Hoist by his own petard.
If one always "acts according to the practical needs of the occasion," it seems pretty obvious that one will constantly be expanding the role of government, as that is in general the most obvious way of dealing with any problem. A true conservative recognizes that some problems are the price we must pay for limited government, thereby avoiding the problems caused by unlimited government. This analysis leaves out the obvious issue that expanding the government to deal with "the practical needs of the occasion" seldom is all that effective at actually solving those needs.
"Making America strong and No. 1 on the world stage" is a defensible goal, but it also quite obviously requires a government that in size and scope is far beyond that envisioned by the Founders.
“Necessity is the plea of every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.”
William Pitt