Under Reagan, 'Republican' and 'Conservative' were synonymous.
Even more interesting is that when you were asking others to name a Southern conservative, the first person to pop into my head??? Zel Miller.
Miller is no more dedicated to true conservative values of fiscal responsibility and smaller government than President Bush is. He just talks a lot.
Agreed, I think that many 'true' conservatives still associate the Republicans with Reagan/Goldwater type conservatism, but the honeymoon phase pretty much has to be coming to an end here, and I suspect that when the next democrat takes the white house, there will be an epic battle over where to take the republican party.
I don't know much about Miller, other than what I see on the national news, which usually only gives him attention when he's bucking the democratic party line. When you say that he's just as squishy as any pseudo-conservative, I have no doubt it's true. Just thought it was funny that he was the first in my head.