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That's not true and you know it. I've defined conservative/conservatism before, using standard dictionary definitions.

If so, I don't recall and I apologize.

HOWEVER...Rush certainly disagrees with you and staunchly rejects the dictionary definition since it becomes relative to the establishment and not fixed on any principle.

For instance, with the dictionary definition, it could easily be argued that conservatism would defend social security, and all manners of increased government involvement in our lives as THAT is the overriding tradition of the US government in the last century. But that is not the definintion of Conservatism I've always been acquianted with.

"...it could easily be argued that conservatism would defend social security..."

BINGO! That's the kind of conservative Mr. RM is, I'm afraid.

... the dictionary definition, it could easily be argued that conservatism would defend social security, and all manners of increased government involvement in our lives as THAT is the overriding tradition of the US government in the last century. But that is not the definintion of Conservatism I've always been acquianted with.

I guess, in that regard, anyone can theorize anything they want. In my book, being a conservative, is being opposed to everything that has happened since the 1930`s. I oppose everything from FDR`s New Deal socialism, to LBJ`s Great Society liberalism, to Clinton's "I Feel Your Pain" liarism. Conservatism doesn't mean, I want to throw America back in time, to the early days of its beginnings. Modern conservatism, isn't against government, its against the over taxation and the bloated federal bureaucracy. I believe the only way the system can be changed, is through the ballot box and through the election of more conservatives to public office.

You all can moan and groan all you want, about this and that, being anti-constitution and anti-founding fathers. It does absolutely, NO good. I repeat, it serves no good purpose. The only way to effect real change, is to face the facts, of the real world. Grab your political agenda, ideology, philosophy, or whatever and run run run, for public office. If you're fortunate enough to win victory, you'll then have the power, influence and opportunity to bring about the changes you support. Otherwise, without following this simple example, you're dead in the water and all you have is rhetoric to get your message out. Rhetoric only goes so far. Just ask Rush.

For instance, with the dictionary definition, it could easily be argued that conservatism would defend social security, and all manners of increased government involvement in our lives as THAT is the overriding tradition of the US government in the last century.

Yes, conservative George Will recently wrote, in a column headlined, "Conservatives should be pleased":

He and Gore agreed that the emblematic achievement of the New Deal, Social Security, must be strengthened, and that the emblematic achievement of the Great Society, Medicare, should be enriched with a prescription drug entitlement.

Conservatism...conserving big government!