“The Death of Conservatism Is Greatly Exaggerated”
It’s not dead. It’s just not wanted in the Republican Party any longer.
The real root of the problem indeed. Funny Thompson can use the name Bush and Conservatism. Bush both in 2000 and 2004 ran as a left leaning Moderate {trying to be Gore Lite in 2000} and shunned the Conservatives in the GOP away from him. It was not Reagan Republicans or Independent Conservatives he embraced, rather it was the Ford/Rockefeller GOP who has had his ear for 8 solid years and have all but destroyed the party since gaining platform and leadership control in late 1995.
Conservatism isn't dead but the GOP as a party is almost in a terminal state. The GOP doesn't have exclusive ownership of Conservative voters as they come from the DEMs as well as Independents. Those are the cross over voters. If the Dems want a GOP Liberal they'll vote for their own. If they see a GOP Moderate vs their own Liberal they may stay home. If the GOP ever wants landslides in POTUS and Congressional elections again it had better get back to the basics meaning the platform that won them the 1994 congressional elections and stick to it this time. Otherwise they are nothing more than the other Democratic Party.