Manx

That's the whole question - so when you say you are not sure why I posed the question, are you saying that they do not? Are you speaking for all conservatives now?

I know you to be someone who believes it is a good thing to have a lot of religion in politics. I am one who believes no religion should be in politics. There are certainly conservatives who believe similarly to you, in this respect, and there are those who believe similarly to me. And then there are the many who fall somewhere in between.

You, personally, may not find the religious control of the conservative party to be in anyway troublesome, but I have seen quite a conservative backlash to it recently, due to the Schiavo case. I have also noted quite a few conservatives who have consistently disagreed with the religious position on abortion (atleast as it is applied to politics and law) and gay marriage, etc.

So that is my question - will the demonstrated control of the conservative party by religion push the conservatives who have not typically supported the religious aspects of the conservative party platform into regaining control of the party?

Goldwater would be rolling in his grave.
The religious right is an extreme element of conservativism. I will always attempt to marginalize religion as long as religion attempts to control politics.