One of many things along these lines
Conservatives (as opposed to Republicans) were beating on the party on many of these things even before the 2006 elections.
The real issue is leadership. The Republicans in Congress have no real principled leadership any more. Some of this is the result of the Democrats shooting the generals off their horses for the past few years. Most of it is just general decay in a party that's forgotten that it even has basic principles.
Good grief, how many people can easily even name the Speaker of the House between the retirement of Gingrich and the rise of Pelosi?