tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post2482944746830860115..comments2024-03-29T10:20:36.070-05:00Comments on Althouse: 40% of Americans now call themselves "conservative" or "very conservative," while only 21% say they are "liberal" or "very liberal."Ann Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-28704357711429435322009-08-18T08:52:41.822-05:002009-08-18T08:52:41.822-05:00"Liberals don't call themselves liberal.&..."Liberals don't call themselves liberal." <br /><br />Exactly right. Liberals routinely deny the NYT is liberal despite its being on the liberal side of every single political issue for generations. They think they're moderate because their self-image is as the educated, reasonable group. College kids and political activists are liberal.MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10243607071046362268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-70634347429901857032009-08-18T07:14:39.679-05:002009-08-18T07:14:39.679-05:00Boxer has never been more vulnerable.
Could you c...<i>Boxer has never been more vulnerable.</i><br /><br />Could you call me Senator? I worked so hard for that title, yes thank you.Hoosier Daddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12872965118921894534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-76177034577407204202009-08-18T07:09:00.596-05:002009-08-18T07:09:00.596-05:00A lot of Conservatives 'stayed home' in No...A lot of Conservatives 'stayed home' in November due to McCain, and a lot of those now regret it.<br />Hopefully this full-blown move to the extreme left by Obama will 'wake em up'Joaquinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498096020863312606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-74527138362505972812009-08-18T07:06:21.272-05:002009-08-18T07:06:21.272-05:00I think a lot of people who considered themselves ...I think a lot of people who considered themselves moderate are deciding that, if Obama and Clinton are moderate, they must be conservative. <br /><br />I'd like to see a poll on how many found Obama to be more or less liberal, moderate or conservative than they'd expected. Likewise for his intelligence, humility, post-racial, partisan and other other qualities by which we measure leaders.ASThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14591247136037620408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-22980211870219718742009-08-18T02:00:26.616-05:002009-08-18T02:00:26.616-05:00Americans are more likely to think of themselves a...Americans are more likely to think of themselves as conservative than liberal simply because the popular news and entertainment media routinely portray solidly left-wing political positions as centrist. So moderates mis-identify as conservative, and liberals as moderates, simply because they're measuring themselves against that standard. E.g., if you don't favor completely unrestricted abortion, why, you must be at *least* center-right.Revenanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11374515200055384226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-11771207210577843382009-08-17T22:42:25.160-05:002009-08-17T22:42:25.160-05:00The link provided goes to the Doyle article posted...The link provided goes to the Doyle article posted above.Godothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15571750340741885887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-25980556446674825962009-08-17T21:58:13.703-05:002009-08-17T21:58:13.703-05:00I don't think most Americans know what they ar...<i>I don't think most Americans know what they are.</i><br /><br />You're a dickhead Jeremy. Now that you know what you are, consider yourself in the minority.DaLawGiverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07527161835297956435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-17917732895591726702009-08-17T21:42:49.099-05:002009-08-17T21:42:49.099-05:00I love Barbara Boxer's take on who is/isn'...I love Barbara Boxer's take on who is/isn't liberal or conservative.<br /><br />She was on the Diane Reams (spelling?) show on NPR during the Alito confirmation. She had just gotten through calling him too conservative to be a good justice. A caller got through the screener (no idea how) and pointedly asked her "if you call Alito too conservative, does that make you a liberal?"<br /><br />Boxer said something very close to "I prefer to just be Barbara Boxer".<br /><br />So...lets review.<br /><br />She embraces a political spectrum with conservative obviously too far to one end, presumably the bad one. Then, when pressed, she sets herself apart from that spectrum in an attempt not to be saddled with the liberal moniker.<br /><br />Pathetic. As flawed as whats-her-puss ex-ceo HP chic is, I hope she severely trounces Boxer in 2010. Boxer has never been more vulnerable.Scott Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08871331702531675368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-34019455834312076332009-08-17T20:59:50.507-05:002009-08-17T20:59:50.507-05:00I think there are others who get more conservative...I think there are others who get more conservative the farther away, physically, the government gets. That is to say, they like their federal government very limited and their state government pretty limited, in most areas, but are willing to be a bit more expansionist or even liberal on the county, township and city level. This is not just philosophical, but also practical: there's more access to the corridors of power when they're in your neighborhood, or at least w/in reasonable driving distance.reader_iamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17352836883752091339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-91202464860317276792009-08-17T20:37:41.866-05:002009-08-17T20:37:41.866-05:00The only number that counts is the 53% of American...<i>The only number that counts is the 53% of Americans who voted for the most liberal United States senator to be president.</i><br /><br />Sure. But candidate Obama was a whole lot further to the right than President Obama. I have to believe this accounts for, at least part, the slip we've seen in his numbers as people begin to see what his true leanings are.<br /><br />Personally, I'll be happy when leftists stop calling themselves "liberal". If you support high taxes and a large, overweening state you're not a liberal in the traditional sense of the word or as the word is used in other English speaking countries.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330712047609650184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-57239281124387634872009-08-17T20:29:28.477-05:002009-08-17T20:29:28.477-05:00Given the big push to nationalize everything, the ...Given the big push to nationalize everything, the move to conservatism is no surprise. I guess there are still people who remember their US History and Civics classes.<br /><br />Thank goodness we still have the freedom to move the pendulum back from whence it came.PatCAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08920623662477828662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-59580477667273615202009-08-17T20:16:57.186-05:002009-08-17T20:16:57.186-05:00Most of the progressive/liberals that I know say t...Most of the progressive/liberals that I know say that they, "don't like labels." They say this a lot actually.<br /><br />I have no problem telling people I am a libertarian. But I think that is because I have a firm ideology & philosophy based on the value of individual freedom. <br /><br />Most of these friends of mine, and they are good friends that I do respect, want to be seen as pragmatic. At least I think they do. They enjoy telling me that they look at the character of each candidate, that they don't just vote straight party lines. They like looking at each issue separately. They generally tell me of one or two issues that they side with conservatives with.<br /><br />I think it is important to them to be like this, because they want to be unique. They want to be individuals. And if they are labeled, and agree completely with one ideology, then they might lose their individuality and be thought of as a mindless drone.<br /><br />And I find it very ironic, because they all act this way.<br /><br />So it goes.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02512333203441891859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-22618284079883787442009-08-17T19:33:31.360-05:002009-08-17T19:33:31.360-05:00Judging from the ugly nature of our little troll, ...Judging from the ugly nature of our little troll, I can only conclude that he is trying to reduce the number identifying as liberal. Who would play with that guy at recess? Maybe he's a double troll. Rove, you magnificent bastard!bagoh20https://www.blogger.com/profile/10915174575358413637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-83425838389593278712009-08-17T18:37:18.202-05:002009-08-17T18:37:18.202-05:00I would call them Libertarians. Many Libertarians ...<i>I would call them Libertarians. Many Libertarians are for limited government but are rather socially liberal.</i><br /><br />Yes and considering how successful they have been in presenting viable candidates, oh, at about any electoral level I think my previous description stands ;-)Hoosier Daddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12872965118921894534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-3610336055387593242009-08-17T18:34:31.251-05:002009-08-17T18:34:31.251-05:00Hoosier Daddy
Endangered species
I would call the...Hoosier Daddy<br /><i>Endangered species</i><br /><br />I would call them Libertarians. Many Libertarians are for limited government but are rather socially liberal.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04977662030208589392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-34346845372900166232009-08-17T18:34:03.305-05:002009-08-17T18:34:03.305-05:00Imagine that, Jeremy, there are many people who ac...Imagine that, Jeremy, there are many people who actually form their own opinions instead of just getting the worms from Mama BirdElliott Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08926851577632076982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-45840758669196048232009-08-17T18:25:22.066-05:002009-08-17T18:25:22.066-05:00I know many people who are very socially liberal -...<i>I know many people who are very socially liberal -- Gay Marriage!! No restrictions on abortion!! -- but very very fiscally conservative -- No money for just about anything but National Defense and roads.</i><br /><br />Must be on the endangered species list.Hoosier Daddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12872965118921894534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-22344235704784820752009-08-17T18:22:58.836-05:002009-08-17T18:22:58.836-05:00Synova - Based on your inane comments I don't ...<i>Synova - Based on your inane comments I don't think I'm any "better" than you, but I'm one hell of a lot smarter</i><br /><br />Jeremy you're such a dolt. I have socks that are smarter than you.<br /><br />Why don't you reduce your carbon footprint and stop wasting our oxygen.Hoosier Daddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12872965118921894534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-64487798841442774022009-08-17T18:17:03.894-05:002009-08-17T18:17:03.894-05:00Synova - Based on your inane comments I don't ...Synova - Based on your inane comments I don't think I'm any "better" than you, but I'm one hell of a lot smarter.<br /><br />How's that?Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-24093828764151101082009-08-17T18:15:41.239-05:002009-08-17T18:15:41.239-05:00Methadras - And you immediately prove my point.
W...Methadras - And you immediately prove my point.<br /><br />What a dummy.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-77448687052371937392009-08-17T18:14:47.558-05:002009-08-17T18:14:47.558-05:00knox said..."How can there be just 21% libera...knox said..."How can there be just 21% liberal when the President, Senate, House, and a great number of governorships are Democratic?"<br /><br />Geeee, let's think about that...hmmm...<br /><br />Could it be that some Democrats aren't "liberal?<br /><br />DUH.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-64944921316050984372009-08-17T18:13:27.433-05:002009-08-17T18:13:27.433-05:00MadisonMan said..."I wonder how many are an a...MadisonMan said..."I wonder how many are an amalgam of both? I know many people who are very socially liberal -- Gay Marriage!! No restrictions on abortion!! -- but very very fiscally conservative -- No money for just about anything but National Defense and roads."<br /><br />Exactly.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-28524611702817960672009-08-17T18:10:14.152-05:002009-08-17T18:10:14.152-05:00Er, it's all in how the questions are asked. ...Er, it's all in how the questions are asked. Tell me what you believe is the proper role of government or what kind of policies you support, and I'll decide myself whether you're liberal, moderate, or conservative.Weaponhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05987611119990804961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-35136278654390064992009-08-17T18:05:44.289-05:002009-08-17T18:05:44.289-05:00How can there be just 21% liberal when the Preside...<i>How can there be just 21% liberal when the President, Senate, House, and a great number of governorships are Democratic?<br /><br /></i>I think there are a lot of people who <i>are</i> conservative, but pull the (D) lever for various, free-floating reasons. My in-laws, for example, were terrified of Social Security reform. They also have vague ideas that things like "Head Start" actually work: they have no critical thinking when it comes to government programs. If the program is supposed to "help people," they don't question it. <br /><br />But at the same time, they are alarmed at the national debt, are pro-life, and have lots of other conservative traits.<br /><br />I think there is probably a large swath of people like them: people who identify on the right, but will often vote (D) for a variety of reasons.knoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13231876226573540476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-253654396929795602009-08-17T18:02:23.622-05:002009-08-17T18:02:23.622-05:00Misleading post Ann.
We wouldn't have a Democ...Misleading post Ann.<br /><br />We wouldn't have a Democrats running Congress and the White House if this were true on the surface.<br />Dig deeper and it says:<br />35% moderate, and 21% liberal. <br />And that explains why Democrats are running everything.<br /><br />Moderates [Independent voters] actually control elections.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04977662030208589392noreply@blogger.com