if not, then who is?
and if they are, then does that not make them the standard-bearers?

they are just doing what the republican party has been doing for the past 20 or so years
the message might be too blunt but it does not fall too far off the republican tree
- no compromise whatsoever
- never ever raise taxes and protect the rich at all costs
-reduce funding for social welfare etc
-defund planned parenthood, and anything that improves women's health
-the thinly veined xenophobia/racism (hello birthers)
we could go on.

no, trump/cruz et al are the perfect representatives of the republican party

and note- this is not even about conservative ideals/principals
i dont hold as much vitriol against the tories, for example