I'll give you one issue and you can make of it what you will. But first we should know that to be a conservative you should be conserving something other than your own wealth. Traditionally the Republican/Conservative was tied up with being ANTI-FREE_TRADE with foreign countries. Washington, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt all made many speeches about protecting this free-trade zone we call The United States of America. That's what the constitution did, establish a free trade zone between the States. But since Eisenhower took over the party the Free-Traders are on both sides of the aisle. So..what does that mean? Is free trade no longer important enough for debate? Is it a dead issue? Shall we "conservatives" DIVORCE ourselves from tradition and Washington, Lincoln and TR?
The Neo-Conservatives like Rush would like us to believe that they carry the banner for us but the sad truth is that they carry their own banner and we are actually on our own. It makes no sense to point at the Dem/Liberals and say how awful they are. That is no way to prove your point. You cannot build yourself up at their expense.
If you want to know what is really going on and you want to read a REAL CONSERVATIVE then check out G K Chesterton at ignatius.com or chesterton.org (for free) and read EUGENICS and OTHER EVILS. YOu will surprised and enlightened to met a real conservative thinker.