that kept other republicans from calling him out?

When he violated just about every principle upon which the republican party has historically been based, why did the republican leadership in congress go meekly along?

When the 2006 elections told anyone with a brain that the republican brand was in trouble, why did the republican leadership in congress continue to go meekly along?

When the republican presidential primaries began, and it was clear that the strongest presidential issue the democrats were going to have was going to be to link the eventual republican nominee to Bush, why did all but one of the aspirants fall all over themselves kowtowing to him?

After the conventions, when "McBush" was still the strongest issue that Obama had working for him and McCain had the perfect opportunity to break with Bush on an issue where public opinion was not on Bush's side (and Obama was aligned squarely with Bush), why did he fall in line rather than breaking ranks?

After eight years of questionable leadership, is Harriet Miers the biggest issue where republicans broke ranks? How dumb is that?

On a related topic, when people like Foley, Craig, and Stevens clearly broke ranks with acceptable behaviour, why did republicans not discipline them immediately?

The republicans clearly deserved the defeat that has been handed to them.