"Conservative" hasn't become near the pejorative that "liberal" has, for the sheer reason it hasn't been used as long nor in the same fashion. "Liberal" has been a dirty word for at least decades - what's more, it's equated with anti-American traits, whereas "conservative" is not. "Conservative," at worst, means "religious wacko nutjob."

The problem with allowing the radical religious element to take over the Republican party is that they've opened the lamp and I have a hard time seeing the genie go back inside. Because I know even moderately religious people who are secretly happy to see what is preached to them being pushed on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures.