I agree the links sound like conspiracy theory whackos, but.......If you take the true conservative view all the way to the edge, ala Libertarian, you would find that conservative principals would be against public funding for bike paths, bike paths are fine, just not the federal governments responsibility. I would agree with that principal why should my federal tax money be spent on a bike path. On a municipal level, if the community agrees to fund the path that is fine. Just because I don't feel like spending your money to build myself a bike path, does not mean that I am against them...
Now if you take the liberal view to the extreme ala Socialism... Not only is the government responsible to provide me with a bike path, but the better give me a bike as well. That is a great position to win over uninformed voters, because they forget that some one has to pay for the path and bikes. Just because I am willing to spend your money on some one elses bike path does not mean I like bike paths, it is just hey are more likely to vote for me than you.....
And yes Lindsey or Paris can probably do just as good of job as any one else in congress right now, because our political apathy has led to some great career oppourtunities for some pretty dumb people.