I've started writing another book -- my 8th book -- this one outlining what I believe conservatives, Tea Partiers, and Constitutionalists should stand for.

The central theme of the book is my view that we should start calling ourselves Constitutionalists rather than Conservatives.

The Conservative label is really a misnomer. Few agree on what that means.

Liberals think "Conservative" means we are against change. A "Conservative" in Iran is a bad thing.

I'm very much for change -- for making big changes in the government we have now.

I believe what we should be for is the Constitution of the United States -- the greatest charter of liberty ever put into effect. And we should be for the principles of liberty stated so brilliantly in the Declaration of Independence.

Were Thomas Jefferson and James Madison a "conservative"?

No. They were revolutionaries, but in a good way.

I don't mind continuing to use the term conservative and continuing to identify myself as a conservative because that's the label people are used to hearing.

But I think it would be much more productive if we would move toward the label "Constitutionalist."

Let's have an argument about whether government should follow the Constitution, or not.

We'll win that debate. Most people think government should follow the rules.

When we play sports and games, we expect everyone to follow the rules.

Our problem with the federal government is that it's not following the rules -- not following the Supreme Law of the Land -- the Constitution of the United States.

I'll be interested to read your views on this proposition.

Ben;
I think you're correct on this but I think that we should also do more. The 'progressives' (aka Democrats) have a tendency to redefine words...I think we should refuse to accept their re-definitions. For example, an illegal alien is an illegal alien no matter what they wish to call them. That being the case, we should continue to refer to illegal aliens as illegal aliens. Abortion is abortion and those that are for it are pro-abortionist, so why are we calling them pro-choice? The current trend of political correctness, while being very political is far from being correct; why do we allow them to insist on using it?

Just some of my thoughts,
Dave...

Totally agree with all that

I have always considered myself a Constitutionalist and not a Conservative, but the problem here is that we have allowed others to define us and label us as conservatives for too long. Getting rid of the "Conservative" label will not be easy, but I would agree that we need to get it done. Has anyone else here checked out the platform for the Constitution Party here in this country? I personally think it's great.

He who controls the language controls the debate. One of the most chilling features of George Orwell's novel, 1984 was the fact that the powers that be were controlling the definition of words. Many people just never realize what power there is in this. It allows one to control meaning. Thereby one has cultural control. What if we called Pro Choice advocates "Pro Death" instead? Note how homosexuals have co-opted and completely destroyed the original meaning of the word "gay." Is there anything "gay" about the extremely high incidences of HIV, AIDS, Hep C, mental illnesses, alcoholism and drug abuse among the homosexual population, particularly among male homosexuals? I insist there is not. I simply chose years ago to absolutely refuse the use of "gay" when discussing this subject. When discussing extremely liberal proponents I avoid the word liberal, because the better choice is often uber-liberal (a term they truly hate, by the way), or at best progressive. I suggest to you that there are few true liberals anymore; most have devolved to more extreme positions. Obama has truly socialist and some communist leanings in my view; I use those terms in defining him. Folks, think how you're being manipulated by the liberals and the press. Call something what IT IS, not what they want you to call it.

Finally, "Constitutionalist" is a very good choice, not only because it is a good definition for many of us, but also because liberals tend to be incredible dummies underneath that facade of effete snobbery. It could take them years to come up to speed on the name change. And note how certain of these types get so touchy and concerned regarding how they are addressed. Turn their own tactics right back at them. They can't stand this and it drives them crazy when you spend a good five minutes carefully delineating your proper title and meanings, and so they have to endure all the particulars about it before they can even begin to attack your position. Many of us Contitutionalists, and I think largely because we were raised with ethics, moral values to behave in a courteous and polite manner (meanwhile, many of today's liberals act like they've had no parenting at all), so therefore we tend to allow too much; we put up with too much when liberals attempt to dominate and control the language. I'm not suggesting it's time for "no more Mr. Nice Guy," but we need to take the stronger stance on their choice of the words defining us.