I voted for him too (not much choice was there)? I'd have a fat billfold if I had $1.00 from everyone who told me they voted for McCain because he was the lesser of two evils.
If McCain had won, we'd have even more of his liberal daughter to contend with. There's got to be a reason conservatives were meant to dig deep and locate a candidate for the next election who actually can handily WIN. At the rate things are going now, it shouldn't be difficult. People are already beginning to look for change to the change they got.
If conservative leaders don't begin to show some gumption against what's going on politically today, they'll have absolutely NO credibility with voters down the line. The GOP is like a weathervane (turning this direction and that). Right now we need someone "Constitutionally conservative" to steer the course straight ahead and not be sidetracked or silenced. The progressive right has merged with the left - and that direction is where we are now.
That would be my reference to the learning curve. We are ready.