The problem that both parties have is that you actually have to stand for something, you actually have to present a vision of what you think the country needs to look like in 25 or 50 years. When was the last time you saw any leadership from either party. You can't just run on the "the other guy is an idiot" platform.

At the moment conservative means anti-change, anti-intilectual to the unwashed masses and pro-industry, low tax, low regulation to their real base. The religious crazies just don't have any place else to go.

Liberal/ progressive means redistribution of wealth to the recipients of federal money and a social "safety net" to people who thing government can actually accomplish anything. They also manage to appeal to what's left of unions while also being anti-manufacturing.

I guess you can fool most of the people most of the time.