I'm having trouble

understanding how self-described conservatives can still support the Republican party. From what I'm told being conservative (broadly) means you support smaller, less intrusive government and a conservative social agenda. As near as I can tell, this is not was the GOP is about anymore. During the past six years, Republicans have contolled the white house, enjoyed a majority in the House and at least a near-majority in the Senate (it's gone back and forth a little). In essence, Congress and the President have repeatedly been faced with two questions: "Do we expand federal power or reign it in? Do we increase spending or limit it?" They have repeatedly chosen to increase authority and spending, and I fail to see how that falls in line with a conservative political agenda.

As far as the social side of conservativism, I see little action on that front either. Where are the debates on abortion, or prayer in schools? How about some concern for the divorce rate, or displaying the 10 Commandments in court houses? Any discussion of teen pregnancy/promiscuity/abstinence or family issues? None that I can see. Drug abuse & alcoholism? Not on the national agenda. About all that has happened is President Bush has appointed some right-leaning judges and had that faith-based initiatives thing early in his tenure. Congress has broached the subject of banning gay marriage twice, but that issue is so incredibly divisive that it has almost no chance of passing (it lost two votes in the senate the second time around despite the GOP gaining some seats) and, more recently, has been trying to ban flag burning and desecration, a move calculated, I think, to pander to their conservative base. There has been lots discussion about immigration reform, but thus far no action, and given the complexity of the issue it will be while before anything happens. But at least their talking about it.

So what am I missing? Can anyone reading this explain why a conservative would continue to vote republican, (at least on the federal level; I'm sure there are State and local officials who are Republican and still conservative)? Is it merely that some people can't bring themselves to vote Democrat, or is perhaps the recent expansion of federal powers acceptable because of the war on terror? I really would like to know; this isn't me just dumping on the GOP. For the record, I don't understand why people still vote Democrat either; they have almost utterly failed to offer an actual alternative to Republicans. It seems their national platform is "Hey, at least we're not the GOP!"