What Conservatives Believe
Rush Limbaugh said to CPAC the other day, "We [conservatives] believe that the preamble of the Constitution contains an inarguable truth, that we are all endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life. Liberty, freedom. And the pursuit of happiness."
There's a definition for conservative used by a radio host around here that I like:
A conservative is one who seeks to conserve the original meaning and intent of the Constitution.
That said, I don't think that it's the most fitting word, since common usage of conservative is not towards political ideas but social and economic ideas.
This is why when people ask I prefer to call myself a "Jeffersonian Liberal"
Real conservatives get the joke, and most types of "liberals" are confused or offended :)
Whether that's a good definition of "conservative" or not, it does identify my problem with what Rush said, as the Constitution does not mean or intend those things. It is BASED on those ideas, but those ideas are not contained in it.