That doesn’t discredit the ideas, it merely means they aren’t popular (which admittedly is also a problem). A discredited idea is one that fails to function as promised, e.g. socialism or appeasement. But Bush has done nothing to discredit conservative ideals, because his administration hasn’t presented conservatism to the people and thereby given any opportunity to be found wanting.
Let's don't get carried away by pedantry, but:
discredit tr.v., -it·ed, -it·ing, -its.
2. To cause to be doubted or distrusted.
3. To refuse to believe.
Conservative ideals are NOT IN FAVOR (heavily doubted and distrusted indeed) with this 'gimme' generation.
Read penelopesire's disheartening firsthand account in #22. And that's on OUR side.
This wrongheaded attitude of blaming Bush for causing harm to conservatism's popularity distracts from the root cause. PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER PRO-CONSERVATIVE LIKE WE ASSUME AMERICANS SHOULD WANT TO BE.
We act like we need a new conservative leader and everything will be ok. That's like putting a new face on a patient with plastic surgery when the patient has late stage metasticized cancer.
Americans have got a taste of the free lunch and they want more, sad but true.