Conservative Democrats...

[mgarretson]

Hey Everyone,
I'm interested in your views on "Conservative" Democrats... Are you one and if so, can you describe what leads you to identify yourself as such?

I'm from Oklahoma, a state famous for it's Dixiecrat and Southern Democratic history... It's also a state that has recently produced very conservative Democrats... Former Governor and Senator David Boren, U.S. Congressman and Senate hopeful Brad Carson, Congressional Candidate Dan Boren (a former Republican and son of David Boren), and even former U.S. Congressman Wes Watkins (became a Republican during the later years of his service in Congress).

I like to think I maintain a firm hold on my background but I see myself more and more tilting to the center, if not the left, by virtue of my education and life experiences, whereas many Democrats in Oklahoma (aside from the activists) seem to be locked into a conservative mindset.

I'm probably rambling but I guess the goal of this post is to engender a reasoned conversation about the tenets of the Democratic party and the differing views of how to express them. I don't mean to condemn the beliefs of Conservative Democrats; I'm only saying that's not what I connect to.

Best,

[Maddy McCall]

1. Because Democrats pride themselves in their big, welcoming umbrella

under which Democrats of all stripes may gather, a conservative Democrat is still a Democrat.

All colors of the spectrum should be allowed in the Democratic party. No one segment has any more valid claim to the title "Democrat" than the others.

Democrats--even in FDR's day, were social conservatives--FDR refused to even endorse an anti-lynching amendment--and only in the late sixties did the "leftist" element of the party begin to be the most vocal part of the party.

I lean far more left than most Democrats, but I don't believe my opinions should have more weight on party ideology than moderate Democrats. Even the most conservative Democrat is more liberal than most Republicans. (Let's not begin a discussion on that turncoat, Zell Miller. He might wear the Democratic cloak, but we all know that he is a Republican in sheep's clothing.}

If conservative or moderate Democrats identified more with the ideology of the Republican party, they would be Republicans instead of Democrats. With the travesties of the Bush administration, our party needs to expect an influx of former Republicans...they will probably be more conservative than the bulk of us, but, if we want to win the executive and legislative branches, which will influence the judicial, we must welcome them.

I think it took GWB's ultraconservative presidency for many moderate and left-leaning Republicans to see that the Democratic party has much more to offer them. We would be foolish to rebuff these people's interest in our party.

Just my opinion--I am sure MANY people will disagree with me. :-)

Before I click "post message," let me add that I do not advocate caving to conservatives on core social issues that this party has always supported. If conservatives want to be a part of the party, they have to agree that civil rights for all Americans is paramount.

[BradCKY]

2. I wouldn't call myself conservative

On some issues I may be a little more conservative on many issues I am progressive, I guess I am a moderate democrat.

[mgarretson]

6. Question...

Brad,
I appreciate your response... I call myself a Moderate Democrat too but I wonder what moderate means... I mean I've heard a lot of Democrats that I think are conservative describe themselves as "Centrists" or "Moderates"...

I generally fit the mold of socially moderate to liberal and economically moderate to conservative...

Let's keep up the discussion...

-Mike

[Kamika]

3. I dont know what I am

I'm very conservative when it comes to crime.. (I'm very pro death penalty), very pro guns (imo peple have nothing to fear from law abiding citizens), very anti free trade (I think it's costing us ALOT of jobs), I'm pro strong laws so companies can't leave the US.

I'm for isolationism, I want strong christian morals. But I'm pro gay marriage

I'm not sure about abortions. Both sides have strong arguments.

Dunno what it makes me :D

[daveskilt]

8. wow Im the reverse of a lot of those - but also a democrat

[Zhade]

13. "anti free trade" is not generally considered a conservative position.

NT!

[IronLionZion]

4. vote for the person not the party

and that person is certainly NOT George W. Bush.

[Taeger]

5. I'm a Scatter-Crat

I'm neither left, nor right nor center.

I believe in the de-criminalization of Marijauna & prescription access to Cocaine and opiates for addicts.

I believe that gay marriage will do ZERO harm to society.

I believe that every state should have civil unions.

I believe in a smarter stronger military.

I believe porn is 100% harmless.

I believe that we should deport EVERY illegal occupant in the US (both Visa skippers and border hoppers).

I believe we should amend the constitution so that only those children born to LEGAL occupants should be considered citizens.

I believe in ending NAFTA and WTO.

I believe in school uniforms and strict school discipline. I believe in cameras in school corridors and on school exteriors.

I believe in strong hands on industrial education for kids who could give a shit less about book learning.

I believe in boot camps for kids who are constant behavior problems and have ZERO desire to learn ANYTHING!!!!

I believe that semi-automatic guns should be available but should require licensing and permits. I belive that those who like to play with assault rifles should have to join the army in order to endulge their passion.

I think that short terms of compulsary military service for people between 20-28 may be a good idea (as long as they allow gays to serve openly).

I believe in on-demand abortion for adults. I believe that minors wishing to seek abortions should require parental consent.

I believe that Americans working for Japanese and German carmakers should be unionized. I DO NOT think they should belong to the UAW.

I believe in universal union representation. I don't think that EVERY union should HAVE to be affiliated with the AFL-CIO. In fact, I think that the AFL-CIO should be broken back into an AFL and a CIO. Monopoly of LABOR is just as bad as monopoly of MARKETS!!!!

I believe in a significantly expanded House of Representatives. Representatives should only represent a limited number of people. The closer a rep gets to the people, the more immune to corporate money he will be. My number of reps ... 1500!!!!!

I believe that US government power SHOULD NOT be consolidated in the District of Columbia. This is for reasons of basic fairness as well as security and continuity of government. Our seaboard capitol is an easy target for ship launched WMD.

Rather, I would scatter top level administrative functions across the United States. I would locate the new, expanded House of Representatives in the upper plains states where a ship-launched missle would take LONGEST to reach. I would relocate Dep of Agriculture in the grain belt. I would headquarter the BLM in Colorado, etc...

I believe in energy and material independence of the United States. I would tax the consumption of raw harvested materials and give tax credits to recyclers.

I believe in AGRESSIVE investments in renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

I believe in government sponsored mass transit (trains) criss-crossing the USA.

I have views representing the totality of the spectrum from far left (drug liberalization) to far right (deporting illegals).


I also consider myself a populist. Meaning, unless you can get a strong majority (55%) of Americans to agree, you shouldn't do ANYTHING!!! The job of a politician is NOT that of an activist. A politician must be part dealer and part educator. He would also take things one or two issues at a time, and get what he can.

[mgarretson]

7. My views...

It's easier for me to start from your positions and work from there...

I believe in the de-criminalization of Marijauna.

I believe that gay marriage will do ZERO harm to society.

I believe that every state should have civil unions.

I believe in a smarter stronger military.

I believe porn is 100% harmless.

I believe in strong hands on industrial education for kids who could give a shit less about book learning.

I believe in boot camps for kids who are constant behavior problems and have ZERO desire to learn ANYTHING!!!!

I believe that semi-automatic guns should be available but should require licensing and permits. I belive that those who like to play with assault rifles should have to join the army in order to endulge their passion.

I think that short terms of compulsary military service for people between 20-28 may be a good idea (as long as they allow gays to serve openly).

I believe in energy and material independence of the United States. I would tax the consumption of raw harvested materials and give tax credits to recyclers.

I believe in AGRESSIVE investments in renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

I believe in government sponsored mass transit (trains) criss-crossing the USA.
-----

I can't agree with you on NAFTA or WTO but I do believe reforms should be put in place to ensure "fair" trade practices which ensure labor rights abroad.

I don't personally support abortion but I also recognize that as a 20 year old male, that my views on the subject might change with life experience. I also don't think I have the right to legislate women's decisions regarding there bodies. Legal, safe, and rare sums up my position.

Regarding the death penalty, I'm somewhat unsure of my stance. I would qualify my support for it with a hope that reforms will be made sso that we can minimize the innocent people killed by the state and make sure that we don't discriminate against certain populations.

I believe we should be as fiscally conservative as is possible while still maintaining our effort to fix the ils of our country and our world. I believe we should think of the younger generations when we consider adding to the debt.

---
These are some of the things that I think of when I call myself a moderate Democrat...

Best,
Mike

[Taeger]

9. Death Penalty with higher standards

I believe we should KEEP the death penalty but institute higher standards.

I believe the standard should changed from "beyond a reasonable" to "beyond any possible contradiction". In other words, the evidence should allow for no possible alternative explanation for the crime.

Only then can we be confident that we are putting guilty people to death.

Oh yeah, and no executing people who commited their crimes as children.

[Zhade]

14. You'll never be able to reform NAFTA and the WTO.

It's a structural impossibility. These agreements were written by corporations - they will never allow reform. EVER.

Best to abolish them both and persue Fair Trade. Also, return to the concept of chartering companies. Don't obey the law, get your charter yanked.

[ejwilliamson]

11. To Scatter Crat

With the first few lines I thought you might be a libertarian. When you got to the deport illegal immigrants I was sure that you weren't. LOL

Then, when I saw the cameras in schools, the school uniforms, the pro-unions, and gun licensing I knew you were moving farther away from libertarianism. Cameras are akin to spying, it is too damned invasive, and school uniforms reinforce collectivist thinking.Increasing the size of government by adding even more Representatives? Hell, that is just what we don't need. We need to abolish most of the federal government except what was originally mandated by the Founding Fathers. I'm for the decriminalization of all drugs, to be sure. Keep the borders open, just eliminate the free entitlements. I can go along with your industrial education scenario. Best to privatize education completely and take government out of the equation and eliminate the income tax. That freed up money can allow parents to choose the type of school for their kids, would allow for schools to pick and choose, and the free market competition would insure a high quality product of education. Mass transportation sponsored by the feds? What a mess that would be. A private system would be cheaper, more efficient, and user friendly. Your proposals would basically lead to a police state with an overreaching, over omniscient federal government. A libertarian society would ensure freedom in our everyday, social lives, and economic lives. In case you wondered, yes, I am a staunch libertarian.

Best thing is to work towards getting government out of our social and economic lives. What say you?

[Zhade]

15. Welcome to DEMOCRATIC Underground.

;)

I actually think expanding the House numbers is an excellent way to increase accountability. As it is, many Reps cover large constituencies, making them more corruptible. Pare down the Rep:represented ratio, and you'll see more actual representation.

If the guy in Congress knows that his small group of constituents is on his ass, he will behave very differently than if he will if his constituents feel he is remote and unaccessible.

[Ksec]

10. Im a Union Dem and my veiws are

somewhat centrist since I do believe in God which seems like a bad thing around here any more, but I hope noone ever questions my faithfulness to the Democrats. Ive fought all my life for our party and will continue to do so. Having a balanced party can only be a good thing for recruiting new people to the party.

[pinto]

12. I am a pro government Democrat, in the sense that the Federal government

has a role to play in our lives. I've never bought the less government at all costs is better argument. It's not how much government we have as much as it is what that government's mandate is....I support the use of taxation to support a rational national defense, maintenance of the national infrastructure, environmental preservation, federally supported public education - both K-12 and college, two year national service, and (oddly) a national tourism bureau (we've got a great country); I believe corporations ought to be taxed as a congregate of individuals, not as a single person, the state should only recognize two entities in regards to rights and taxation - the individual and the state...I support a federally mandated minimum wage, as a national average "livable wage" index. I do not support the death penalty, under any condition. I support the separation of church and state, absolutely. That's it for now. Thanks for the post, gets me to thinking.....

ed for clarity

[efhmc]

16. So happy to have you here. I'm sure that you are a person of compassion,

which to me is what makes a Dem., whether left, center or conservative.