservatives reached the point where they clearly hold no serious sway in the party?
It's not because of anything the non-conservatives have done. It's because conservatives have neglected -- perhaps even forgotten how -- to do the work needed to remain the driving force of the party. We've become lazy and complacent ... again, and as usual.
If this campaign season is any indication (and I think it is), conservatives no longer carry any intellectual weight -- we've devolved to campaigning by buzzwords like "gay marriage!" "Amnesty!" "Liberal!" and "RINO!" Those were issues for which conservatives used to be able to offer a reasonable and compelling intellectual justification, but no longer do. It's only buzzwords and name-calling now -- and nobody pays much attention to buzzwords anymore.
To press the point, just look at who leads "conservatism" these days. Talk show hosts who can't reason their way out of a hat; and single-issue zealots who denounce anybody who doesn't agree with their position 100%. It's pathetic.