[api]

Libertarians aren't conservatives. Libertarianism is a different branch of the same tree as other forms of liberalism. The goal is maximization of individual human well being and potential. The disagreement is over how best to achieve that.

[munk-a]

Fiscal libertarianism aligns much closer with fiscal conservatism while the social component is closer to liberal social views, unfortunately US Libertarians have drifted further into the conservative realm due to movements like the Tea Party and now generally endorse the full GOP fiscal package, increasing debt to lower taxes in an effort to spur growth.

[CalChris]

Libertarians are also not libertarians. They're just disaffected Republicans.

Ron Paul. Gary Johnson. Bob Barr. Et cetera.

[orwin]

I always found it funny that the word "libertaire" (french translation of libertarian), come from the word liberal with the word "proletaire", and is now used to qualify some members of the american far-right.

It was used to criticise liberal anarchism (Proudhon) because it was not socialist/egalitarist enough, and later inspired Marx (who built his theory of communism with anarchist fundation). So people in US that call themselves "libertarian" could change their names to "communists cousins", really.

[api]

Libertarianism is a big tent. There are right-libertarians (like the ones you describe), left-libertarians, anarchist-leaning libertarians, Randian Objectivists, etc. These camps differ in numerous ways but there's a general undercurrent and large areas of agreement.