“If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals-–if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.”
Ronald Reagan, 1975
While in the pure sense, all conservatives have a “libertarian” streak in them. They have nothing in common with the “Libertarian Party” which has ruined the meaning of the word. Even Ronald Reagan would shun the word IF in his time it had come to carry the conotations it has today. Most of us conservative are little “l” libertarians. We are not the anarchist big “L” libertarians (libertines actually) that the word is more closely associated with.
Well, that is certainly 180 degrees from what you posted earlier. First, you refer to "libertarians" (no "big L" distinction) as "wack jobs like Ron Paul or drug legalizers" saying you "associate it" (the word libertarian -- not the "big L" party) "with anarchists" (see earlier exchange below, emphasis added). You attacked the poster who dared to call for leadership from a "conservative/libertarian." But now, in this recent post you include yourself as a libertarian. Rather Jekyll and Hydish, IMO.
quesney #2: “will a real conservative/libertarian who understands and is willing to fight for free markets please stand up, or will RINOs snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.” Sola Veritas #207 : Please DON’t use the term LIBERTARIAN to describe any REAL conservative like Palin. That title has become synominous with wack jobs like Ron Paul or drug legalizers. I personally associate it with anarchists. So, in my opinion....there is no such thing as a CONSERVATIVE LIBERTARIAN...it is an oxymoron. Words mean things.