For me, there were 3 telling moments in 2005 which proved to me that "W's compassionate conservatism" would never evolve into something the conservative GOP base would ever embrace.
1. JAN 2005 - He said in effect that he had earned points and was ready to cash them in. He really cursed himself with that statement.
2. 5/01/2005 - The illegal alien Hispanics out west really started protesting for amnesty on May Day.
3. AUG 2005 - Hurricane Katrina was an absolute public relations disaster for "W" from which he never recovered.