Make no mistake about this mid-term election. Conservatives didn't lose. Republicans masquerading as conservatives lost. Democrats were not elected, RINOs and CINOs were rejected.

The American people are smarter than the politicians want to believe. They got this one right, and I applaud their voting prowess. I must admit to my readers: I didn't get this one right at all, but thanks to the American spirit I have been set straight.

There is no doubt that true conservatives would have never allowed the level of out-of-control spending this Republican held Congress allowed. Conservatives would have never allowed our borders to be overrun by millions of illegal aliens, breaking the law daily, in the name of cheaper labor. Conservatives would have never allowed the wholesale slaughter of unborn children through the horrific procedure of "late-term" abortion. Conservatives would have never stood by and watched an out-of-control judiciary trump common sense and the will of the people. True conservatives would have demanded decisive and strong military action to defeat our enemies and would never have considered withdrawal without victory.

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Conservatives would have made permanent the tax cuts that have created a strong and vibrant economy. Egregious entitlement spending would have been eliminated. Ideals like marriage being between one man and one woman would have needed little or no debate. Terms like "government-funded sex changes" or "abortion on demand" do not exist in a conservative's vocabulary. These things are just common sense to real conservatives.

The American people get it. They wanted change because they did not receive from Republicans what they were promised in 1994 when America overwhelming sent them to Congress. The true conservative values that this nation was promised, values like that of Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater, were abandoned by many in the Republican Party, and thus "We the People" abandoned the party.

So may I suggest to the Republican Party, if they wish not to see a repeat of the "thumpin'" they took on Tuesday, they only nominate and support genuine conservatives in the future, leaders that not only talk the talk but walk the walk – regardless of the attacks resulting from holding true to conservative values.

The Democrats won by razor-thin margins. In some races as little as a couple thousand votes determined the winner and loser. Many of the Democrats that did win did so by embracing conservative values. Bob Casey won in Pennsylvania. He is pro-gun, pro-life and believes in lower taxes. Tester in Montana was seen as middle or right. Doesn't sound like the Chuck Schumers and Ted Kennedys of the Democratic Party. Democrats who ran on conservative value platforms won and Democrats that adopted them at the last minute, like Harold Ford, lost.

The country is still clearly conservative but wants the real thing, not this new formula. Coca-Cola learned this very lesson with "New Coke" years ago. New Coke was an abysmal failure. Coca-Cola almost lost its market share with this gamble and was saved only by reinstating its tried and true original.

This post-election season will not be bathed in recounts and court challenges. Republicans have been pretty gracious about the "thumpin'" they received. The election will not be followed by Republicans attacking the new leaders with terms like "liar," "moron," "unstable," "traitor" or any of the disgusting adjectives used by the Democrats after they lost in 2000 and again in 2004. Republicans are classy enough not to act like Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy and Gore.

True conservatism will be welcomed in 2008, just like it was after the Carter years, but not as a result of liberalism and its failure to deliver what it promises. It will be demanded because, by and large, America is conservative. Most want lower taxes, strong defense, fiscal restraint, the protection of the unborn, a good paying job, reasonable health care, prayer at sporting events, "Under God" in the pledge and are not ashamed of the Judeo-Christian beliefs and work ethic that make our nation great.

Real conservative leaders have two years to return to their true beliefs and stick by them. Conservatives need to be willing to stand tall in the marketplace of ideas and explain why conservatism works. They should refuse to fall prey to fraudulent attacks from the media of being racist, homophobic, xenophobic or whatever stereotype du jour Moveon.org is painting them with. When they finally free themselves from the fear of the Hollywood and East Coast liberal elites, then and only then can conservatives govern as the people know they can. If they don't see this election for what it was, they will spend extended periods of time in political Siberia. Just ask the American people. I am not sure the country will survive that type of absence, so I hope and pray conservatives regroup, refocus and live by principles and not by polls.

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