I didn't agree with how he felt Southern States should and can treat blacks as a state's rights issue, however on several different issue's he is as much of a true "small government" Libertarian-Conservative as you can get. I don't think you identify with the Tea Party, I think you more identify with the father of modern conservatism which is Barry Goldwater.
Not libertarian for this issue if for no others, slavery would take away from the liberty of others. I am not tea party either, Share some of their ideals but as a group no! The tax system is screwed up but I view them more as conservatives who just don't want to pay taxes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4BY5ZGurCU here illustraties a point and gives me a laugh.
"liberal" Is a word thrown around much like "assault weapon" people identify it with a certain group without looking at the word. Liberal or liberty first.
Restricting someones rights to keep and bear arms would not be liberal, unless that person where using those arms to restrict the liberties of others. Socialists those who we call "liberals" many times point to things like this and say well then what about if society as a whole is less restricted by limiting the rights of society as a whole. The problem with this is socialists don't really want to limit the rights of the government in turn because they view the government as being separate. Libertarians in my experience tend to view things more on a level playing field. In regards to 2A unless some one develops a magic wand that could make all guns cease to exist anyone should be allowed to have them, and be punished on their personal actions involving them.
Prostitution tends to be a good example to explain libertarian beliefs. I don't care what anyone else does with their own body or their money. If someone wants to sell their body it is their choice, as it is the choice of their clientele to pay for their services. Prostitution is illegal in most places due to a few reasons, a major factor being moral issues. My moral beliefs are my own and should not effect anyone else. There is the issue of public health, to which I would say we all have had sexual education and are made aware of these risks, and even if not its the personal responsibility of someone to educate them selves. So it falls on these parties to make personal choices on how they feel about the mater and taking advantage of it or not. Some people also say well I don't want prostitution because I dont want my family/friends to have anything to do with it. A libertarian would say it is their choice and if you have a valid reason for this you should educate them, and let them make an educated decision, but unless it actually causes you harm you have no right to push your beliefs on others. Then their is the issue of possible theft, to which I would say this would factor into laws and government involvement but not for prostitution but for the prosecution of one of the parties now becoming a thief. With this comes the possibility of assault which again legal and government involvement, but only in the case of the assault. Its really about personal freedoms, see liberty. Libertarians are not anti-government but think government should be there to protect our liberties first and foremost, social services, job creation, public infrastructure, and all the rest of what our government does gets a little complicated sometimes. On one hand the people pay for it and don't always all use all the services, and on the other they are still available to everyone(in theory). This can cause a lot of debate, but its really the same debate that happens amongst anyone.
The word liberal, in the sense that we value personal freedom, I think applies to everyone regardless of political beliefs in some form and I absolutely hate that we use it to describe those who I view as socialists. I feel that everyone on this board believes in liberty when it comes to firearms, and could be described as liberal in that regard.