Sure he is. Just look how Republicans have morphed over the years from talking about small limited government (even though they really didn't believe it) to fully supporting it, voting for more of it, and calling anyone who dared not to support their waste and spend as 'unconservative'...
The only thing differentiating the Republicans from the Democrats these days is the social issues. But even there they're both big government. One side wants legislation limiting issues such as gay rights, abortion, etc. while the other wants legislation supporting it. And of course neither of these stances is what was intended from the Framers. These issues were intended to be left to the separate and sovereign states.
Unfortunately, you're right. Think what could been achieved with a Republican President and GOP control of both houses since 2001 ... and how little was.
Only if you let the drive-by-media pick your candidate for you.
"These issues were intended to be left to the separate and sovereign states."
The states are no longer separate or sovereign. Not for nearly a century. A state today is no more than a very large county. Not when the federal government regulates everything down to the individual household, and federal judges direct how states may tax and what they must spend it on.