Posted on 03/30/2016 12:39:06 PM PDT by C19fan
It is entirely possible to not be a leftist, and STILL not a conservative. This is not an either/or proposition.
The Donald is not a conservative, by most definitions. What he is defies easy categorization, but there is a large streak of libertarianism (not to be confused with conservatism), combined with outright populism. Also, there is that vanity thing, that The Donald considers himself to be among the most adroit of smart people around. He does exhibit a high degree of intelligence, but more importantly, he is also a risk-taker that plays for high stakes, with enough panache and employing an intimidation factor that comes either from foolhardy high confidence, or from having access to a LOT of inside information that he may or may not share out with others.
Has The Donald ever failed? Probably on numerous occasions, but that does not keep him from garnering an excess of exuberance for the next deal, or deter him from the several other deals he may be entertaining simultaneously. Like the operator of a gambling casino, all the house money is his money, and he covers his bets all along the way, but never loses sight of the bottom line.
The Donald redefines the term, “Living large”.
Bingo!
Back to fundamentals and promote them incessantly.
If conservatives don’t fight to win the culture war and prevail in public opinion, then we’ll get ever more compromised candidates.
That’s where we are now, since we allowed conservative ideology to be co-opted by a longtime New Yawk liberal political weather vane, with poor temperament, discretion, and no humility, who pander’s promise of being our best hope and make things terrific again.
Of the four liar and liberal candidates, Trump is now the Least Worst choice.
That’s how far our ideals and standards have fallen.
RE: “The same mentality and emotion that got Obama erected is driving his numbers.
Most conservatives chucked their ethos for Winning!
Dont flame me guys.
I get it and have quarrel with yall.”
Brooks is a jerk but still, I feel totally crushed. Reagan Conservatim is dead.
Brooks likes the crease if a man’s pants....ICK!!
He can even get the 'core Republican values' right that he discovered he had a few years ago when he realized he could get attention running as a Republican. But not to worry, by sometime next year he will rediscover his 'core Democrat values.'
Are none of you old enough to remember that Ronald Reagan was called That damned California LIBERAL!, and not a TRUE Conservative(whatever the hell that really means) in the 1980 primaries??
Nope. I was a young man in 1980 and the debate was was Reagan too conservative to win. Gerald Ford was even on a morning show questioning if Reagan’s conservatism would sell.
In fact, the liberal Republican John Anderson ran as an independent against both Carter and Reagan.
So yes, the answer is many of us are old enough to remember 1980 and over and over the issue was Reagan’s unabashed conservatism and if it can and would sell.
What I get is that a lot of 'conservatives' here on FR are willing to throw conservatism under the bus to win an election. In my opinion, that position is no better than the GOPe, and, in fact, is essentially the same position the GOPe has had for the last few elections.
That would be called a 'moderate'. What's a moderate? That's a fence sitter; somebody who can fall on either side of the fence depending on which way the 'popular' trend goes.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Where is the barf alert?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.