For quite some time, this was my working theory in explaining the difference. I have discarded the theory since early this past year, in light of facts and evidence. The "conservative" movement has been factionalized via the "single-issue" voter, and ego or economic self-interest, all the while in light of the fact that we are in a war for our nation's very survival. Those who couldn't or wouldn't see the forest for the trees acted and pretended as tho this war didn't "really" exist or that having been fought, their own single-issue be given second priority, as they demand. -- Much like liberals do.
On one hand, this is very bad, as evidenced this past election and in regards the WOT.
OTOH, it is very good, in that the extremists in both liberal and conservative groups are now at parity. The playing field has been "leveled" in this regard. There exists more purple than a clear "divide" between red and blue.
This is exactly what President Bush proposed in his "unity" speech years ago. And, it appears the legislative bodies reflect this very result.
The President made clear that the safety and security of this nation was PRIORITY #1. And factions within the conservative ranks ensured it was backpedaled, given lip-service, but only as long as their single-issue was given a higher priority.
Moonbats Meet Faux Conservatives, is how I refer to these next few years (aka: The Great Threshing of the American populace).
OTOH, it is very good, in that the extremists in both liberal and conservative groups are now at parity.
The leftie extremists have unified strongly with the Democrat coalition on the left (see Moveon.org's financial backing of "moderates" like Casey in PA)... the right extremists think themselves too pure to form a coalition with anyone that doesn't believe 100% the same as they. Hence, the left will keep winning again until we go so far left we turn into the United States of Cuba.
In Europe they form coalitions of interests to form governments after the voting takes place, in America we form coalitions of interests prior to the elections... it's pretty simple, but the conservative "purists" think it is unprincipled to work with a right-side coalition and the fake conservative saboteurs here glory in driving that wedge deeper on the right.
Scary situation...