There once was a time when conservatives insisted that bills must be paid, and that public debt should be avoided or severely limited.

There once was a time when conservatives believed the state’s power within our own borders should be carefully circumscribed. We believed that government should not be allowed to seize private property without due process of law. We believed in free markets and free trade.

We said we believed in telling the truth. We said we supported investigations of public corruption and opposed the smearing of honest law enforcement personnel. We opposed smearing anybody, period. Honest debate and criticism were okay, but personal calumny wasn’t.