Has the Bush administration signaled the end of conservatism?

[Ned]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly


They favor an authoritarian, militarized government that seeks to roll back civil liberties and that rules on behalf of corporations rather than citizens. They place might above right. They seek to stifle all dissent, telling Americans that they'd "better watch what they say." They've created false threats in order to consolidate their power and achieve their aims. They've cast aspersions on the patriotism of anyone who has dared to question them.

That's pretty much your textbook definition of fascism. A kinder, gentler fascism, to be sure, but fascism nevertheless.

Huh? WTF are you talking about?

What bothers me about the Bush regime is his lack of consistency. He favors the liberation of Iraq to bring freedom to an oppressed people, but returns Cuban refugees to Cuba to be killed or whatever at the whim of the Castro dictatorship. He allows spending to go way out of control creating a deficit that is becoming an embarrassment. He imposes tarriff restrictions on steel to pander to the steel unions. He is against terrorism but tolerates Arafat.

In most aspects, Bush has promoted the Democrat agenda and has stiffed conservatives. He has angered conservative America deeply.

Bush is no conservative except perhaps on social issues where he has continued to resist abortion and the use of fetus's for reseach. But your post, Rufus, does not even mention this.

[Q Classic]

well, i'm also only twenty...

[Ned]

Originally posted by Kidicious


The act of being a conservative political is greedy. If you give to charity and volunteer that is great. If you vote conservatively (and why whould you?) then you being greedy (not that you are greedy).

Ah, so right. This is the main difference between the left and right on matters of economics. The right believes in Adam Smith. The left believes in eradicating greed.

The left understands human nature but does not agree with it and acts to oppose it. The right understands human nature and channels it to make society better.

Thus we have socialist paradises like Cuba and Adam Smith paradises like the United States to compare whose systems are better, the left or right.

[Elok]

Well, it's not like we're interrupting anything worthwhile here, so what's the drinking age in South Korea? What do you like to drink? I like gin. Poor, misunderstood gin. Nobody loves it but me.

[Kropotkin]

Yeah, God bless the 'fiscal responsibility' of Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr.!

[Ned]

Originally posted by The Emperor Fabulous
I'm not entirely sure how the Bush admin isn't conservative. I mean, lets look:


Declaring war on a soverign nation with a preemptive attack

How is he not conservative?

Wow, Clinton is a conservative! I thinking of Haiti and Kosovo.

[Q Classic]

i'm only korean in ancestry, i'm very much an american-born citizen, living right now in atlanta.

it's a pity, too, that i can't get much alcohol without some friends.

i tend to favor vodka, wine, schnapps, and rum...

[Az]

Wow, Clinton is a conservative! I thinking of Haiti and Kosovo.

Strong move, Ned.

[Ned]

Originally posted by Azazel

think Bush is a left wing Republican and not a strong conservative, yet many conservatives will side with him because he does have a good focus on fiscal responsibility (IMO)...

Yeah, I agree. Bush has done nothing to restrain spending. Spending across the board is way up. There is something fundamentally flawed in allowing spending to rocket out-of-control even while the economy tanks and tax revenues fall. Conservatives are appalled.

Since Howard Dean is equally appalled, does that make him a conservative?

[Elok]

Y'know, I've never had any kind of Schnapps. Vodka always struck me as more of a utilitarian liquor; I never noticed much flavor in it except general sourness. Not that it doesn't make some decent drinks, but how do you describe the flavor of vodka? Whisky, for example, is woody, rum more like a hot and tangy candy, wine is more sweet and mellow(I like sweet wines though-a family friend brings his homemade vintages down once every month), beer just tastes like arse, only more bitter, etc...
Or do you just favor vodka 'cuz it's cheap and gets you hammered nice and quick, like all the rest of us do?

[Az]

Since Howard Dean is equally appalled, does that make him a conservative?

"think before you spend" isn't necessarily a conservative trait.

[Ned]

Well, one can certainly understand why Arnie does not want the support of Bush in the California recall election.

[Japher]

I think most dems call people the don't like conservative without any real knowledge of what the word conservative means.

[Ming]

Originally posted by Kidicious
The act of being a conservative political is greedy. If you give to charity and volunteer that is great. If you vote conservatively (and why whould you?) then you being greedy (not that you are greedy).

Just because one is a conservative doesn't make them greedy.

And you never answered the question. What do you do for charity? I will assume by your lack of an answer that you don't do squat for charity. And that you are all talk and no action... proving that liberals can be greedy and not very caring to others.

[Japher]

Most liberals don't give to charity, they just take from it.