What is a conservative?

Good question. I'm supposed to present a short lecture on this and other political topics later this summer so this will be good practice.
A friend once asked for help to decide which political party to join. My advice was to think about what she believed in, what values were most important to her. She said she believed in freedom, liberty and self-determination and believed they were the most important elements that has made the United States of America the most successful, prosperous nation in the history of planet Earth. She said she believes that capitalism and its respect for private property is the most practical and successful economic theory invented so far and that it has made not only her nation great but is now transforming much of the rest of the world. She said the sanctity of human life is most important to her and that she believes it begins at conception and should be protected and honored until natural death. And that the most important amendment in the US Bill of Rights was the 2nd, the one that guarantees government will make no laws prohibiting citizen's God-given right to keep and bear arms. And it was most important because without it, the rest would be academic at best. Then I told her to take those beliefs and find the political party that embodies those beliefs most closely.
Up in my neck of the woods, I talk to people everyday who believe those same principles but still vote for candidates from a party that does not. Members of this party seem to be on a crusade to soften them, broaden them, always for the best of good intentions regardless of the consequences. I was talking to a young friend last week who told me an incumbent public official had lied to her. I asked her if she was going to vote for him again and she said yes, because she belonged to his political party and they believed in so many of the same things. I reminded her that he had lied to her, about a vote he'd made. She said she understood but she still wasn't going to change her vote. I reminded her, once more that he had lied and decided to move on.
Our political beliefs and principles shouldn't be up for grabs depending on what our friends think or how polished the latest political flavor happens to be. And they should bear critical scrutiny, mostly from ourselves.
If a political party has changed, perhaps its time for you to change too.
There are 134 days left before election day, 2008. Discover your truth and hang onto it with both hands.