[ghostmonkey]

Libertarians are "classical" liberals. Maximized freedom, or liberty if you prefer. There is almost nothing in common with todays "political" liberals who are more accurately socialists. If Democrats are in the Upper Left Box (Socialism), and Republicans are in the Lower Right Box (Conservativism), Where do Libertarians throw their support, if they have choose between the two?

[Dead Corpse]

I can only speak for myself, but I have never, nor will I ever, vote Democrat. I cannot vote for a socialist no matter what their political party.

Also, think of the political spectrum as a diamond. Political left on the left. Right on the right. Libertarians up top and Authoritarians on the bottom. World's Smallest Political Quiz puts me one notch from the top center.

[paudio]

If Democrats are in the Upper Left Box (Socialism), and Republicans are in the Lower Right Box (Conservativism)..

I think there's a problem with putting conservatism as the opposite end of socialism. Conservatism, the way I understand it, refers to the idea to keep the social order as it is, or if it changes, it happens gradually. It may be divided into two big groups: social conservatism and economic conservatism. Social conservatism refers to idea of maintaining social norms (which is why it refers to the 'old religions') while economic conservatism refers to libertarian idea of minimum-government (although not as extreme as anarchis which is outright anti-government)--born from European classical liberalism. In the early 19th century, classical liberalism seemed to be the mainstream idea in Europe (at least in UK). That's why Marx and Engel refered it to 'conservative' social order.