[Reagan Man]

>>>>Old style, small government conservatism died the day George Bush decided to embrace the role of world policeman.

America really hasn't had small government conservatism since Calvin Coolidge. And we haven't had a POTUS whose had any success at limiting government since Ronald Reagan. Ever since the end of WWII, the US has been the policeman to the world. For he most part, I support the Bush foreign policy agenda and his prosecution of the WOT. This is no time to show weakness aginst Islamic jihad.

Its Bush`s liberal spending habits and his domestic policy agenda that has expanded the federal bureaucracy to levels never seen before, that I see as undermining the conservative idea of limited government. And the Bush promotion of a liberal immigration reform doesn't help to advance the conservative agenda either.

[Captain Kirk]

I don't think history is on your side if you think you can compartmentalize the domestic and the foreign. It is hackneyed phrase but, like it or not, every war in American history illustrates this truth: "war is the health of the state." Freepers underestimate the corrupting nature of the national security/world policing state. The spread of big government attitudes among conservatives can be seen everywhere. Ten years ago, for example, "militias" used to be against big government (as conservatives defended liberty at Waco), now they are junior G men for the Feds.

Actually, your other statement is not quite right. The size of government, in terms of spending, actually fell under none other than Bill Clinton. It has skyrocketed under George Bush.

[dreammaker]

"Its Bush`s liberal spending habits and his domestic policy agenda that has expanded the federal bureaucracy to levels never seen before, that I see as undermining the conservative idea of limited government. And the Bush promotion of a liberal immigration reform doesn't help to advance the conservative agenda either."

Yet many refuse to believe what you've cited with their own eyes and ears.