The Runners-Up

John Boehner: He has not gotten the credit he deserves for turning things around in the House, but Boehner has been a markedly better leader for Republicans in the House than Dennis Hastert. He has led the GOP in the House considerably to the right on ethics, spending, and immigration. Boehner isn't perfect, but he has actually shown some real conservative leadership on issues that matter and he deserves credit for it.

Mike Huckabee: At the beginning of the year, he was practically an unknown nationally and by the end of the year, he was in the hunt for the presidency. He may or may not win the nomination, but he has vaulted to prominence, he probably isn't going away, and you can be sure other conservatives will adopt his rhetoric on a number of different issues.

Rush Limbaugh: As per usual, Limbaugh did a fantastic job of explaining conservative principles on the air, but he deserves extra credit for humiliating Harry Reid and Company in the Senate. They took something he said out of context, smeared him with it, and then Limbaugh turned a letter they signed into an eBay auction that raised (along with Rush's matching contribution) 4.2 million dollars for the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation Inc. They say you can't fight city hall, but Rush Limbaugh fought the Democratic Congress -- and won.

NumbersUSA: These guys were at the forefont of the fight against the horrific McCain/Kennedy amnesty bill and had they not been working so hard, it very well may have passed.

Mark Steyn: Aside from his superb columns, Steyn published an outstanding book, and has been fighting for free speech in Canada where he's being prosecuted for upsetting Muslim sensibilities.

Tom Tancredo: When Tom Tancredo started running for President, there wasn't a single top contender who publicly agreed with his position on illegal immigration. By the time he dropped out, Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, and Mike Huckabee had adopted Tanc's position wholesale and Rudy Giulaini and John McCain had adopted half of it (Security first, amnesty later)

The Winner

Jim DeMint: This was the year that Jim DeMint emerged as the leader of conservatives in the Senate, especially in regards to spending and immigration issues, where DeMint has been a one-man-gang at times. If all the GOP members of Congress took their cues from Jim DeMint, the GOP would win by a landslide in 2008 and the country would be better run to boot.

Also see,

The RWN Conservative Of The Year For 2006