What is a "Real" Conservative?

01/01/08 | Reaganesque

[tantiboh]

I am with Rush: We should not be redefining conservatism to fit the candidate. Although I am a Romney supporter, Romney does not entirely fit that mold. Neither does Thompson. I think -very- few politicians do (even, arguably, Reagan - the Brady Bill, for example), so we have to make to with what we can get.

Duncan Hunter is the closest we’ve seen in a while. Alas.

[claudiustg]

A belief in individual rights as opposed to a belief in class rights.

[farmer18th]

A good conservative can't be a glad-hander or a "unite at all costs" chowder-head like GWB and his daddy before him. A good conservative is willing to define the enemy, the way Reagan did. A good conservative calls the Evil Empire, the "Evil Empire." He doesn't call Islam a "religion of peace."

A good conservative may be amiable--but not at the expense of the truth.

[Uncle Miltie]

"Duncan Hunter is the closest we’ve seen in a while. Alas."

"Politics is the art of the possible."

- (I believe it has been said, though I don't recall to whom i should attribute that.)

Therefore, we support the most conservative person who can WIN.

[Perdogg]

My intent is not to bring up this sore subject, but using the power of the federal govt in the Teri Schiavo case was not a conservative thing to do.

[Lloyd227]

Best I can do is quote Laura Ingraham on this topic. In the forward to the paperback version of Shut Up and Sing, she has included advice on what each of us can be doing and I believe also provided the best "definition" if there is one, for what a true conservative stands for.

So here's an abbreviated attempt at Laura's list, bulleted format:

1. Preserve national sovereignty.....
2. Return power to the states....
3. Rein in the courts....
4. Protect the electoral process
5. Strengthen the "new media"
6. Police our borders
7. Reform our culture
8. Continue to fight crime
9. Hold down taxes
10. Work for spiritual renewal

Laura does (of course!) say a lot more about each of these topics, but when I read this request to define conservative,  this section of her book came immediately to mind.   I believe we could do a lot worse than use this as a yard stick when considering whether our candidates are "conservative" or not.

And I've got to say right now....  McCain fails utterly on points 1, 3, 5, & 6   On these 4 points at least, his failure is so absolute that a perfect score in the other 6 will not salvage his reputation nor allow me to consider McCain anything but a RINO.

Romney fails to stick with one philosophy long enough to get a score

Huckabee seems strong in #10 and ready to compromise the other nine

By Laura's list,  seems to me that Thompson comes the closest among the choices we have currently.

Cheers,
Lloyd

[Waryone]

I prefer to use the description given on the front page of this website. It is an excellent description of what a conservative is.

A conservative is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Constitution, pro-Bill of Rights, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-private property rights, pro-limited taxes, pro-capitalism, pro-national defense, pro-freedom, and-pro America.

Corollary statement:

1. A conservative opposes all forms of liberalism, socialism, fascism, pacifism, totalitarianism, anarchism, government enforced atheism, abortionism, feminism, homosexualism, racism, wacko environmentalism, judicial activism, etc.

2. Conservatives also oppose the United Nations or any other world government body that may attempt to impose its will or rule over our sovereign nation and sovereign people. We believe in defending our borders, our constitution and our national sovereignty.

[Old Sarge]

Standard FReeper answer:

I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT SURE AIN'T YOU!

[rockinqsranch]

“In this campaign and here on FR there has been a great debate going on over who is a “real” Republican and who is not.”

“Republican” is a Party, not a philosophy as is “Conservative” IMO. I believe the Conservative base that used to be recognized and appreciated as the base of that Political Party are being rebuffed by the trend towards moderation the Party seems to be headed. This leads me to believe we as Conservatives will need in the future to take action towards establishing our own Party independent of the Moderate/Liberal Republican Party. I don’t of course suggest we even consider that at this time, but prepare ourselves to do so in the near future once this fiasco of an election cycle is complete.

What is a Conservative? I’ll back off of that one as I am too tired to get involved in a debate at this time. I’ll only state that all one has to do is to look at Duncan Hunter’s history/record for an exemplary example of Conservatism.

Check out Barry Goldwater’s history for further analysis.

G’nite y’all. Have fun.

[Kevmo]

That’s kinda cool. JimRob has a thing or 2 to say about the definition of conservative.

From the front page of Free Republic:

Statement by the founder of Free Republic
As a conservative site, Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Constitution, pro-Bill of Rights, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-private property rights, pro-limited taxes, pro-capitalism, pro-national defense, pro-freedom, and-pro America. We oppose all forms of liberalism, socialism, fascism, pacifism, totalitarianism, anarchism, government enforced atheism, abortionism, feminism, homosexualism, racism, wacko environmentalism, judicial activism, etc. .... We are not connected to or funded by any political party, news agency, or any other entity. .... We aggressively defend our God-given and first amendment guaranteed rights to free speech, free press, free religion, and freedom of association, as well as our constitutional right to control the use and content of our own personal private property. Despite the wailing of the liberal trolls and other doom & gloom naysayers, we feel no compelling need to allow them a platform to promote their repugnant and obnoxious propaganda from our forum. Free Republic is not a liberal debating society. We are conservative activists dedicated to defending our rights, defending our constitution, defending our republic and defending our traditional American way of life.

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According to Intrade, the winner of the December 12th GOP debate was... Duncan Hunter.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1938773/posts

Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts

In this poll Hunter is up 3% and even with Paul and Thompson.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=3481ef60-8195-46a9-af04-b87b907bcfdd

[Mr. Mojo]

Far easier to describe what a real conservative isn't:

Rudy, McCain, Romney, Huckabee. ....for starters.

[Perdogg]

I like Laura, but she sounds too much like a nanny-stater who wants to use the power of govt to legislate morality.

[Reaganesque]

Pretty much. LOL!

[seekthetruth]

Very good list that I agree with. I do place following the constitution at the top of the list. GO FRED! :)

[Uncle Miltie]

JimRob wins again.

[maxter]

Conservative is being fiscally responsible with less government intrusion, pro 2nd Amendment, pro capitalism, securing our border, winning the war, supporting our troops.

[restornu]

First they are all God's Children at different stages in their life journey.

Some are not ready for this position, some will never be ready for this office, and others are fading on time has pass by for them and some are at their peek ready, willing and able!

Romney REAL Truth File

[Waryone]

JimRob wins again.

Agreed.

Kevmo - GMTA!

[Reaganesque]

Any comments? I pinged my friends so I thought you should have a say to.

[TheLion]

I was a member of the Young Republicans here in Virginia in the late 70’s. I really didn’t understand how conservative I really was then, but Republicans seemed to appeal to me. I hung out with people that were in the company of Richard Viguerie and got to know him personally. In case some don’t know, He was the major Republican fund raiser back then. I think he has been called “The funding father of modern conservatism. (or something close to that).

As time passed, I woke up one day and realized that all of my good friends were conservatives. We drew to each other like magnets, I suppose.

In the 80’s, I used to comment to my friends that I thought Atilla the Hun was a liberal.

We formed a conservative philological society to gather and share ideas. A lot of fun and some great people were involved. We even had a fun court procedure and I got convicted of dating a liberal female. It was a fun night.

Those around here who attack me for my choice of a candidate in this election, use tactics, that I personally, don’t consider conservative. I think these tactics are more aligned with the tactics of the left. Shame on all of us for going there.