First, Markos's post and others shoot down the idea that Jim Webb is a conservative. But let's stipulate one thing: many GOP supporters genuinely believe Jim Webb is a conservative. It's not just spin (although there's plenty of that). In fact, he's been called by a Weekly Standard writer "the most conservative national Democrat since Grover Cleveland." OK, considering the political career of Strom Thurmond, that is ... well, stupid, even by its own logic.
But the thing is, the way conservatism has become defined by the GOP, Jim Webb can be considered conservative. And that says something important about the plight the GOP finds itself in ...