[Satadru]

Maybe about a third of the GOP is conservative. The problem is really with people on top, including President Bush, who sells out the conservative base for political expediency.

[misterrob]

This country was based on a homogenious system of people of all cultures so it should be of no surprise that people don't all fit into just one or two buckets. The fact is that our society is fairly moderate with extremists on both ends of the political spectrum.

Another issue to consider is the essence of the conservative movement. Do we really want smaller and less intrusive government or do we want government that enforces a small minorities' particular concerns? We can bitch when the left seeks to use government to impose it's beliefs on us yet why is that not a double standard when the right does it? If you believe in the Constitution and what it stands for you don't get to cherry pick. If you believe in the Constitution you don't get to make up rules (without an Amendment) if they don't exist. Yet for some reason the courts seem to rule on issues with no constitutional basis. eg, Diversity and Privacy are not mentioned anywhere yet they seem to be a basis to make decisions.

I actually think the Libertarians have it right. Smaller government, individual responsibility and individual rights as long as they don't infringe upon someone else's rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Both parties, one could argue, actually pander to the extremes in order to gain the nomination. Once they clear that part of the electoral process ever notice how centrist they tend to become?