[stryker]

BTW, I forgot to mention that a strict constitutionalist would be a liberal. See John Locke's writings. Compare Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rousseau. These are the philosophical writings upon which the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights were founded, and they stand in stark contradiction to the writings of Edmund Burke. Burke was therefore labelled conservative and Locke, liberal. Hence, what we today call a conservative is actually an historical liberal, and is considered such in political philosophy.

[Tribune7]

I forgot to mention that a strict constitutionalist would be a liberal.

I agree with you here :-)

Main Entry: lib·er·al·ism
Pronunciation: 'li-b(&-)r&-"li-z&m
Function: noun
Date: 1819
1 : the quality or state of being liberal
2 a often capitalized : a movement in modern Protestantism emphasizing intellectual liberty and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity b : a theory in economics emphasizing individual freedom from restraint and usually based on free competition, the self-regulating market, and the gold standard c : a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties d capitalized : the principles and policies of a Liberal party

---From Merriam-Webster OnLine.