The strength of conservatives has always been that they tell good stories. Historically, they're arguably been better at making up short narratives that feel like truth by feeding on fear and insecurity.
Remember Obamacare's imaginary 'death panels'?
Obama's 'shadow army'?
The birther conspiracy?
Great stories. All bullshit, but if you're afraid, entitled and feel like you're losing control of the country, they resonate.
The problem that conservatives are facing.....is they've genuinely stopped caring if their stories are true. They have literally embraced the story as reality. Literally anything they can make up, if it feels true, is true to them. Their reality is defined by imagination.