@aaronssongs,
First of all, you are making the same mistake that so many others make.
Not all conservatives are republican, and not all republicans are conservatives.
I am a conservative, and I have never hidden that.
I am not however, a repub nor am I a member of the tea party.
Those people do not meet any definition of conservative that I know, they are simply using the word conservative as a rallying point.
A true conservative wants a govt that is as small as possible, but also knows that there are things the federal govt can and must do.
A true conservative understands that personal responsibility is one of the most important things a person can learn, and wont blame the govt for their own actions.
A true conservative will lend a hand to anyone that truly needs it, but wont make a habit of supporting someone that wont at least try to help themselves.
A true conservative understands that some issues should have stayed solely a state issue, where each state passes their own laws, as long as those laws don't violate the constitution.
Don't make the mistake of blaming all conservatives for the actions of the tea party, instead try and actually understand what true conservatives believe.
I think you will be surprised to find that you would agree with much of what conservatives think.