Used to be the elites had conservatives on their side. I think that is changing, it has in my circle.
The GOP simply does not believe its own rhetoric, any more than the Dems believe in theirs. The GOP claims to believe in small government, but what they really mean is this: “Give us the reins of government and we will deliver the goods and grow the beast more efficiently, and maybe trim some of that bureaucratic fat while we’re at it.” Many GOP governors are doing marvels, but the Washington-Republican establishment seems to have little use for them. Conservatism for them is just a talking point, a tool to drag out of the toolbox at election time to get votes, and to be carefully cleaned off and put back into the box after the election is over.