The Republicans never, ever stop rebranding themselves. When they fail they come back with a new name, but with the same sad old song. It's too bad many people are tone deaf or just can't tell one tune from another. The latest incarnation is led by the mumbo-jumbo economy hack, Paul Ryan. Since George Bush is gone, guess what they do: They attack him for betraying conservative principles.

Former president George W Bush and the Republican party hierarchy have been denounced for betraying conservative principles by a new generation of congressmen bidding to convince voters that the Right can offer real change. --- ----

The Young Guns book recognises "high profile ethics lapses" and "an inability to rein in spending or even slow the growth of government" led to a breakdown in trust in the party. During the previous Republican rule, Tom DeLay, the former majority leader in the House, was prosecuted for money laundering and violating campaign finance laws, though he was never convicted. Several other members of Congress were embroiled in scandals involving favours for lobbyists. "The fact is, we had our chance, and we blew it," wrote co-author Eric Cantor, the party's chief whip. Critics have pointed out that Mr Cantor, 47, from Virginia, was a member of the party's leadership during the era he is now criticising.

Right, Paul Ryan pushed as hard as he could to pass TARP and most of anything else Bush put out there, but the truth doesn't matter for Ryan and his posse.

Americans Untited for Change has just produced a new ad that's very good.

Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan and Kevin McCarthy are gunning for Social Security and Medicare. Middle aged men with ideas that were young...when they were young.

Another typical right wing con job.

It sure is funny how none of these visionaries managed to utter a peep about Bush's "betrayal" when he was, you know, in office and running the country into the ground, isn't it?