[Lloyd227]

Best I can do is quote Laura Ingraham on this topic. In the forward to the paperback version of Shut Up and Sing, she has included advice on what each of us can be doing and I believe also provided the best "definition" if there is one, for what a true conservative stands for.

So here's an abbreviated attempt at Laura's list, bulleted format:

1. Preserve national sovereignty.....
2. Return power to the states....
3. Rein in the courts....
4. Protect the electoral process
5. Strengthen the "new media"
6. Police our borders
7. Reform our culture
8. Continue to fight crime
9. Hold down taxes
10. Work for spiritual renewal

Laura does (of course!) say a lot more about each of these topics, but when I read this request to define conservative,  this section of her book came immediately to mind.   I believe we could do a lot worse than use this as a yard stick when considering whether our candidates are "conservative" or not.

And I've got to say right now....  McCain fails utterly on points 1, 3, 5, & 6   On these 4 points at least, his failure is so absolute that a perfect score in the other 6 will not salvage his reputation nor allow me to consider McCain anything but a RINO.

Romney fails to stick with one philosophy long enough to get a score

Huckabee seems strong in #10 and ready to compromise the other nine

By Laura's list,  seems to me that Thompson comes the closest among the choices we have currently.

Cheers,
Lloyd

[Perdogg]

I like Laura, but she sounds too much like a nanny-stater who wants to use the power of govt to legislate morality.

[Wiz]

7. Reform our culture
I don't know the context of that, but I feel that is a progressive identity, and it is more likely that protecting the tradition and culture is the core of "conservative" identity.