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I am for free-market reform in almost all areas. However, the Republican party has been hijacked by scaremongers, hypocrites, and the Religious Right. Until these issues are addressed I am not voting for a Republican ever.

Because of the south.

After LBJ passed the Civil Rights bill, the Democrats of the south peeled away from the party and aligned with the Republicans. Strom Thurmond is a good example.

Some of the elected officials stayed with the Democratic party anyway, and continued to be elected. Examples include Lloyd Bentsen and Robert Byrd.

This set the stage for the conservative Democrats. People who want to run as democrats, but can only win as conservative Democrats in the South and West.

Traditionally, what you're calling a "Conservative Democrat" was the mainstream of the party. JFK today would be considered a conservative democrat. It's only been since the mid 1960s that the Democrat party has shifted ever leftward until we see today a party that is against Americas founding principles, Capitalism, rational thought and has openly and admiringly embraces socialism.

Conservative does not equate to Republican.

I'd be a Conservative Democrat if the breed wasn't dead. The next closest thing is the Libertarian Party (w00t Ron Paul!)

Because the republican party is full of psychotic fake neo-cons like Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck. Conservatives do not have to be Republicans

Because they won't abandon their party -- even if their party has abandoned them.

Most conservative Democrats, it seems to me, are older.

And older people generally tend to stay loyal to things -- whether it's a brand of coffee, or a political party.

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Many democrats are affected by the propaganda that is constantly issued by the wealthy elite via the media.

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Because I hold more liberal social views.