Let's be perfectly clear about where, exactly, to place the blame: Can you say Republican National Committee?
They had their chance to push, influence, advertise, and otherwise promote a conservative, yet they have done nothing of the sort. Instead, we see that all the Republican establishment is fawning over John McCain, as if he is the second coming of Bob Dole, or something.
BTW: John McCain can't win the general, and he is the Republican's next "throw-away" nominee.
"Because he's "earned it", don't you know?"
That is the same as saying we have to have someone hold our hands and tell us who to vote for. Americans chose who they wanted.