re: breathtaking arrogance.
Either the word "conservative" has a real meaning, or it doesn't. If it means what it has always meant, the idea that the totalitarian regimes of the past couple of centuries were mostly "conservative" is a load of crap.
Frankly, I've gotten tired of words being massaged, redefined, or even wiped out of existence to avoid reasoned discussion.
If you want to start tossing words around, note that almost every single government in the 20th century that ended up murdering vast numbers of its own citizens referred to itself as "socialist." That's their use of the word, not mine. You'd think that would make an impression on some people.
Reading a book by Dean who read a book by Lakoff does not make you an expert on the subject either.