Article Image for: Conservatives Rejoice, we can call it a rebuilding year... Notice I say Conservatives and not Republicans. There is a reason for that.

George W. Bush is the reason. In one fail swoop GWB took what was a sound idea, that being Conservatism, renamed it Compassionate Conservatism (which is an oxymoron) and ran  both the Republican Party and the image of Conservatism into the dirt.

Again, notice I said the idea of Conservatism. That's because the way he has governed has not been by holding to those original Conservative ideals.

Conservatism has not changed. Conservatism still stand for certain things that are at its base.

1. Less Government - Bush has given us a growth spurt in Government spending the likes of which the world has never seen

2. Lower Taxes- Bush gave us that... but you have to cut spending in the beginning. It takes a few years for the increase associated with tax cuts as the economy grows. YOU CAN'T CUT TAXES AND INCREASE SPENDING UNTIL YOU REAP THE BENEFITS OF THE TAX CUT.

3. Strong Military/Decisive Military Action when it is employed- Well we can chalk this up to believing your own press. We simply did not go in with enough forces to quell the uprising. And we still do not have enough forces there to end this thing.

4. Economic Freedom- I don't mean a no hold bar approach to the economy, I mean a clear understanding that government has a role to play in major legislation regarding taxation of corporations, but they should not be legislating what a corporation can and can not sell (keeping in mind that certain things are illegal for the betterment of the community)

5. National Defense- Bush has dropped the ball here in the most obvious sense, our borders are an open gate stretching from Texas to California. We have no idea what and who is coming through.

6. Life Matters- Conservatism speaks for the unborn child. I can't fault Bush here much. He has appointed well to the bench.

7. 2nd Amendment- The right to bare arms is universal.

8. Personal Responsibility- You are the best person to decide what you want to be in life, where you want to go in life and how you want to get there. This covers so many subject in life it is a true blanket statement. When you save your money or spend your money it is up to you. And when you make a mistake, whether intentionally or not, it is you who should take the punishment or the blame. Whether you refinanced your house too many times, lived in a flood zone that has been known about for 500 years or if you were drunk behind the wheel, it is not the governments fault that you made poor decisions.

9. The Poor- It is true that Democrats have bought the vote of the poor for decades by promising them everything they will ever want. The problem here is that giving a person something without them having to earn it makes them care less to have it. Conservatism believes whole heartedly in giving every person the tools to succeed. This included the poor.

10. Finally- The Working Man- Many will find this the biggest problem they have with this article. It is true that Conservatism is embraced by many with money, but those who are smart and lack the funds today will embrace it also if they understand it. Whether it be race relations, upward mobility or equality for minorities, conservatism is the place where you are treated as an equal. If you are eager to work hard, be dedicated to your future and not afraid to dare yourself to be great, conservatism is the ideal place for you to spread your wings and fly. Equality of opportunity is the most basic of American principals.

If the next person who claims to be carrying the mantle of Reagan actually speaks to these matters, understands the importance of communication and is not afraid to ruffle a few feathers of those on the other side of the aisle, they will win the support of conservatives throughout America.

But what would I know; I'm just an Average American.