Topic: Are you conservative, moderate, or liberal?

[Skynet]

American liberal, who thinks that Obama's not liberal enough (I'm quite liberal).

[Ironwolf85]

American liberal, who thinks that Obama's not liberal enough (I'm quite liberal).

I kind of expected that, but you make your case better than many on the other side.

[ShadowFox89]

 I'm fiscally conservative but I'm against forcing your view on others and being too restrictive of what people can do.

 So moderate I guess?

[Callie Del Noire]

I'm fiscally conservative but I'm against forcing your view on others and being too restrictive of what people can do.

 So moderate I guess?

The term is 'Modern Conservative' versus what the Tea Party/GOP leadership which is Neo-conservative. Or a fringe segment.

[Tamhansen]

I think the tea party is more reactionary than conservative. Conservatives want to maintain what is. Reactionaries want to go back to what was.

[Bayushi]

I think the tea party is more reactionary than conservative. Conservatives want to maintain what is. Reactionaries want to go back to what was.

You're both wrong.

The TEA Party is concerned with taxes and spending issues. Social Conservatism in the TEA Party is on a Bring Your Own Lunch level.

If you see or hear crazy such rhetoric from TEA Party members, please note that they likely do not represent anyone but themselves, and not the rest of the TEA Party.

I consider myself aligned with the TEA Party on most things. Yet I am obviously not a Social Conservative?

[Callie Del Noire]

You're both wrong.

The TEA Party is concerned with taxes and spending issues. Social Conservatism in the TEA Party is on a Bring Your Own Lunch level.

If you see or hear crazy such rhetoric from TEA Party members, please note that they likely do not represent anyone but themselves, and not the rest of the TEA Party.

I consider myself aligned with the TEA Party on most things. Yet I am obviously not a Social Conservative?

So how do you like your outlook being hijacked.. you're right that the ORIGINAL type was 'bring your own lunch' for the Original Tea party appearences..then it seemed like.. all the folks who got voted in on the ticket are pushing for things like pulling down the 14th amendment and all this foolishness with birth control and other things.

Asking because I have felt the same way for losing control of my party starting around 1995 ish.

[WildCat]

You're both wrong.

The TEA Party is concerned with taxes and spending issues. Social Conservatism in the TEA Party is on a Bring Your Own Lunch level.

If you see or hear crazy such rhetoric from TEA Party members, please note that they likely do not represent anyone but themselves, and not the rest of the TEA Party.

I consider myself aligned with the TEA Party on most things. Yet I am obviously not a Social Conservative?

Yeah, early Tea Party was strongly fiscally focused. But about the time it grew into a major force its' major spokesfolk were every bit as vocal about the gamut of right-wing extremist issues.

[Ironwolf85]

part of the reason I'm anti-romney is because I believe his victory will simply make the far right fringe feel more "see we were right, and america agrees" or some nonsense.

I'm not ashqamed to say I supported the early branches of the tea party, fiscal responsibility is important. But when they became more rabidly anti-obama I backed away. If he wants to do something suddenly the tea party is up in arms to stop either him, or the make believe "socialist agenda"

[Stattick]

I thought Sarah Palin had a major hand in the origination of the Tea Party, and that lady's as rabidly social conservative as they come.

[Tamhansen]

I thought Sarah Palin had a major hand in the origination of the Tea Party, and that lady's as rabidly social conservative as they come.

Then how come she never taught her kids abstinence. After all Abstinence is the only way to prevent teen pregnancies or so she says.

[Oniya]

You can lead a teen to abstinence class, but you can't make them think. 

[Callie Del Noire]

Then how come she never taught her kids abstinence. After all Abstinence is the only way to prevent teen pregnancies or so she says.

silly civilian.. don't you know the Elected don't abide the same rules as the hoi poloi? It's 'Do as I say, not as I do.., after all I'm better than you.. how dare you judge me! Forsooth!"

She shows some double-high authoritarian traits, one of which is the 'do as I not as I do.' as well as 'rules only apply to me when I need them too'.

[Skynet]

I'm fiscally conservative but I'm against forcing your view on others and being too restrictive of what people can do.

 So moderate I guess?

From what it sounds like, you're closest to American Libertarianism.

[ShadowFox89]

From what it sounds like, you're closest to American Libertarianism.

 Actually, going from the little quiz they've got on there, I appear to be centrist

[JuliusCaesar]

I consider myself to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal, which I understand can be contradictory when confronted with certain things, such as Medicaid. I'm big on individual freedoms, taking responsibilities for your actions, and a small federal government, thus adopting prominent libertarian views.

Basically it boils down to "do whatever you want as long as you don't hurt somebody else." Don't solicit me and don't tell someone else that their opinions are wrong just because they aren't the same as yours.

Moderate-ish.

[Astrofig]

You're both wrong.

The TEA Party is concerned with taxes and spending issues. Social Conservatism in the TEA Party is on a Bring Your Own Lunch level.

If you see or hear crazy such rhetoric from TEA Party members, please note that they likely do not represent anyone but themselves, and not the rest of the TEA Party.

I consider myself aligned with the TEA Party on most things. Yet I am obviously not a Social Conservative?

 Do you agree with the following statements?

1. The entire wellfare system should be done away with or retooled and restricted because the vast majority of those on it abuse it.

2. Non-white immigration into the country is a serious threat to national security.

3. A woman should keep her legs closed if she doesn't want to get pregnant, and if a rape got her pregnant she obviously secretly wanted it.

4. Affirmative action is an example of 'political correctness gone haywire'.

5. Feminists need to shut their damn mouths and get back in the kitchen.

6. Education is not half so important as beefing up the military. America is constantly under threat, you see.

If you answered yes to any or all of these, congratulations! You're not only a Teatard, you're a terrible person!

[Question Mark]

Do you agree with the following statements?

1. The entire wellfare system should be done away with or retooled and restricted because the vast majority of those on it abuse it.

2. Non-white immigration into the country is a serious threat to national security.

3. A woman should keep her legs closed if she doesn't want to get pregnant, and if a rape got her pregnant she obviously secretly wanted it.

4. Affirmative action is an example of 'political correctness gone haywire'.

5. Feminists need to shut their damn mouths and get back in the kitchen.

6. Education is not half so important as beefing up the military. America is constantly under threat, you see.

If you answered yes to any or all of these, congratulations! You're not only a Teatard, you're a terrible person!

dat strawman

dem loaded questions

dat slur

dat ad hominem

[Tamhansen]

dat strawman

dem loaded questions

dat slur

dat ad hominem

Yup you are correct, unfortunately they're also statements by tea party members. So I'm sorry mate. Don't want your party getting a bad name, make sure it's run by people that could pass a third grade school test. Like knowing we're allied with South Korea not North korea, or that the Soviet Union is no longer a threat to the US.

[Question Mark]

Yup you are correct, unfortunately they're also statements by tea party members. So I'm sorry mate. Don't want your party getting a bad name, make sure it's run by people that could pass a third grade school test. Like knowing we're allied with South Korea not North korea, or that the Soviet Union is no longer a threat to the US.

You're implying that all Tea Partiers don't know SK from NK, or that they're all dumber than a fifth grader.  Don't label an entire political ideology by their vocal minority, or else you could just as easily call the Democrats corporate shills and the Republicans deranged bible thumpers.  That's what Astro was doing, so I called her out on it.  And now I'm calling you out on it.

Also, for clarity's sake, I'm not in the Tea Party, I'm a liberal independent; I couldn't be more opposed to their positions!

[Stattick]

Well, the sort of stuff that Astrofig was naming off, is EXACTLY the stuff I'm constantly hearing about tea party members. Hardly a day goes by that I don't hear of some new, terrible thing that one of them is spouting off. Like the tea partier who was spouting off that slavery wasn't so bad. Or the tea partier that was saying that women shouldn't have the right to vote, because women are too hormonal and mean.

Now, I'm not saying that every tea partier is crazy. But when you hear these stories constantly, it seems doubtful that it's just "a few bad apples" in the party. You know what they say about too many bad apples ruining the bunch.

[Question Mark]

Well, the sort of stuff that Astrofig was naming off, is EXACTLY the stuff I'm constantly hearing about tea party members. Hardly a day goes by that I don't hear of some new, terrible thing that one of them is spouting off. Like the tea partier who was spouting off that slavery wasn't so bad. Or the tea partier that was saying that women shouldn't have the right to vote, because women are too hormonal and mean.

Now, I'm not saying that every tea partier is crazy. But when you hear these stories constantly, it seems doubtful that it's just "a few bad apples" in the party. You know what they say about too many bad apples ruining the bunch.

*puts on lab coat and scientist hat*

Maybe that is the case, but all of that evidence is anecdotal, and so we must automatically assume it to be false when assessing the actual positions of the Tea Party (that's not to say I don't believe you, only that your anecdotes can't be proven or cited).  Instead, consult their actual positions.  The one's on their official website, for example.

Perhaps their vocal minority is rambling about revoking suffrage, or putting down minorities, or making a sham of their middle school geology teacher, but their actual positions, the ones they officially support and spread, do not include the stuff you just listed.  Those issues are not endorsed by the Tea Party.  And if that's the case, then logically the movement must be divided on these radical issues, and thus it is fallacious to say that the Tea Party endorses slavery, patriarchal suffrage, or anything else in that shit list.

Hate the crazies using the Tea Party to spout their bullshit.  Don't hate the Tea Party.

[Hemingway]

you could just as easily call the Democrats corporate shills

Well, that's easy because it's actually true. The rhetoric may suggest otherwise, but their actions don't.

[Question Mark]

Well, that's easy because it's actually true. The rhetoric may suggest otherwise, but their actions don't.

Most of our governmental officials are corporate shills, due to PACs, unlimited terms, and a lack of donation caps.

[Stattick]

*puts on lab coat and scientist hat*

Maybe that is the case, but all of that evidence is anecdotal, and so we must automatically assume it to be false when assessing the actual positions of the Tea Party (that's not to say I don't believe you, only that your anecdotes can't be proven or cited).  Instead, consult their actual positions.  The one's on their official website, for example.

Perhaps their vocal minority is rambling about revoking suffrage, or putting down minorities, or making a sham of their middle school geology teacher, but their actual positions, the ones they officially support and spread, do not include the stuff you just listed.  Those issues are not endorsed by the Tea Party.  And if that's the case, then logically the movement must be divided on these radical issues, and thus it is fallacious to say that the Tea Party endorses slavery, patriarchal suffrage, or anything else in that shit list.

Hate the crazies using the Tea Party to spout their bullshit.  Don't hate the Tea Party.

Or one can take the many, many crazy things they spout as evidence of what they truly believe. I think that what they publicly endorse as their platform to the greater public is a smokescreen for a much more disturbed platform. Like The Constitution Party that has known and proven ties to the White Supremacy Movement, but publicly doesn't endorse any racist policies, I think the Tea Party privately endorses a far more radical platform than what they publicly admit. But you can give them the benefit of a doubt if you want.