do you hate all conservatives?

[Zuni]

I mean, do you hate all conservative politics? For me, true conservatives often have good points. To me, it is not the conservatives that are the problem, but rather the hard right wing guns, bombs and jesus crowd that has taken over the once more moderate and practical republican party.
Saying that a conservative like John McCain or barry Goldwater is on the same level as a John Ashcroft or Tom DeLay seems ridiculous to me. McCain and Goldwater were good conservatives, decent men. Ashcroft and DeLay are pyschos with a hard rightwing agenda.

[davhill]

1. Those who call themselves conservatives today

Are only interested in conserving their own power and wealth.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. I agree. But to move this big ship back to the "center"

we're gonna have to steer preety hard to the LEFT.

[mitchum]

3. Yes, with no apologies

[liberalmuse]

4. Nope.

I hate the neo-conservative movement with every cell in my body, but I don't hate all of the conservatism of old (pre-Reagan). I love both tradition and change, and conservatives of old did have some ideas I liked, though I don't think they should ever be forced upon a society. This new (okay, since 1988) 'Family Values' thing is just crap. It excludes gay families, single families, and any family that isn't white, Protestant and middle class. The right-wing of today is facist and un-American.

[jogi1969]

16. thats the same type of conservatives

that i cant stand;
my parents are from India, my current gf is white
and she has a bi-racial little girl(previous relationship)
and we live in greenville sc, home of bob jones; so i dont have alot of compassion or love for the family values crowd.


but there are conservatives that belive what they belive and have a live and let live approach that dont use code words like 'special rights', that dont think everyone who is not a WASP is a evil/warped/social degenrate.

[silverlib]

5. Not at all...

and to make my political stances more "embraceable," I'm substituting the word "neoconservative" for "republican" in all political discussions in hopes or embracing the old good "Eisenhower republican" to the Democratic ticket and the support of whoever wins the primary.

I have to tell you that my husband thinks I'm full of BS. He believes that everyone who votes republican is guilty. "If you run with 'em, you should hang with 'em." ...and I feel that some of my fellow DUers feel the same. ...but this is America, and at least for the time being, we are still relatively free to express our individual feelings.

[BiggJawn]

23. I'm with your husband.

OK, so what "used" to be conservative is no longer the norm. Much the same as how the KKK was originally formed only as a social club. The rest came slightly later (maybe by their 3rd meeting?)And in that vein, is it OK for someone to be openly Racist or Homophbic? they're only expressing their indiviual feelings.

I don't care how good something "was", what is germain is how it is NOW.
Conservatism is evil NOW. Conservatism is Evil.

[Bronco69]

6. I guess I'm the left wing equivalent of a freeper.

I absolutely positively despise conservatives!

[leftofthedial]

7. I hate neoconservatives

and those who use them

[xchrom]

8. conservatism is evil

someday the light of liberalism/socialism will get through to most peoples consciences -- but it's going to be a real struggle.

[SeriousEric]

10. Evil? Where's the mythical "open-mindedness"?

If labeling and hating is where you're at then the party is no better than the haters on the other side who label us as evil. Where's the legendary "open-mindedness" and tolerance of liberals gone to if you do the same thing as them? I'm afraid that if we continue down this blind stubborn road we'll be relegated to a bi-coastal party and nothing more.

I'll tell you what I dislike and that's the religious and social intolerance of many conservatives and their environmental lack of conscience. Conservative attributes that I actually admire somewhat are the values of self-reliance, individual rights above group rights and their faith in free markets as a way to raise people out of poverty.

Try to keep an open mind and stop being so partisan. Think for yourself.

[arwalden]

13. "individual rights above group rights" ????

Please explain. I'm not certain I understand why this is something that one would primarily associate with Republicans.

What concerns me is that "group rights" is a phrase I've heard used by conservatives as a euphemism for "special rights" and a way to justify bigotry and second-class citizenship status for Queer Americans. (My ears are just 'tuned' that way to be alert for certain key words... so you'll have to forgive me if I'm mistaken.)

== Allen

[SeriousEric]

25. It's a question of "new laws"

I associate this issue with "conservatives" rather than Republicans, because as a Southern Democrat I suppose I harbor some approval for a few old fashioned conservative notions.

One of them is the idea that equal opportunity for all Americans is NOT enhanced by further protective legislation but rather by even-handed enforcement of the equal rights already granted to all Americans so elegantly by the constitution and bill of rights.

Gay marriage for example - Do we need new laws to legitimize it? I don't see why since there can't possibly be any existing basis for it being illegal. Do you see what I mean? Just because I say I'm opposed to new laws specifically delineating a protective fence around a certain interest group does not mean I'm unsympathetic with the cause. It simply means I believe that existing law should cover the issue and if satisfaction is not achieved under current law then you take those that are denying your rights to court, i.e., insurance companies, state licensing boards etc.

The concept of individual rights preeminent above group rights is actually a much more egalitarian notion than the classic liberal theory of putting special protective legal fences around what are perceived to be *aggrieved* factions du jour. All Americans (under the master law of the land) are already perceived as deserving equal rights. See yourself simply as an American and not a hyphenated member of some sub-group in a byzantine taxonomy of preferrential status. Pursue your goal of equal rights as an American individual and equality is advanced for everyone and not just your special interest group.

Idealistic? Perhaps. Gee, not a notion generally ascribed to conservatives.

[Skittles]

21. um - Eric, we DO think for ourselves

we don't have people like Rush and Savage telling us what to think

[AfroLib]

22. Good Point...to a point

You make a good point about the "haters". There is nothing I hate more than the haters.

The problem, as I see it, is that the mainstream media has tricked the populace with the "big lie" of the "Moderate Democrat". We don't need any MODERATE Democrats, we need us some good old LIBERAL democrats to get the party back on track.

I want some groups-rights protecting, reparations-granting, Gay/minority/labor/environmentally friendly Democrats! We don't need to compromise just because the Media tells us we must!

The day that an unwed mother with her children can accept welfare with pride--without the humiliation, stigma, and threat of violence from Republicans--that's the day I'll stop fighting for Democratic Party reform. Then we will have achieved adequate separation from the Bush-hogs.

BTW--it's the people on this forum who clearly think for themselves, it's the Republican automatons who need to play follow the leader.

[dave46]

9. I agree

What's wrong with people who believe in Jesus or self-defense? Where some see a potential danger, others see protection. Not to mention most Republicans are definitly not wealthy, they're the working class as well. I don't agree with the hard-right agenda at all, it sickens me, and neither do most republicans. I just think republicans see the world differently from democrats.

[coloradodem2005]

11. Traditional Conservatives are okay.

Social Conservatives (Neocons) are the true problem. People like John McCain and even Colin Powell are okay people.

I do realize that Powell sold out to the rest of the administration, but he is the only even remotely level-headed member of that administration. While I was not alive in the 50's Eisenhower seems okay.

[Jonte_1979]

12. Not at all

I'm fairly conservative myself judging by swedish standards.

I do, however, dislike right-wing radicals.

[amber dog democrat]

14. No, I don't hate REAL conservatives.

Just the NEOCON crazies who seem to have hijacked the government.
I guess that means Bush and his junta.

[citizen snips]

15. No.

I just dislike all conservatives.

[spychoactive]

17. i don't "hate" anyone...

i hate their ideas and their policies and their actions, but i draw the line at hating individual people, it's too much of a waste of energy, there's already too much hate in the world...call me a bleeding heart if you will, but i view hate as their game, not ours...

my $.02

one love
spike

[sasquatch]

18. Actual conservitive's? No....

Neo Con, Fascist, Bigots that currently occupy the controls of the Republican party? Yes:grr:

[drb]

19. Amen, brother!

REAL conservatives believe in sticking to our own business and not spending money we don't have. They also beleive in telling the truth about stuff.

If we had leadership in the Rethuglican party from guys like John McCain and Barry, we sure as hell wouldn't need Your Boy George...

[Skittles]

20. I didn't used to

I used to just find republicans very annoying. Now I can truly say, yes, I despise them, because they are ruining lives, getting people killed, trashing everything America means. THEY SUCK.

[absolutezero]

24. Yes

I hate the neocons that have taken over the repuke party in the name of bible-banging fundies and corporate interests. And i hate the average conservative, that just doesn't want to pay taxes or live without a gun to protect his family from all the homo-commie minorities...

I hate the neocons for raping my country, and the rest for being too stupid to notice, or too cowardly to help

[rumguy]

26. No

[Bertha Venation]

27. Of course not.

I despise what the extreme right wing has done to the Republican party. I think the people I know at work who are Republicans are closer to the true ideals of the party than those who run the Bush & Rove Pony Show.

I think rank & file Republicans see The Democratic Party in the same way that rank & file Democrats see The GOP. That is to say: as evil run amok, out to destroy America.

Since we Democrats know that that's horseshit, doesn't it stand to reason that it's not true of the GOP, either?