[Eisenhower Republican]

The focus was on fighting Communism. And on cutting out Big Government. If Communism and Big Government went down, what does that leave?

You make some good points.

The movement did seem to lose some impetus after the USSR fell, and a certain class of "conservative" took full advantage. Those in the camp that wanted a strong independent USA and limited government were ostracized and marginalized by the subversionists at every turn. Pat Buchanan looks like a prophet in retrospect.

[RedStateRocker]

Too many folks with some semblance of conservative credibility got enamored of ‘Nation Building’, and got tumescent over the idea of being the world's sole superpower and global cop.