The refrain is a common one: “We lost our way and broke the trust with the American people. We’ve learned our lesson and can be trusted to govern again.”

You’ll hear it from virtually every Republican running for national office. Their losses in 2006 and 2008 didn’t come about because conservativism is a failed ideology that attracts sundry incompetents, snake-oil salesman, and common criminals (Tom Delay, Jack Abramoff, Mark Foley, Bob Ney, Larry Craig, Ed Schrock, David Vitter, John Sweeney, Vito Fosella, Rick Renzi, John Doolittle, Duke Cunningham, Scooter Libbey… and now, Mark Rubio); nay, Republicans failed conservativism. And they promise it won’t happen again.

Except, it’s already happening. One high-profile Republican after another has lined up to endorse Mark Rubio. It’s almost as if Republican expect their candidates to bilk donors by purchasing grocieries, music and electronics with the Party’s credit card. And then not declare the ill-gotten wealth as income, thus introducing tax evasion to the mix.

I asked Senator Session about this yesterday…

When I saw the Senator upon my return to the Capitol yesterday, I asked him about the dismal quarterly fundraising report he recently filed. One donor, $50. A truly amazing (for all the wrong reasons) showing for a United States Senator…

As soon as I mentioned it, he volunteered that the number was so low simply because he hadn’t done any kind of fundraising at all since the scandal broke. Fair enough. But that leads to another question, doesn’t it?

If you aren’t fundraising, does that mean you won’t be running again?

His reply: “I haven’t made any decisions. I won’t make any for quite a while.”

I’ve been on assignment in Florida for a while. Apologies for the absence.

While in the Sunshine State, I spent a good bit of time with Tea Party movement leaders. They sure do get their hate on fro illegal immigration. I wasn’t able to ask any of them about the new Arizona law because it hadn’t passed yet when I was researching my story, but I feel confident that they’d stand and applaud Jan Brewer if their paths were to cross.

And that sets up an interesting dynamic. Mark Rubio, the “chosen one” amongst Florida conservatives and Tea Partiers, criticised the Arizona law. And below, Senator George LeMieux says he doesn’t like it either.

I haven’t heard anything about Tea Party rallies outside Rubio or LeMieux’s offices, have you?

What a mystery!