Is the GOP conservative as compared to the Liberal Left? No, they're clones. But the professional Republicans will never alet tehmselves see this. $222 billion in new social spending in the past two years and that's before Republicans stick us with the largest entitlement program in 35 years.
My experience has been that the self-professed 'no compromise on principle' Conservatives provide little more than target practice for the 'scorched earth tactics' Left in the political battlefield.