I think they are caught up in self deception. The 2000 left field POTUS campaign is proof. If Gore had not been tarnished by his own brush he would be POTUS. The GOP was not selling traditional Republican policy or principle and that is what made the election so close. The GOP needs to remember it has been the most sucessfull both POTUS and Leglislative wise running on a traditional platform and not playing keeping up with the Jones with the Dems. The Republicans simply put have forgotten how to be Republicans.
If Gore had not been tarnished by his own brush he would be POTUS.
I might argue that it was clinton's brush, but regardless there's allot of truth to what you say.
People are quick to forget how dismal and bleak things looked before september the 11'th.
And algor, big a putz as he is and the total embarasment he inflicted on himself during the campaign (chasing dubya around the stage.. trying to intimidate him. I still laugh about that) ALMOST won.
Now, that should tell you something.