What is Compassionate Conservatism?

What the heck does "compassionate conservatism" mean? Its a turn-of-the-21st-century political philosophy that has been adopted and championed by President Bush. In theory (I think) it means helping those in need, while also asserting the accountability of those being helped. But in practice, under Pres. Bush's direction it has come to mean new, large government programs used to enforce conservative ideals.

Some examples include the following: the No Child Left Behind Act, which served to centralize oversight and control of education. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, one of the largest additions to the "entitlement state" ever. The Department of Homeland Security, and the overall explosion in federal spending.

Is compassionate conservatism then nothing but a capitulation to the methods of the Left? "Compassionate conservatism" is big government conservatism. If that sounds like an oxymoron, that's because it is. For President Bush and other CC's, the ends (conservative ideals) justify the means (bigger government, more federal spending). Utilitarianism at its worst, ugh.