I’ve been doing a lot of B.O. (Barack Obama/Bend Over) Republican-bashing the past few weeks. Watching the Republicans crumble on the Geithner and Holder nominations, swoon over The One’s congeniality, and display indecision over the stimulus hasn’t been easy on the stomach or the head.

But credit must be given where it is due. Today was a very good day for conservatism — and a good day for the party whose logo I’ve had to run upside-down for too long.

Thank you, GOP.

It’s a sad state of affairs when I can tally the number of notably good days for the Republican Party on one hand over the past two years: the defeat of shamnesty, the (temporary) prevention of massive S-CHIP expansion, last summer’s Drill, Baby, Drill revolt on the House floor. Fortunately, the GOP held the line this evening in a remarkable, powerful way. They may have lost the vote, but they sent a lasting message. They took a stand for principle and posterity. They took a stand against generational theft. They reclaimed their brand as the party of small government, low taxes, and fiscal responsibility. They restored their damaged credibility.

And guess what? It didn’t take a lot of fancy new slogans or flashy, high-tech tools or slick, high-priced strategists. They simply united and said “NO.” They slammed their foot on the brakes in a Congress full of reckless, panicky drivers. They peeled off 11 Democrats in the process. They forced the Obamedia to cover the excessive pork and dubious stimulative value of this monstrosity. They made conservative values count.

There’s no mystery in how best to rebuild the party and energize the base: Talk like conservatives. Walk like conservatives. Vote like conservatives.

Senate Republicans, take note. Don’t squander this opportunity for redemption. Make no apologies for principled obstructionism. Counter the inevitable liberal overreaching with plain facts and free-market alternatives.

Stop licking boots. Start kicking ass.