That's pretty much the idea behind this AP story, which nicely sums up where conservatives find themselves these days -- trying to explain why up is down and down is up, and it's okay:

Conservatives seek gov't solutions after oil spillBen Brooks, a lawyer and Republican state senator from coastal Alabama, says he's no fan of big government but he expects an aggressive federal response as a gunky oil spill threatens the Gulf of Mexico."There's nothing inherently contradictory in saying we believe in smaller government and demanding that the government protect public safety," Brooks said.All along the Gulf Coast, where the tea party thrives and "socialism" is a common description for any government program, conservatives who usually denounce federal activism suddenly are clamoring for it.

But federal intervention to avoid the problem in the first place? God forbid...