We should look at what true conservative beliefs/values are. This is my definition of what conservative believe: believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense.  Conservatives feel that the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals and when necessary protect those goals from outside interferences, hazards, or obstacles. 
 
Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual in such a manner that the individual is able to solve problems.

Some people feel that conservatives don't want a federal government.  I have recently seen this with the oil catastrophe and the border situation.  Some people will say that conservatives say limit government then with the oil situation they want the government to help and with the border situation they want the government.  What these people are saying is not logical.  They're saying is you can't have the one or the other.

Now, to the question about if Dick was a great conservative or not.  I will say that Cheney can not be clearly classified as a conservative for he did do somethings that helped enforce conservatives beliefs while doing other things that didn't.  While he didn't limit government that much (there are a few exceptions).  He did protect individuals liberties and traditional American values through the response of 9-11 which were interfering with people's freedom.

Since Cheney can not be clearly classified into a conservative frame it wouldn't be fair to judge him within it because he wouldn't be great within that said context.  It would be like me asking if Bruce Lee could be a great boxer?  Bruce Lee, was a very talented fighter and probably could box.  He didn't box per say as in he did throw punches (jabs, uppercuts, and roundhouse punches) yet he did things that were outside of the boxing context.

This is the reason why I guess you felt that I wasn't giving you a clear answer.  I hope my analogy makes sense.

Also, I am sure that people will disagree with my definition of conservatism. I guess since its your article: what is your definition of conservative and Republican? (note I am not a Republican)  My definition of who is an outstanding individual probably varies from what other people would say and that the question is way too broad and general.  If you compared two like people (Cheney vs. X ), people may be able to respond to your question better.

perhaps the mean temperature in hell has dropped to 0?

whatever the reason, serious replies are appreciated.

an excellent suggestion!

duly noted. 

my first question would be (and your response truly deserves its own topic because there's so much there to discuss) whether freedom is something government has power to grant (if that's the case, it then also has power to un-grant).  as far as protection goes, who prevails when protecting one person inhibits another? 

my larger questions is this: what are "traditional american values"--and how well does your personal interpretation of that phrase coincide with our us constitution in which nothing of the sort appears. 

focusing specifically on dick cheney, it seems to me there's a huge disconnect between those concepts you've listed and a person who not only went to considerable effort to protect himself from serving during the vietnam war (five deferments??), but also claimed he "had other priorities in the '60s than military service".  most of his adult life was spent working in government; as vp, he did as much as possible to expand the executive over the other two branches.  while conservatives of british or french traditions might applaud a return to aristocracy, it's really not an american thing.  or so i thought.

Things that are.

Do I get a gold star now?

So, Bruce Lee must have been the greatest boxer, right!

The stormtroopers from Star Wars are KKK members!

one doesn't evoke or didn't inspire the other?

he certainly wasn't nominated 'boxer of the year'; in december 2009 cheney was named 'conservative of the year' by human events (their slogan is: 'Leading Conservative Media Since 1944). 

your analogy failed first time around but the rest of your response outweighed it so i left it alone.  

Cheney is da man... great hunter too.

Yep. It all goes under my head.