What I understand to be conservative values (and thereby makes them a “conservative”), is this:
1. Belief in the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence
2. Belief in a Creator, and Biblical influence, as the Founders believed.
3. Belief in smaller, limited government.
4. Pro-Life
5. Against homosexuality
6. Honesty
7. Standing on these principles no matter what
I’m sure there are more, but those are the main ones, IMO.
And from what I’ve seen, read, and researched, there’s only one candidate that has an actual proven record of being close to that. Not just in talk, but in walk. Ted Cruz.
You’re right. Those are the facts.
Yup. I don’t know why so many here want to redefine the basics. It’s not like any of this is a secret.
Most of us hold Reagan up as the ideal. No he was not perfect. Yes he made mistakes. But he is unquestionably a solid embodiment of conservative and what it ‘is’.
He said he would not turn the party over. Today, people openly campaign for the ideas and people that would/have done exactly that.
He maintained strong faith in God. Today we have people mocking people for their faith. The OP is a prime example.
His big mistake was amnesty, which he called his biggest mistake. He trusted Tip and the Dems. Today, people argue over how their definition isn’t REALLY amnesty if their chosen candidate wants it.
How would he view Mitt Romney and the people on the right that demanded we elect him? Would he call them conservative when Romney was the polar opposite of conservative in every way possible?
I have had people tell me the founders words were nonsense here. How does one remotely square that and calling themselves conservative.
The examples are endless but it all boils down to one thing. They view conservatism the way liberals view the BOR/Constitution...a living ‘document’ that bends to what they want it to be and not what it has been for a very long time. They pay it lip service and when the chips are down, they abandon it and make excuses for doing so.
People can bitch at me all they want. One need only read FR during an election season to see thousands of examples of all of it.