What is the modern definition of a "conservative" ?

[kentuck]

Is it someone who believes in nation building and spreading democracy around the world? Is it someone who believes the government has the right to intrude on individual rights if it is the name of "national security" or if it has anything to do with "sex"? Is it someone who believes in fiscal responsibility and abhors government spending and huge deficits? Perhaps someone could enlighten us as to just exactly what is a modern "conservative"? And what in the hell do they believe?

[liberal N proud]

1. I am afraid it someone who lets someone else do the thinking

Blindly following along. Primarily caused by sitting in too many prayer groups and believing what ever is said by the preacher or pseudo preacher giving the speech.
I don't think that the majority of the conservatives even pay attention to what is happening in this country. Too many of them have the attitude that the government knows what is best for us regardless of who is leading that government. They did not learn their history lessons and don't know what can happen when one does not pay attention to their surroundings.
They want the patriotic feeling that their parents had during WWII that explains their blind faith in the Iraq invasion, the don't think anyone would repeat the Vietnam scenario.
Most of the wealthy conservatives vote republican only because it is the rich mans party and many of them are not really that rich, they only live that way. They are in debt as deeply as the federal government. It is all about me and what can I get.

[adigal]

2. A selfish, greedy bastard n/t

[beyurslf]

3. Greedy racist bastord who cannot tell the truth?

[saltpoint]

4. Don't know exactly, but it should include something about --

-- being exclusional, money-grubbing, divisive and deceitful. (See under: Santorum)

[ThorsHammer]

5. A lot of conservatives/Republicans are not pleased with GWB

Obviously many do like him, otherwise Kerry would have won in a rout, but there are many who are not pleased. Personally, I do not like the Iraq war (nor the unfortunately likely Iran war), massive deficits, and the tuning out of everyone else in the world. I'd like to see more bipartisanship, fiscal responsibility, outreach toward other nations, and democracy through more peaceful means, but don't think any of these are coming.

(FWIW I voted Bush in '00, K/E in '04)

[kentuck]

6. But when does simple "dislike" turn into opposition ?

If people are against the war, the lies, the hypocrisy, the huge deficits, the arrogance, the nation building, etc.....then why would they still vote for George w Bush? What does he have to do to really piss them off??

[ThorsHammer]

7. That's the problem

Like I said, I wasn't pleased, and did not vote for him in '04. I had believed all the talk in '99-'00 about how he'd run as a moderate, not nation-build, be bipartisan, and so on, but it just didn't happen. I was hoping for more unity post 9/11, but that didn't happen either. My take is that some (conservative/Republicans) felt strongly enough to not support him, but not enough did. I do think Kerry could have attacked more, and done more to seperate the war in Iraq from 9/11. I also think there was an element of uncertainty about Kerry, as he tended to have more nuanced positions and not the TV-friendly clips ('bring em on', 'dead or alive', etc).

[meow2u3]

8. Bully, bigot, greedy bastard, religious addict....

....not to mention misogynist, wife beater, cat killer, animal abuser, self-centered narcissist, user, abuser, murderer, insensitive asshole, child abuser, pedophile, hypocrite, sociopath, demon in human form, racist scum, etc., and so on, and so forth....
:evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[htuttle]

9. It's someone who believes whatever the fax machine vomits at them

Ever notice how there is a delay for up to an hour before the right wing echo chamber responds to something unexpected? That's because they are all hovering by their fax machines, waiting to find out what they are supposed to believe.

[DURHAM D]

10. Hate Monger n/t

[bmovies]

11. The modern conservative...

is the great agitator for the complete destruction of America. Whenever we read of attacks against America taking place in any part of the world the Conservative is always the instigator. In peace-time, as well as during the War, the conservative Press systematically stirred up hatred against America, until one country after another abandoned its neutrality and placed itself at the service of the world coalition, against the united states.

It is certain that conservatism uses all its activities not only for the purpose of keeping alive old national enmities against america but even to spread them farther and render them more acute wherever possible. It is no less certain that these activities are only very partially in keeping with the true interests of the nations among whose people the poison is spread. As a general principle, conservatism carries on its campaign in the various countries by the use of arguments that are best calculated to appeal to the mentality of the respective nations and are most likely to produce the desired results. For conservatism knows what the public feeling is in each country.

Of course the possibilities of forming alliances with other nations are hampered by the indifference of our own people, but much more by our Government. They have been and are so corrupt that now, after 4 years of indescribable oppression, there exists only a faint desire for liberty.

In order that our nation may undertake a policy of alliances, it must restore its prestige among other nations, and it must have an authoritative Government that is not a drudge in the service of foreign states and the taskmaster of its own people, but rather the herald of the national will.

Conservatives control the financial forces of America on the stock exchange. Year after year the conservative increases his hold on labor in a nation of 260 million people. But a very small section still remains quite independent and is thus the cause of chagrin to the conservatives.

The conservatives show consummate skill in manipulating public opinion and using it as an instrument in fighting for their own future.

The leaders of conservatism are confident that the day is near at hand when the command given in the Old Testament will be carried out and the conservatism will devour the other nations of the earth.

[kentuck]

13. Well said, bmovies ..

They are confident their time is now.

[liberal43110]

12. Selfish, ignorant, and/or bigot

[mmonk]

14. fascist?