We know from Atrios’ and Digbys’ trenchant analysis, conservative values never fail; they can only BE failed. Ergo, when a conservative fails, they instantly become a liberal, and conservative values remain chastely pure.

But this piece blows the code, because DeMint slams three movement conservatives as “not conservative enough” without re-defining them as “Far Leftists”, or whatever. He also fails to mention President-Elect Obama at all, as if McCain was competing against the concept of liberalism and not a solid, progressive candidate.

Fixed.

Bush and Stevens, he said, had corrupted the party brand by expanding the size of government and engaging in wasteful government spending. Had Republicans not strayed from their core beliefs in recent years, DeMint argued, the election results might have been different.

But straying from their supposed “core beliefs” is what they do. Claim to be for smaller government. Claim to be for fiscal responsibility. Claim to be for getting gov’t has no role messing in people’s personal lives. Claim to be for states rights. Claim to be for all the “conservative” principles. But once in office?

Swell the size of government. Bloat the deficits. Advocate for discrimination. Overrule state laws (e.g., medical marijuana) that don’t agree with their real “core beliefs”. Etc Etc Etc.

If they actually demonstrated conservative values while in office they’d be in a much better position, and the country would be as well.