[RepublicanPatriot]

Polls don't reflect reality. Americans might say they are "conservative" -- but then why do they consistently fail to support conservative policies?

[iluvlucy]

You are correct.
Rush L. was quoting some guy this week and the theory was weak as well. The problem is people thing of themselves as conservative but support and promote ideas and values no "conservative" would have 10 years ago, even less 20 years ago. Consider the large number of people on this very website that would support in a NY second a pro-abortion pro-gay marriage pol like Rudy. The list of issues in which the "right" has let slip "left" is astonishing, from Abortion and divorce de jour, to semi-paganism (if not the outright version). And yet because they harbor a delusion they are more conservative then their neighbor they hold fast to the fantasy they are holding down the line on Traditional Values.

If they were interested in truth they would look at their own values over the last 20 years. Not as a middle ages man looking back on a miss spent youth but as a middle aged man looking back on the values he rejected in his youth that was held in estimate by the adults 20 years ago. If one does that many of the issue the GOP promotes today would look much like those of the Democrats 20 years ago and nothing like the GOP or conservatives in general.

[Katya]

most people don't understand "which" principles differentiate the two parties, they vote on personality. I live in a very blue state, and am amazed after questioning your average dem on specific issues, that they often fall to the right in the political spectrum. The republican are notoriously awful at explaining what it means to support republican ideas. The dems usually sit back, say nothing, and wait for the opportunity to emote on camera. I've never been able to get your average dem to explain what the democratic party stands for.