A thought experiment re "conservatives"

[Spike89]

13. All that wrong would just cause them to recalibrate

It has nothing to do with the politicians they support(ed)...as noted, they will just use the "not a true scotsman" argument. When it comes to policy, when it fails, they generally blame it on insufficient buy-in. For example, if cutting taxes doesn't fix the deficit, it was because "we didn't cut the taxes enough" or "yeah, we cut taxes, but the libruls wouldn't budge on giving the welfare queens their cadillacs".
The fundamental difference between conservatives and liberal mindsets (there are many associated differences too) is that conservative thought is based on individual meritocracy and liberal thought is based on social behaviors. Ironically, conservatives tend to be much more authoritarian (which really is a rigid social order), and liberals tend to be outside the culture (nonconformists are in a way non-social).
Those inherent contradictions can come to the fore, the teabaggers are practically the poster people for crazy (authoritarians screaming about liberties!). Us liberals have our deep ideological contradiction pretty well under control right now, but that doesn't mean it isn't there.
Anyway, to finish the thought and answer the question, the "enlightened conservative" would presumably still be a authoritarian at heart, but have a pragmatic view of the world. I don't think it means they become a liberal.