“The funny thing about the Republican Party. It was always the liberal party from its birth.
The first conservative Republican nominated was Goldwater, by a whisker. The first (and only) conservative Republican President was Reagan.
Republicans were always the liberals until recently.”
The one consistent difference is the Republican party has been the party of individual rights. It has always been the position of the Republicans that expansion of the government presents a threat to individual rights, so the Republicans have consistently been against government expanstion.
Even Teddy Roosevelt’s (the most “liberal” Republican) reforms were rooted in protecting the individual. Breaking up monopolies and regulation of industry all have their roots in protecting individual rights and making sure no single entity becomes too big to threaten anyone’s individual rights.
Liberal vs. Conservative is not the correct historical lens to view the Republican party. Individual rights vs. govermental power is the correct lens.
True, the other constant is that the Republican Party has always been identified with business and business interests.
The Chamber of Commerce has always been and will always be a part of the Republican Party, even to when it was known as the Whig Party.