Conservatism is an integrated whole. You can't claim conservatism without being politically, economically, socially, whaterverly conservative.
Re political conservativism; the GOP does not define conservatism.
For instance, without economic liberalism (taxes) social liberalism - tolerance of anti-Darwin behavior - can't exist. HIV kills, faggotry is a genetic deadend.
That attitude would kick out at least 40% (by my early first counting) of the folks on this thread.
It is time that both sides admit that there are 'branches' (so to speak' of Conservatism. We can't keep saying, "Only WE are the true conservatives".
If we don't unite, the R party will lose in Nov, I think.