[unspun]

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

republicanism

Main Entry: re·pub·li·can·ism
Pronunciation: ri-'p&-bli-k&-"ni-z&m
Function: noun
1 : adherence to or sympathy for a republican form of government
2 : the principles or theory of republican government
3 capitalized a : the principles, policy, or practices of the Republican party of the United States b : the Republican party or its members

 

[Pelayo]

LoL... that def is so meaningless it fits perfectly in this situation. "Republican" has no specific definition beyond "anti-royalist" and "anti-monarchical." Forming a party around that has no meaning in the modern world (and it certainly isn't conservative). It used to be the abolition party, then the party of reform, then the party of industry, then for a long time nothing until it became the party of anti-socialism/communism (which if you ask me is ironic and I think was partly, at least originally, a faux agenda merely as a response to the democrats, who seemed to be the party FOR socialism & communism.) "Conservatism" hasn't ever been a practical platform as such, because it's ambiguous. Evidently the public isn't buying the "party of anti-terrorism."