Americans Are Far Less Conservative Than the Right Wing Claims

[alienlovechild 75]

And still others, "conflicted conservatives" (30 percent), are not conservative at all on the issues. But they like identifying themselves as conservatives. To them, it somehow sounds better. "They like the word," explained Ellis. Or at least, they like it better then their other choices in the traditional self-identification questionnaire: moderate and liberal.

As for the supposed conservative shift this election, Ellis believes that voters were thinking more about symbols and values than about specifics: "The tenor of the discussion was about smaller government, lower taxes and traditional social values," said Ellis. No wonder, then, that a few more people identified themselves as conservatives. (Other research has suggested that ideology can shift depending on the situation and that conservatism tends to rise in response to anxiety and uncertainty.)

No moderates at all and they're claiming a sizable portion of self-identified conservatives are more flexible and not doctrinaire depending on the issue.

There wasn't much anxiety or uncertainty when Obama won because the economy was in a tailspin in the fall 2008?

[Pooky 3,348]

Funny thing is ... many people on VJ's P&R forum like to label others by how they see them.

And a lot of the time, they're so far wrong it beggars belief. Yet here is another thread about how people shouldn't be labelled as one thing or another. Ironic, wouldn't you say?

[DEDixon 39]

The same Republican-Democrat Regime party. If you want to talk about honesty,

then be honest about the dot-com bubble which brought in hundreds of billions

in unanticipated tax revenue from taxes on capital gains and rising salaries.

Be honest about the crash and recession that followed and something called 9/11

that Clinton's successor had to deal with.

Republicans have been a one-trick-pony when it comes to solving problems.

Budget deficit? Tax cut!

Budget surplus? Tax cut!

Economy booming? Tax cut!

Economy in recession? Tax cut!!

Their agenda to get rid of socialism in the form of medicaid, medicare, and social security is on track via their 'starve the beast' strategy!

clinton didn't even have the russians to worry about, Reagan and Bush One took care of them.

then comes along a brand new industry that like Wilson said brought in billions in completely unexpected capital gains and huge salaries (income tax). it isn't like clinton planned the internet and all that spawned from it. he was just there for the ride.

heck, times were so easy at the time, clinton had time to get his secretary to organize blow jobs for him.

there were some international things for clinton to deal with, but nothing, absolutely nothing on the scale that Bush Two had to deal with. And how amazing is it that Obama campaigns on change, however for the most part all things international remain the same.... N. Korea, Iran... no remarkable change.

clinton left office just in time and even he knows that.

hell, if pee wee herman were president at the time, a surplus would have existed.

with all that said, i do not dislike clinton. I think he is one of the smarter presidents we have had, however he was very very very lucky in office (after those first 2 miserable years.... before the internet industry started to fill the gov'ts piggybanks).

i honestly feel sorry for Obama. He really got a mess handed to him, but it wasn't a mess anyone can contribute to Bush alone. i never once heard a dem sound any alarm over home prices, easy mortgages, or anything else we now know contributed to the financial crisis.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I've noticed that people seem to worry more about the label and not so much on what the label means. That's true for Americans of any political persuasion. Of course as in most countries the electorate are too ignorant to be true idealists, preferring instead to fixate on one or two issues of the day.

Quite what that makes anyone, whatever label they choose to identify with - is an open question.

I do think American politics are driven less by a desire to better the country but are more about cynical image management on behalf of politicians and the ignorance of people who are more interested in the appearance of things, rather than the substance of things.

To me, the tea party isn't more than a collection of angry people chanting clicheed slogans.

[james&olya 1,121]

I've noticed that people seem to worry more about the label and not so much on what the label means. That's true for Americans of any political persuasion. Of course as in most countries the electorate are too ignorant to be true idealists, preferring instead to fixate on one or two issues of the day.

Quite what that makes anyone, whatever label they choose to identify with - is an open question.

I do think American politics are driven less by a desire to better the country but are more about cynical image management on behalf of politicians and the ignorance of people who are more interested in the appearance of things, rather than the substance of things.

To me, the tea party isn't more than a collection of angry people chanting clicheed slogans.

[DEDixon 39]

To me, the tea party isn't more than a collection of angry people chanting clicheed slogans.

yes, they are angry but i see nothing wrong with anger as it relates to gov't spending - it is our money after all. heck, if i bothered to search the archives here, i wouldn't be surprised to find a mother load of negative and angry comments about war spending by the left.

since when has anyone been anything other than angry when dealing with political issues?

"chanting" .... go to any pro-illegal alien protest and you'll hear a lot more chanting than at any tea party gathering.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So what is it specifically that they are protesting in regards to government spending?

Does it relates to anything actually tangible?

[mawilson 2,133]

So what is it specifically that they are protesting in regards to government spending?

Everything needs to be cut, at least a little bit. Everything.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Of course. Most are libertarians.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Everything needs to be cut, at least a little bit. Everything.

I'm sure it does, but to stand on a general position that 'government spending = bad' without any substantiation is a bit bizarre.

At least oppose something tangible, otherwise it's nothing more than a hollow slogan.

Of course. Most are libertarians.

Most libertarians are bigoted narcissists

[alienlovechild 75]

I'm sure it does, but to stand on a general position that 'government spending = bad' without any substantiation is a bit bizarre.

At least oppose something tangible, otherwise it's nothing more than a hollow slogan.

You're expecting a laundry list of cuts from protesters. Most of those people could name something they'd like to cut as long as it doesn't affect them. Foreign aid is brought up as if it's big portion of the budget which it isn't.

Pointless exercise as voters vote for representatives, who, in turn, make policy decisions that make a difference.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You're expecting a laundry list of cuts from protesters. Most of those people could name something they'd like to cut as long as it doesn't affect them. Foreign aid is brought up as if it's big portion of the budget which it isn't.

Pointless exercise as voters vote for representatives, who, in turn, make policy decisions that make a difference.

I'm expecting nothing. To me, they look and sound like a bunch of angry idiots whose brains are rotted by drink, excess and their own stupidity.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm sure it does, but to stand on a general position that 'government spending = bad' without any substantiation is a bit bizarre.

At least oppose something tangible, otherwise it's nothing more than a hollow slogan.

Most libertarians are bigoted narcissists

As I said.

[DEDixon 39]

I'm sure it does, but to stand on a general position that 'government spending = bad' without any substantiation is a bit bizarre.

At least oppose something tangible, otherwise it's nothing more than a hollow slogan.

i think you are asking for too much too soon. the tea party is a young organization. most people know the tea party, in general, is about reducing gov't spending.

i suspect the laundry list will eventually exist..... patience. rome wasn't built in a day.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

i think you are asking for too much too soon. the tea party is a young organization. most people know the tea party, in general, is about reducing gov't spending.

i suspect the laundry list will eventually exist..... patience. rome wasn't built in a day.

Not really - they've had what... 2 years?