What is a "Real" Conservative?

01/01/08 | Reaganesque

[Kevmo]

Thanks.

I just realized that GMTA isn’t in the lexicon, so I think I’ll put it there.

[tantiboh]

Ain’t that the truth? That’s part of the problem. I consider myself an arch-conservative; yet I am sympathetic to the AWB. In my world, it makes perfect sense.

Yet, that one issue alone would cause some conservatives to label me a liberal RINO.

So, an ostensibly conservative politician has an impossible task - be consistently conservative when the definition of “conservative” is inconsistent. As a result, a politician can NEVER please everybody. We will never have a leader who is PERFECTLY conservative, because it is not entirely settled as to just what “conservative” means.

[HangnJudge]

The Quote that I remember best...

The durability of Conservatism has depended, to a great extent, on it being a disposition rather than a philosophy. What marks Conservatives out, across the generations, and whatever the environment they operate in, is an attitude of mind rather than an adherence to dogma. And that disposition — sceptical, cautious, pragmatic, sensitive to the local and the particular — has been politically successful because it has been in tune with human nature.

[Man50D]

What is a "Real" Conservative?

[buffyt]

I agree with the beautiful Ann on all three points.

[Calpernia]

Revolting cat! for President!

[Calpernia]

>>>The purpose of government is limited to governing, not micromanaging people’s lives.

Say no to social engineering :)

[Man50D]

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

Anyone can win since no votes have been cast.

[discostu]

Theoretically sure, practically not even close. Anybody that can’t poll around random chance (ie with 4 people in the race around 25%, with 8 contenders around 12% etc etc) probably can’t win, and anybody that can’t poll better than the published margin of error absolutely cannot win.

[org.whodat]

Ann Coulter has been saying for weeks on Fox that it is three things....

Ann is real close

1-Pro-life

2-Limited Government

3-Strong National Defense

4-Protect and Defend The Constitution of the United States and the Sovereign Nation which it represents.

[LexBaird]

A Conservative is a person who tries to preserve and advance those things in life that work and opposes change for change’s sake. Improvements are considered to be those things that enhance traditional values, not abolish them.

But Conservative is not an absolute term. Rather, it is relative. Nor is the scale linear, but multi-axis. Thus, you can have those who couldn’t care less about financial conservatism, but have great interest in social value conservation, or those who value conservation of traditional liberties, but not much concern about social traditions.

Still and all, the varieties of Conservatives are natural allies in the face of radical change agents; those who believe any change is good and experimenting with society is a grand idea. Those who see the status quo as a problem to be addressed rather than a virtue to be perfected.

[plain talk]

Oh great. Another opportunity for people to get on their soapboxes and preach to the choir.

[Man50D]

Anybody that can’t poll around random chance (ie with 4 people in the race around 25%, with 8 contenders around 12% etc etc) probably can’t win, and anybody that can’t poll better than the published margin of error absolutely cannot win.

Polls are a farce for several reasons:

1. They cover a very small percentage of the population.
2. Pollsters can target a group of people they know will give certain responses.
3. Pollsters can structure a question a certain way to elicit a given response.
4. Pollsters can discard any responses that contradict their desired results.

Unfortunately too many people give too much credit to polls and end up making assumptions by drinking the Kool Aid offered by the socialist media.

[Reaganesque]

Still and all, the varieties of Conservatives are natural allies in the face of radical change agents...

For the most part, I agree with that. Unfortunately, that is not entirely the case with several posters here on FR. That's why I started this thread.

[Man50D]

But Conservative is not an absolute term. Rather, it is relative.

That's tantamount to saying the Constitution is a living breathing document because anyone can interpret it anyway they want to suit their needs.

[discostu]

Polls aren’t as big a farce as people wish they were. Taken individually sure they can often be in error, but given the way the polls have been flying for the last 13 months, and given the consistency of the picture they’re painting down at the bottom end, they add up to fairly solid information on exactly who cannot win the election.

Unfortunately too many people approach their candidates like they do a sports team and think lying to themselves is a show of loyalty.

[Yardstick]

A real conservative’s got rocks for teeth and coal for eyes!

[Man50D]

Taken individually sure they can often be in error, but given the way the polls have been flying for the last 13 months, and given the consistency of the picture they’re painting down at the bottom end, they add up to fairly solid information on exactly who cannot win the election.

Do you mean like the rock solid polls that declared Thomas Dewey the winner over Harry Truman in the 1948 elections to the point of publishing it in the newspaper the day after the election? How about those always dependable exit polls that declared Al Gore the victor over Bush in the 2000 election? LOL!!!!

[PubliusMM]

Constitutitionally, a strict constructionist.
Morally, a firm believer in personal responsibility for my actions.
Spiritually, acceptance of the Judeo-Christian belief system.
Ethically, Objectivist.
Politically, the least government is the best government.

[discostu]

No he’s right. Conservative is a relative term, relative to the times and situations. Way back when in the far gone days of yesteryear environmentalism (then called conservationism) was a conservative platform, now the libs own it. JFK started the citizen marksmanship program, Clinton ended it. JFK hammered through a huge tax cut. What’s conservative and liberal this year might or might not have any relationship to how the terms were applied 40 years ago, 20 years ago, or sometimes even just a few years ago. Look at the short history of bye-line veto and fast track treaty negotiation, those are two issues that switch with the White House, conservatives are for them when the GOP owns the Oval Office Libs love them when the Dems are at the top.