The GOP is probably blaming President Bush but the truth is that because the RINOs refused to get ANWR and Coastal Drilling done is the main reason people are abandoning the GOP brand. They're not flocking to the Rats, they just aren't going to the do-nothing GOP. There was a chance in around ‘03 or ‘04 to pass ANWR but failed because of the RINOs. There's an old saying that I believe very true, had gas prices been 10 cents higher in Ohio we would be saying President Kerry. I have to hand it to the Rats, they have successfully neutered the GOP leadership. The GOP leadership should have been telling the RINOs that if they don't get in line there will be no GOP money for them but instead the GOP went for the “big tent party”.
“I have to hand it to the Rats, they have successfully neutered the GOP leadership.....”
IMHO, it may not be possible for a conservative agenda to get anywhere near DC at this point. There are so many feeding at the trough, that they are able to confuse,interfere with, demoralize and obfuscate the agenda, the implementation of any agenda, that runs contrary to their interests. This is far bigger than just RINOS vs.Conservatives. This is Conservatives being shut out (or thrown out as in the case of Tom Delay) of DC entirely.