They aught to be until they quit trampling on the Constitution and law. Democrats and Republicans alike need to work within the framework or risk being booted.
Of course, the current crop of Sheeple have already made it well known that security is more important than Liberty.
President Bush DID work "within the framework". He DOES have the AUTHORITY and the DUTY to protect the country and the people. It's called executive powers.
What you are advocating is not conservatism, but ANARCHY, where you don't want any laws applied to anyone, let the terrorists murder us at will, we mustn't listen in on their conversations, even if that is what can prevent a catastrophic attack and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocents.