Who's leading the conservative resurgence in the US? President Obama?!

Rich Lowry has a humorous and clever column on the resurgence of the Republican Party and conservative causes in general. It's not the result of a prominent conservative spokesperson or political figure. Rather it's being led by President Obama, albeit unintentionally, and his aggressive push for a liberal agenda in Congress. People appear to be moving aggressively back in the conservative direction after drifting to the left over the past few years.

Lowry writes:

In nine months, he has breathed life into the Republican Party, boosted pro-lifers, tarnished the reputation of regulation, bolstered traditional values, increased the public's desire for immigration restriction and shifted independent voters rightward. No, Obama hasn't turned back the oceans. But revivifying conservatism almost before books announcing its death could be published qualifies as a feat almost as miraculous.

He points to polling showing a resurgence of identification with conservatism and related causes.

Gallup's surveys in recent months are a long catalog of the Obama snap-back. Fifty-three percent of Americans want government to promote traditional values -- "a return to the prevailing view from 1993 through 2004." Half of Americans want less immigration -- "a return to the attitudes that prevailed in the first few years after 9/11." Forty percent of Americans describe themselves as conservative -- "a level last seen in 2004." Fifty-one percent of Americans call themselves pro-life -- "a significant shift from a year ago." a significant shift from a year ago."

The rapid shift in public views on the issues is quite remarkable. If Lincoln is right and public sentiment ultimately guides the political process then change will follow though exactly when is uncertain.