None of that caused this as much as those demos. They fired up the Pro-illegals and undermined the GOP support.
No other reason a party defending the nation and growing the economy would have been rejected by rational people. The Hysteria here was incredible as you well know since you were fanning the flames with both hands.
Defending the nation? The GOP talked about the War on Terrorism while failing to secure our borders.
Growing the economy? The GOP grew the federal budget like it hasn't been grown before. Anyone can live large on a credit card. But sooner or later, the bill comes due.
I am aghast that the Dems are in power. But the GOP, quite frankly, pissed away their moral standing to stay in power by running up earmark after earmark while simultaneously borrowing money to wage war in Iraq. If they were truly serious about the responsibility of their power, they would have refrained from such.