All I see is Neo-Con mouthpieces, where have all the REAL conservatives gone?

Question

I mean, if we just take the original political definitions of the words, "conservative" and "liberal", we find that:

"conservatives" tended to favor individual rights, states rights, and limited federal power.

"Liberals" initially meant a person who favored large federal government, and reduced individual rights.

It seems now that "conservative" means "a person who blindly supports the policies of the current republican leadership/administration, no matter how far they stray from what you KNOW to be your core beliefs. "

"Liberal" seems to mean, "anyone who disagrees with the current republican administration/leadership on any issue, no matter how benign or important"

I myself am a former member of the Republican Party, and I resigned due to the policies of this Administration reguarding expansions in social welfare programs, unnecessary military expansions, unnecessary wars, and interference in what I had always considered states rights.

Please, spew your ignorance at me.

Thank, you, Bill, for your uninformed rant! It was exactly what I was looking for.

To suggest that the concept of "states rights" is directly linked to southern racism whows what a skewed vision of history you posess.

States rights issues were of utmost importance in the DEVELOPMENT of our nation! Many States initially REFUSED to sign the Bill of Rights, due to the fact that state's were not properly respected in the document!

Your brand of ignorance is so refreshing, I have not seen a REAL dumb@ss liberal in a long time.

Tell me more about how EVERYTHING IS RACIST!

Make up history to back up your rantings!

I love it!

BTW, poor whites in america have had a MUCH more difficult time historically than your people. Read a book, and learn the truth.

Also, Bill, dont you mean, it depends on who is ASKING the question?

Jesus you are stupid. I don't blame you, though. I grew up in a black neighborhood, I went to black schools, I know how little respect your people have for education, and the truth.

You prefer someone with a flashy way about saying nothing, or someone who says what you want to hear.

Still, Good luck to you, with as ill informed as you are, you will need it.

Answer 1

The neo-cons, with the help of the so-called "liberal" media have co-opted the title of "Conservative" to mask their true agenda, which is the polar opposite of conservatism. If they called themselves what they really are, Trotskyites, nobody would take them any more seriously than they did for the 50 years before Reagan handed them the keys to the Republican Party.

If true Conservatives had actually researched the history of these thugs in the beginning, rather than blindly accepting that their participation in the Republican Party was proof of their conservatism, we wouldn't be in the mess we are now. In other words, we brought this upon ourselves.

True Conservatives now have only two choices. Either take back the party and send the neo-cons and their "religious right" (a true oxymoron) toadies packing, or come up with a new title.

.

Answer 2

You said:
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"Liberal" seems to mean, "anyone who disagrees with the current republican administration/leadership on any issue, no matter how benign or important"
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Has it occurred to you that perhaps the reason it seems this way is the neocons have pulled the conservatives so far to the right that even those in the middle now seem left and left seems radically left? Or that the left has to constantly battle these guys to keep things from going even more radically right? Seems like it's constant negotiation to even maintain an appearance of sanity in the current environment. Look at the Iraq occupation, the Libby sentence commutation, the lack of independence in the Iraq and 9/11 commissions, allowing testimony off the record and not under oath, the secret energy task force, illegal wiretaps. Under normal circumstances, one would think much of this activity was absolutely criminal.

Answer 3

Given enough time, American political parties always stray far from their original ideas. The 2 party system is antequated, to say the least. I long for the day when we have 3, 4, or even 5 or more real teams we can side with, so that everyone has a very close representation of their true beliefs. Until then I will remain stubbornly independent, much the chagrin of my stubbornly Republican family.

Answer 4

You might want to read a bit further back in history--the meanings have shifted before--in the early 19th century favoring limited government was more lberal than conservative. And for the artisans and craftsmen to orginize what today we' call trade unions was definately conservative!

Personally, I thinkwe are entring into a period oftransition like the late 1800s-early 1900s, where the old ideologies broke down and a new configuration emerged. Look at Teddy Roosevelt. He was a "hawk" of the first order, and an "unfortunately effective" proponent of American imperialism. But he was also a leader in the fight to establish government regulation of industry for the public good, whas the 'environmentalist's environmentalist" of his day.

The millions of decent americans who used to be called "conservative" are still out there, never fear. But the labels we grew up with are becoming more and more irrelevant.

Answer 5

Einstein apparently didn't get the memo. He is absolutely correct (prior to the FDR reign). Since FDR though..., you truly have nailed it squarely on the head.
While I am sorry that you resigned from your political party, but I will say that you are in good company. Sir Winston Churchill was noted for having "crossed the floor" several times throughout his political career.
As for me, I'm an old conservative. Nothing "neo" about me. And I hold fast to my conservative beliefs. I find it absolutely amazing how many are so quick to give away their rights (personal and state) all in the name of equality or in slamming the current administration. Disaster relief for Hurricane Katrina is/was a prime example. Everyone is quick to fault FEMA but they completely forget about city and state rights and responsibilities. Both city and state failed miserably to be responsible and the resulting damage was ALL post Katrina.

Answer 6

In fact it is YOU who has just spewed your monumental ignorance at us.

You realize of course where ,when and why the phrase "states' rights" came into use do you not? Of course you don't .

It in effect is simply a euphemisum for racism in that it was the southern states that pushed "states' rights" so it could ensure slavery continued.Even after these racists were defeated ,southerns under the cover again of "states' rights" legislated the entire filthy racist Jim Crow laws that simply kept slavery un-officially alive until at long last the Federal Government and the bloody Supreme Court found their copies of the BILL OF RIGHTS and sent in the troops to sort out those racist conservatives screaming "states rights".

Admittedly others have used and abused the phrase "states' rights" as well but like the conservative racists,these people had a "secret agenda" for wanting "state's rights".
Exactly the same sort of obfuscation goes on with the conservatives fling around of the phrase "individual rights".While liberals/democrats are true to the original intent of the Bill of Rights on this subject,conservatives all down through history have merely used and abused it for their own personal greed and power .

Perfect example of course is the Robber Barons who slaughtered literally thousands in their mines and factories in an era where their was VERY LITTLE government laws/rules/regulations etc especially regarding worker's rights.

Thankfully the democrats/liberals won out and in the early 1900s thousands of laws at all levels of government were enacted to protect the lives of citizens being butchered by these conservatives.

This poster seems to love states rights and NO GOVERNMENT involvement just like the Robber Barons and I suspect for exactly the same self serving reasons.

BTW,what on earth is a real conservative ? Is it like who is a real CHRISTIAN ? Depends on who is answering the question.

Answer 7

I agree with most of what you just said except for "the expansion of social programs." Are you on crack??? This has been the stingiest administration ever when it comes to so-called social programs such as veterans benefits, bases for them to live (being that we're in two wars), federal disaster programs (i.e., FEMA letting people down and starve to death while they wasted money having the military keep the "civilians" there instead of giving them the freedom to leave). The neocons are tax and spend only when it comes to their wars and corporate welfare--not the welfare of Americans.

Answer 8

Your understanding of liberalism is way off.

"Liberalism refers to a broad array of related ideas and theories of government which advocate individual liberty. Liberalism has its roots in the Western Age of Enlightenment.

Broadly speaking, liberalism emphasizes individual rights and equality of opportunity. A liberal society is characterized by freedom of thought for individuals, limitations on power, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market economy, free private enterprise, and a transparent system of government in which the rights of all citizens are protected. In the 21st century, this usually means liberal democracy with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law."

If you want to have a serious debate on this check your facts first.

Answer 9

What has happen is what its called bait and switch.

Answer 10

Typical Neo-Lib concept not worth looking into.