The collective IQ of America is dropping every year.
Note to “conservatives”. If you voted for Obama. You are not.
Rush frequently cites a very large scale, well-designed study in which upwards of 70% of people describe themselves as conservative.
Yet, you will read even here on FR that conservatives need to “move toward the middle” and worship the almighty independents and moderates.
What does “conservative” mean to these people? I’d be interested in what that definition is.
Self-proclamation does NOT equal actuality.
To win this election, the GOP needed to cut through BHO's lies to expose who he really is. They started to do this toward the end of the election, but it was too late. Most Americans are not inquisitive enough to find the truth themselves, so they rely on the campaigns and the Pravda media get information about the candidates. When a Dem socialist tries to portray himself as a tax cutting moderate, the GOP candidate has to attack this from day one.
It also didn't help that, at least on economic issues, there wasn't much distinction between McCain and Obama during the bailout. I'm convinced that McCain would have won if he had come out against the bailout.
Liberals don’t call themselves liberals anymore.
So I would take this data with a grain of salt.
I’m not sure that we should rely on polls of how voters describe their own politics. In my experience there aren’t a whole lot of people who have a consistent, well-thoughtout viewpoint. It all kinda smacks of rating our kids “self-esteem” in school. That & a buck will get you a cup of coffee at WaWa.
We need a conservative candidate who can effectively articulate conservatism. We haven’t really had that since Reagan. Every other Republican claiming to be a conservative has been intimidated by the Media into some sort of compromised/confused message.
McCain was repulsive to conservatives (I for one, though I voted for him as a last resort), and with Obama portraying himself as a moderate post-primaries, Conservatives could get their revenge upon McCain in particular and Republicans in general. They behaved more like drunken Democrats than conservatives!!
By the way, three states passed constitutional amendments banning homosexual marriages (one in CALIFORNIA!!!), and many of those voters also voted for Obama. Social and fiscal conservatives win. Maverick McCain moderates? Pfah!
BS... Conservative is just a better name. I have neighbors who are hard line Dems, but they refuse to be called liberals. They like to be known as conservative Dems.
I think the big point here is that a lot of people call themselves conservatives who are not conservative.
“Are you a conservative or a liberal?” Conservative. Liberals are stupid.
“Who did you vote for?” Obama.
“Are you for or against abortion?” For.
“Do you want socialized medicine?” Yes.
“Do you support the war and occupation of Iraq?” No. (But, invariably, “But I support the troops”)
“Did you support President Bush?” No.
“Did you vote for Republicans?” No. I voted for Democrats, but they aren’t like other Democrats.
Keep in mind that Jefferson did NOT create the Democrat Party. He created the Republican-Democrat Party, which existed only during the eight years of his Administration. I am certain that if you visit Charlottesville you can hear a loud whirring sound. He is spinning in his grave over what the Republic has become.
Congressman Billybob
Latest article, "President Obama: How Bad Will It Be?"
The Declaration, the Constitution, parts of the Federalist, and America's Owner's Manual, here.
When will everyone realize that people “LIE” to these pollsters?
They will say anything when put on the spot with questions that make them uncomfortable.
I don’t believe the results of these polls.
The election is the only poll that matters.
Well both Dole and McCain claimed to be conservatives. But denial is more than just a river in Egypt.
In 2006 a relatively large percentage of the Dem winners were conservative Dems. In the GOP a number of RINOs (Chafee, for example,) lost. Both parties moved to the right, but the GOP lost possession of the ball while conservatism improved its field position. I haven't looked closely at 2008 yet.
Thanks for posting this and the related article. It seems apparent that there’s a growing rift between those folks who call themselves conservative and those who actually are conservative.