How dare they call themselves conservatives...
I am so tired of others trying to define what it is to be a conservative. I am sorry I do not fit your definition of a conservative. No, on second thoughts, I am not sorry.
I have a strong central core of beliefs, at one time I thought I was a conservative, but if that label puts me into your camp, I will search for a new home.
I think I will become an Independant Conservative (a basic requirement would be someone who does not believe all government is bad).
I was being fecetious and intended my comment to apply only to a select view of malicious people here on FR. Like you, I am an independent conservative. Obviously, what makes us conservatives is the fact that we are independent minded and accordingly we do not agree on all the issues. There is certainly room for conservatives to be on either side of the Iraq invasion issue given the Administration's hype about the Iraqi threat which is scarying not only my wife's friend into going back to Germany but my mother as well into fearing nuclear attack from a country whose longest range missile only has a 360 mile range. Amazing!