If you wonder why thoughtful, constructive conservatism is seemingly nowhere to be seen, check out conservativehome's poll of over a thousand GOP activists as to their favorite pundit stars. Money quote:
Worryingly, columnists often regarded as among the most thoughtful conservatives did not fare well. David Brooks of the New York Times only mustered a mention from 1.3% of the panel (14 people). Ross Douthat, also at the NYT, won just four votes and Mike Gerson, Washington Post writer and former speechwriter to President Bush, gets just three mentions.
Notice that only one, George Will, is not a Fox News employee. And he has adjusted to adopt some of the FNC's top obsessions: that Obama is a socialist and that climate change is a hoax.