Are there different types of conservatives?
830772
Bush isn't a conservative in the traditional sense but then again, what is the traditional sense anymore. Many moderate democrats like Bill Clinton were as conservative with social programs as what is called a 'conservative' Republican today.\n\nTo answer your question, there do appear to be different types of conservatives... maybe categories is a different word.\n\nCompassinate conservatism - a made-up word to win votes that supposedly meant they would not cut social programs for the poor and less fortunate yet they would apply more restrictions in order to eliminate those just wanting to bleed the system.\n\nFiscally responsible conservatism - low governmental spending is the primary goal.. kind of like a corporation trying to keep it's overheard at the bottom line. At lot of corporations that do this end up with disgruntled employees that feel resentful for working everyday and just being able to get by while their labor makes the stock holders rich.\n\nReligious/Social conservatism - This is the category Bush falls in. This group believes it has the moral authority to dictate to the rest of society how they should behave, raise their children and what society is to tolerate. Acceptance to this group is a dirty word.
1110600
Though I am not a liberal, I have found that wacko conservatives are more stubborn know it alls than are liberals. Personally, I think both are retarded, but that's just the opinion of a hard line moderate.
451150
They are not conservatives at all. They call themselves Neo-Conservatives which is not conversative at all. They are pro big spending, pro government, pro intervention, pro pandering to illegals, pro regulation, pro church inside of state.
1168013
Are you kidding?\n\nRepublicans tend to be conservatives (though there are exceptions for sure)....\n\nIn general, conservatives want to "conserve" our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and strive to keep the government close to the principles upon which it was founded.\n\nBeing a Conservative...I'd like to remove the Commerce Clause though!!!!!
1005125
Most common traits of a "Reagan Conservative" are:   strong military, lower taxes, slow expansion of government, fiscal responsibility.  There are others on the list, but they are open for discussion.
738029
Conservatism is what it always used to be: don't go trying to change it.\nNo, I don't think Republicans are conservative, I think they are gullible.
443359
There are many types of Republicans. My favorite is the Christian Coalition.\n\nIf any Democrat heretics are here, I will pray that you may repent, and become a saved Republican.\n\nCome to Jesus
664903
The ones that say they are ultra Conservative would be Amish, so that's a lot of crap isn't it. I am a Democrat and I wont vote for a Republican unless for a local position as mayor or police chief. Otherwise no way. I have no positions on gays because i am not gay. I guess they have a right to fight for their own freedoms too.
920578
I'm an independent voter and have never belonged to either party - I guess I'm just not a joiner. I've tried to get a handle on liberal vs. conservative labels to see where I stand but there's so much overlap between the two, as well as differences within each label, that I'm not sure these generalizations have any distinct meaning. \n\nDescriptions for liberalism include classical American liberalism, modern American liberalism, and paleoliberalism. Conservatism can be classical, ideological, neoconservatism, paleoconservatism, social conservatism, fiscal conservatism, or libertarianism. Some of these labels, on either side of the semantic fence, seem to share pretty much the same beliefs so, outside of the generalizations made by political parties and the media, there's a good deal of commonality. In addition, it seems both Democrats and Republicans, as well as liberals and conservatives all seem to believe in individual rights, free enterprise, representative democracy, and the rule of law. I have my own issues but neither party nor nor any ideology satisfies me. I guess I'm too particular to let other people do my thinking for me.
1081156
What constitutes a "conservative" changes with time just as what defines a liberal, Republican, or Democrat.\n\nI think I have rather good credentials as a conservative. I list them so you can understand my current position.\n\nI was a founding member of the Conservative Party of New York State before I was old enough to vote. Even though I was only 15 years old  I was elected the Vice chairman of the Queens County Conservative Party Club (the largest in the state). I was a vice chairman of Youth for Goldwater and a chairman of Young Americans for Freedom. \n\nAfter college when I moved to Missouri I was elected a Republican committeeman, a member of the Republican State Committee, and chairman of the Republican City Central Committee.\n\nI ran (unsuccessfully) for congress at the personal request of President Ronald Reagan who campaigned for me and helped me raise campaign funding. \n\nI have managed campaigns, been a fund raiser for and a political consultant to a large number of  Republican candidates and elected officials including half a dozen United States Senators and two dozen congressman.  \n\nYet despite this history I did not vote for George Bush in either presidential election and have left the Republican Party to become a Libertarian.\n\nGeorge Bush and the current Republican leadership know as much about traditional Conservative principles as Jennifer Lopez knows about the Talmud.\n\nTraditional conservatives believe in fiscal responsibility. \n\nGeorge W. has given us a huge budget deficit. He has signed pork laden spending bills authorizing billions for absurdities like a bridge to nowhere in Alaska and a Museum to the Packard Automobile in Ohio.\n\nTraditional conservatives believe, like George Washington, in "avoiding foreign entanglements." \n\nGeorge W. has sent American troops to the other side of the globe to "nation build."\n\nTraditional conservatives believe in state's rights. \n\nGeorge W. has sought to oust the jurisdiction of Florida State courts when he didn't like the outcome of the Schivo case. He seeks a constitutional amendment concerning marriage, a traditional state prerogative. He uses Federal authority to deal with K-12 education, another local prerogative (and responsibility). \n\nTraditional conservatives believe in individual rights. \n\nGeorge W. has used the so called Patriot Act to violate those rights. He has directed the NSA to conduct covert surveillance of American citizens. He attacks the rights of homosexuals. [NB:Barry Goldwater, iconic conservative leader, once said, "You don't have to BE straight to be in the army, you have to SHOOT straight"]\n\nIt is clear that what passes for "conservatism" today is far removed from the traditional conservatism of men like Senator Barry Goldwater. It won't pass muster with me or anyone else who believes that what a real conservative seeks to conserve is, first and foremost, the Constitution.
877930
A demorcrat would be a Liberal.  In fact, in America, Republicans are often referred to as conservatives and Deamocrats are often referred to as Liberals.  I hope this helps.  Blessings to you.
384
Sorry, here in Europe, liberal is not conservative...Is not left (actually, is center-right), but here in Europe, in the Center right has three families: Conservatives, Christian-Democrats and Liberals; and they are pretty differents.
1052545
Smaller government,  lower taxes,  strong national defense are the 3 main cornerstones of conservatism.   (two out of 3 ain't bad, some would say).  \n\nConservatives tend to be methodical and calculating, while liberals tend to be activists for change.   Conservatives support the established government and the troops, while liberals HATE the government, despise the military, and blame the USA for all the evils of the world.    If Al Queda sets off a blast that kills hundreds of innocent people the conservative will condemn Al Queda for it, while the liberal will try to justify the actions and blame the USA (Bush) for it.  \n\nConservatives see the glass as half full,  Liberals see it half empty.   Conservatives see limitations on free speech, while Liberals see it as unlimited.    Conservatives see big business as capitalism, while Liberals see it as corruption.    Conservatives see the placement of Colin Powell and Condi Rice as Secretaries of State as monumental and groud-breaking, while liberals see it as "token negros" put into office for politics, not merit.  Liberals see the war in Iraq as for oil,  Conservatives see it as to promote Democracy in the heart of the middle east (and to get rid of an brutal dictator).  \n\nLiberals preach tolerance to others,  but  are intolerant to those they disagree with.   Conservatives hold their tongue and plan their strategy, while liberals are in constant attack mode while offering no ideas of improvement.   \n\nConservatives are held under a microscope and the smallest of infractions are bombasted, while liberals are allowed to get away with murder, and I mean that literally in some cases,  (Ted Kennedy and his nephew).   Robert Bryd is a known separatist and former KKK member.  He is a strong Democrat.  Party members shrug his past off as "youthful indiscretion".   If a republican had such a past  it would never be allowed. \n\nGay Marraige is not a conservative ideal, and therefore not on the conservative agenda.   It is, however,  on the liberal (activist) agenda.   Abortion rights is the same.   Socialized medicine is also not conservative thought,  its liberal.   \n\nConservatives tend to believe in God, and thus morals play a big part.   Liberals tend to be Athiests, and lack of morals are evident in their thinking...i.e. gay issues, abortion rights, etc.    Liberals are always preaching rights rights rights.   How about the right to own a firearm under article 2 of the constitutiion?   That doesnt fit their agenda, so they are against it.   \n\nLiberals continually talk about separation of church and state.    I have found no place in the constitution where the words separation of church and state are mentioned, and I don't think you can find it either.   It mentions only the government shall not sponser religion...not isolate itself from it.\n\nAnd finally,  liberals are globalists.  They seek approval from bodies such as the U.N. before doing anything.    Conservatives do not ignore the U.N. and will go to it,  but retain the right to act as a sovereign nation if they feel the U.N. is in error.
820992
Doug Feith, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, Dick Cheney, Jeb Bush among many others.\n\nGo to http://www.pnac.org to see who the signatories are.  Those are the "first" neo conservatives.
470461
Liberals (Democrats) as they're called in the States are actually not followers of traditional liberalism. Classical liberalism is more closely followed by Libertarians and some factions of the Republican party. Extreme liberalism can be seen in some forms of anarcho-capitalism or anarchy. Just so you know.\n\nAnyway, conservatives are for the protection of a traditional way of life, of the status quo, of stability. Conservatives are therefore against any social upheaval or change. Conservatives feel that too much change is dangerous, destabilizing, and ultimately the death of a society, and that a strong government is needed to protect the people, even if it means restricting freedom somewhat.\n\nModerates see the value in both. They agree that change is necessary and that freedom is important and that both can be beneficial, but that full-blown anarchy is not desirable and that the government can actually help the protection of freedom.
153368
In practice? I'd still have to say conservative but like most any large "group" of people out there, it'll be a mixed bag. From my own anecdotal experience, most Catholics are staunchly against America's handling of Iraq so in that sense they might be considered Democrats, left-leaning, liberal etc. With regards to other hot topic issues such as abortion Catholics are fervently Republican, right-leaning, conservative. Mind you with respect to issues of abortion and homosexual marriage there is a strong "liberal" vein in Catholic America. Unfortunately they are not in communion with the Holy See and, simply speaking, are not Catholic. The Catholic church has always had its ultra conservative elements and ultra liberal elements and has typically fostered good intra-Church debate. But at the end of the day, all true Catholics should submit themselves to the policies of the Vatican/Magisterium/Pope, if not intellectually then at the very least, in practice.
1130377
Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative.