What Do YOU Think Defines a Republican / Conservative...?

[SteyrAUG]

For me it's easy.

Respect, and only change the Constitution when it is absolutely necessary. This should happen maybe once a century. Most matters can be addressed at the state level.

Fiscal conservatism, start paying down the debt. We have a giant money sinkhole, but instead of trying to fill it up with fiscal responsibility, we keep dropping the bucket in the well to get ourselves deeper and deeper in debt. And probably nobody knows when it started, for all I know we were in the red during the 1930s and 1940s and we are still trying to pay off crap like the Manhattan project.

Certainly are various Marshall Plan's (while sound in reason) were not cheap. Add in costs of the Cold War, the War on Drugs, LBJs "Grand WELFARE Society" and a bunch of other shit that costs lots of money.

We pay for national defense but streamline everything else, and for godsake if there isn't an absolute necessity let's stop paying for wars to liberate places that don't even want us there.

Obviously nobody wants to start paying the national debt down because standards of living would drop and everyone would blame the current president even though it all began before he was born.

While global trade is necessary, I don't think we need a global economy where fluctuations on that side of the world send ripples to out corner of the world. We need to make shit again, and I don't mean in Mexico so that we actually produce domestic products that we can bring to global trade.

Racism (both kinds), LE's who use excessive force, people who target LE's with excessive force, gender identity and other personal issues should all be addressed at the state level UNTIL somebodies rights are violated and then, if needed, it should go to the SCOTUS.

Is it really that hard to find candidates for Congress who can adhere to these views?

I know the reality is "lets make a deal", but maybe you retire with 10 million dollars instead of 25 million. I know it's a lot to ask.

[chuckman]

Republican is a political party; conservatism is a place on an ideological continuum (horseshoe theory, and all that). I am more libertarian than conservative.

The ideological platforms of the parties change over time, but the ideological foundations remain a constant. The last meeting of the two with which I felt 'aligned' was Reagan's GOP; but then, it was good in theory but not practice (he grew the government and still spent money like a drunken sailor).

I like small central government, more states' rights, a strong and robust defense but stay the hell out of other country's wars, free-market economy, deregulation, minimal taxation, as little debt as possible, and leave people the hell alone to live their lives.

[gunnerblue]

The Burkean concepts of restraint and respect for tradition/social institutions are how I still see conservatism at its core.

As far as platforms go, a lot of these should be the concern of all Americans regardless of affiliation, but I digress.

Adherence to Constitutional standards and the ammendment process in particular for change.

Adherence to the concept of Federalism in regards to defining the respective roles of the Federal and state governments.

Curbing unnecessary/excessive spending including defense.

Restraint in involvement in foreign wars/entanglements.

I'm not an economist by any stretch but it seems to me trade with other nations is a good thing. I'm not sure if we're able to have mass domestic production again without a drastic change to the standards of living.

LEO excessive force is already a Federal issue, as I feel it should be.

The fact that almost all congress persons come from middle-class backgrounds and retire as multimillionaires is sadly telling.

[uffdaphil]

Steyr. I agree with all your definitions of what makes a Conservative. The big one I would add is adhering to the Tenth Amendment. Many, if not most federal programs are nowhere allowed in the Constitution without using logic that would get you well deserved F in Debate 101. The existence of a Department of Education being a most onerous example.

Republican: Someone who has learned you can make a damned good life posing as a principled opponent.

[Straight Shooter]

Well, for one thing in my opinion...a conservative aint a f-in Republican, for damn sure.

[Hank6046]

Is it really that hard to find candidates for Congress who can adhere to these views?

Yes, and the reason for it is that we are emotionally driven, and to a large extent always have been. During the Great Depression we elected Frank Roosevelt with VP Henry Wallace, who was Bernie Sanders well before Bernie Sanders, because he told the people what they wanted to hear.

We had Joe McCarthy who's modern day sediments are echoed by people like AOC, and putting all of us "Gun Owners, Conservatives, Trump Supporters" on a list. The McCarthy hearings had a 70% approval rating or something like that, and just like all political witch hunts, the winds eventually blow in both directions.

People tend to see what is going on right now, and focus only on what's right in front of them. They don't see what was behind them, and they don't look at what is beyond.

[chuckman]

Yes, and the reason for it is that we are emotionally driven, and to a large extent always have been. During the Great Depression we elected Frank Roosevelt with VP Henry Wallace, who was Bernie Sanders well before Bernie Sanders, because he told the people what they wanted to hear.

We had Joe McCarthy who's modern day sediments are echoed by people like AOC, and putting all of us "Gun Owners, Conservatives, Trump Supporters" on a list. The McCarthy hearings had a 70% approval rating or something like that, and just like all political witch hunts, the winds eventually blow in both directions.

People tend to see what is going on right now, and focus only on what's right in front of them. They don't see what was behind them, and they don't look at what is beyond.

I agree. It used to be, a candidate would declare "this is what I stand for, this is what I will do, support me or not." Now, the candidate is often a chameleon, adapting their platform to what the culture wants.

[Hank6046]

I agree. It used to be, a candidate would declare "this is what I stand for, this is what I will do, support me or not." Now, the candidate is often a chameleon, adapting their platform to what the culture wants.

We also just used have people with principles guiding us. Even an extremely left leaning professor at College (under Obama's term in office) said that George H. Bush, was the last real president, as he attempted to place moral principle above petty arguments.

Going back to the early days of the 2016 election, Jim Webb, a Democrat, was pro-gun (for the most part) and his fellow dems raked him over the coals for it. While there was a good amount I didn't agree with him on, he didn't change his stance on guns, even as his number sunk in the polls. Now he would be considered a middle of the ground Republican based off of his views.

People don't understand what a leader looks like anymore.

[chuckman]

We also just used have people with principles guiding us. Even an extremely left leaning professor at College (under Obama's term in office) said that George H. Bush, was the last real president, as he attempted to place moral principle above petty arguments.

Going back to the early days of the 2016 election, Jim Webb, a Democrat, was pro-gun (for the most part) and his fellow dems raked him over the coals for it. While there was a good amount I didn't agree with him on, he didn't change his stance on guns, even as his number sunk in the polls. Now he would be considered a middle of the ground Republican based off of his views.

People don't understand what a leader looks like anymore.

I would have voted for Webb in a heartbeat. I agree, some issues where I do not agree, but a lot of which we do. I suppose part of that is his military background as well as him being a Reagan acolyte. I went to a lecture he gave at a local university in the mid-90s.

[glocktogo]

A conservative is someone who believes in small government, fiscal restraint, providing for the common defense and enabling (not providing) equal opportunity, not equal outcomes. Most of all, a conservative is someone who believes the Constitution is supposed to mean exactly what it says and is not to be "interpreted" with a modern touch. If you want it to mean something different than what it says, then you must change it ONLY in accordance with the methods it states.

A Republican is someone who foolishly believes the GOP stands for any of the above.