why is this place so republican?

[Dick7Access]

I would say that there are far fewer conservatives than liberals here because IT people lean liberal but the rational liberals simply cannot justify their party's platforms and so don't join in the discussions. The others are more inclined to devolve to name calling when they can't support their point and that doesn't fly with this group.

Please don't call me a Republican. I am not now a Republican. I have never been a Republican. Nor will I ever be a Republican based on what the RINO's did to Trump and thereby America during the past 6 years. I am a Libertarian without being pedantic about it. For example, the Libertarian in me says we should have open borders. But, my rational self says that can't possibly work when we have a welfare state so in order to have open borders, we need to get rid of the welfare state. Since that is never going to happen, I have to go along with border control efforts at least until Congress can be convinced to pull back on the welfare.

Conservatives are much more likely to espouse rational, practical policies rather than take hard lines like the liberals do. Liberals want to silence any one they disagree with. Conservatives want to talk to everyone they disagree with. Conservatives value the Constitution and want our laws to respect its limits on our government and want the Supreme Court to support the Constitution - which it doesn't. It is full of activist justices who feel the need to make law rather than enforce the Constitution. An example of this is the right to free speech. The Constitution says that the government may not abridge our right to free speech. It implies therefore and we have case law to support it that the government cannot instruct Twitter and the other FANGs to abbridge the free speech rights of their members because the government wants them to. And yet, we have actual evidence via first party witnesses as well as email correspondence, not to mention video broadcast on national TV of the government doing exactly that (the President's Press Secretary for example as she complains that not all the FANGS are cooperating on silencing the opposition they were asked to be silenced because the government says they are spewing "hate speech". Of course "hate speech" is all speech which disagrees with the current administration's positions.

But actual hate speech is President Biden standing in front of creepy red lights with Marines having his back, yelling and waving his arms like Hitler as he tells half of America that they are evil and enemies of the people. Kinda like the Jews were evil and the cause of all that was wrong with Germany in the 30's. All of you liberals should be forced to sit in front of the TV with your eyes taped open and watch that speech as the voice over substitutes "Jews" for "super MAGA" or whatever he called the 75 MILLION Americans who voted for Trump in 2020. Does that warm the cockles of your bleeding hearts or send shivers down your spine? Is it right for the President to call half of American voters evil and White Supremists? Is that how you "unite" a country?

The liberals take positions that make them "feel" good. They consider themselves to be "moral" because they want to save all the poor people who are currently flooding over our southern border by the THOUSANDS every single day. An acquaintance asked me one time, "What would you have us do, turn them away?" She was appalled when I said "yes". Then I told her that if she was so moral that she felt the need to help these poor people, that the way she could make a difference was to find a homeless person who was homeless due to unfortunate circumstances rather than drug abuse or insanity and take the person into her home. She should give this person a hand "up" rather than a hand "out" and help the person get back onto their feet and become a functioning member of society again. She could then claim the moral high ground even though I have a disabled vet I help to support (my brother) so he doesn't become a burden on society and I contribute to several local charities who run food banks and shelters and training programs. With the exception of the Salvation Army, I don't contribute to ANY national "charities". They pay their administrators way too much money (the Salvation Army does not) and the waste my money. The last time I gave a large donation ($1000) to any national charity was for the earthquake in Haiti. And, more than 10 years later, the displaced Haitians are still living in tents or hovels. Silly me. "Charities" like the Clinton Foundation just took the money and never built the houses. Americans donated hundreds of millions to help the Haitians and the aid never got to the people.

If you feel strongly enough in your morality, you don't actually have to live the talk. You virtue signal just by talking and voting. You feel the need to do something, anything to "fix" climate change so you vote for people who promise to tax the "rich" and convert to all green energy at sometime in the near future but no one ever actually talks about how that may be accomplished. But you talk the talk and vote for the "right" people so you don't have to live the talk. Just keep flying on your private jets while the suckers in California can't cook on gas ranges any more or have to carry around gas generators on the bike racks of the EV's because due to power shortages, they can't charge their EV's. But YOU ARE MORAL. Let's not think of those little brown babies in the Congo digging the tons of material necessary to create the pounds necessary to build your EV's battery. OK, no emissions. YEAH. But, what about from the power plants? Electricity doesn't come out of thin air (although Tesla was working on a way to make that happen) it is generated by less than 10% renewable energy. The rest is coal and other fossil fuels because you've shut down most of the nuclear reactors and medium sized hydro dams. And who cares about recycling. Out of sight, out of mind. China used to take a lot of our old electronics but they're not anymore. They finally figured out that even with their very cheap labor, it cost more in ill effects to the workers and environment for them to accept that kind of waste any more. So, are we going to have burial plots for our discarded EV batteries in our backyards? What happens when the heavy metal poisons start leaching into our water supply instead of the water supply at the recycle centers in the poorest parts of the world? How MORAL is that? Every other year you have to get a new iPhone so you donate or "recycle" your old one. Think about the damage done by all those discarded electronics or is that not your problem? You did the "moral" thing by recycling.

Pat, you have my vote for president.

 

[Grumm]

Col, I think I have been consistent in saying that when Trump was elected, it was because he was the lesser of two evils. I would just as soon not have "the Donald" in the White House again because he is just too divisive. But then again, IF Biden ran again and it was against Trump, it would be another "lesser of two evils" cases.

Don't get me wrong, Trump had some great ideas and implemented some great programs. BUT his personal method was too abrasive, too divisive, too controversial. As much as I dislike Democratic ideals, if Trump's opponent back then had been ANYONE but Hillary or Bernie, I would have at least considered the choice. But Hillary and Bernie were both anathema as far as I was concerned. Hillary was in Big Pharma's pocket and Bernie was too radical for the country to have survived him.

Isn't that how a democracy works ? You vote until only 2 evil choices are left then, all the people can do (not because that is what the people want but just doesn't have the choice anymore) is to pick the one that is less evil.
Well in France you have like the first voting round and after that the second one and it follows always the same scenario.
It may be different in the USA. But the outcome is similar.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Divisive!!!!!! So Biden calling 75 MILLION American voters in front of a blood red background with Marines to enforce his power, enemies of the people and white supremacists isn't divisive Substitute "Jews" for "Extreme MAGA supporters" and tell me if Hitler might have made the exact same speech Did Trump EVER say anything even remotely like that? Did he ever accuse the people who voted for Hillary as being evil and enemies of the state? He calls the Press corps the enemy of the state because they are not unbiased. They are actively working for the left and they don't even pretend that they are not. It was the Media and the talking heads of the left that caused the divisiveness, not the evil orange man. He is not politically correct. He doesn't have much of a filter. If it comes into his head, it comes out of his mouth which is sort of how you know he isn't lying to you Trump is a take no prisoners kinda' guy. If you shot him with a bebe gun, he responds with a bazooka. That was clear during the election campaigning. I'm not sure that really isn't a bad trait for a president. He sure kept Putin and Xi off guard and in their places Look at them now. Putin is winning in Ukraine and we're spending billions. Who's laughing now? And I'm sure all the Chinese sailors that Xi has circling Taiwan are dizzy by now and we are well and truly screwed if Xi decides to make good on his promises and invade Taiwan. Gee, wonder where we're going to get the chips we need to make our planes fly and our night vision goggles work. God, I hate having to defend Trump but you all need to stop listening to Neil Cavuto and Brett Barr and other never-Trumpers and pay attention to what Trump managed to accomplish despite the never ending ad holmium attacks from all quarters including the RINOs rather than the stupid things he has said. 75 MILLION Americans voted for him, were they all wrong? Even the Biden administration is talking about finishing the wall because they see what a mess they have caused Of course, when asked, the answer invariably is "the border is closed" I guess thousands of people a day constitutes "closed". I'm not sure what "open" would mean And who believes the Press Secretary when she claims there's nothing to see here? These are not the bots you're looking for? The Media of course and they repeat it over and over and over and over again following Hitler's playbook. If you repeat a lie often enough all the useful idiots will eventually believe it.

Pat, Biden is certainly no saint either. I NEVER said he was. You don't have to defend Trump from me. I think he did some good things and I won't deny that I liked a lot of what he did. But he has become a polarizing figure to the right and what we really need right now is more of a centrist.

I also know that the Liberal media freaked out when Hillary lost. They never got over it. Trump is not the anti-Christ, but the media moguls can't stand him and the country does not need that kind of noise.

 

[NauticalGent]

But he has become a polarizing figure to the right and what we really need right now is more of a centrist.

The media MADE him a polarizing figure, as they will ANY opposition to their platform - the other side plays the same game.

 

[Isaac]

The vast majority of members on AWF do not render any opinion on politics, they prefer this section be eliminated completely. The real question is why the minority of "republican types" feel the need to be so vocal.

Maybe, out of the small pool of people who DO enjoy talking politics, the majority of that small pool ARE conservatives. I'm not sure.

Or maybe, with conservatism comes a passion that is either more, or perhaps just "different", than liberalism.

Who knows - but why is that the real question?

I'm Republican, though I know it has become more and more rare these days to dare identify as such. People seem to think that if you say I'm Such-and-Such, that means you are ready to defend anything and everything they have ever done or will ever do or are doing now.
Of course, that's not true.

I'm Christian, that doesn't mean I approve of all things Christian-labelled individuals do. Actually, that was a terrible analogy, as Christian means a believer in Christ whereas Republican....Yeah, I'm not totally sure what it means.

Wait...it just occurred to me: saying "I'm Republican" is comfortable to me, no matter how crazy a few of them may get or whatever, because all I mean by it is, "When faced with the Democrat vs. Republican ballot choice, I practically always choose Republican".

That's really all it means. To me personally, it just so happens to mean a bit more, as I think the overall principles of Republicans are much better and truer than the majority of principles of Democrats - but I've no desire to get into that as it may offend people beyond what's productive.
(Did you know offending people is not always unproductive? Some of the most offensive things to me in my life have been the catalysts for positive change, it just took time and...some other things).

 

[Isaac]

The media MADE him a polarizing figure, as they will ANY opposition to their platform - the other side plays the same game.

I agree, I think that's partly true - but he made it a bit too easy. He wasn't the first republican leader in history that the media wished to destroy and make appear crazy.....but he occasionally made it a bit too easy.

@The_Doc_Man I agree that we need someone other than Trump at this point. Most people on the conservative side are quite capable of seeing all of the good principles that he had as far as both foreign and domestic policy, and would likely continue/restart most of them. But right now, whether it's his fault, media's fault, or a little of both, Trump is just too much baggage. The momentum AGAINST him is too strong and too entrenched and (probably much more importantly):: Already too well-sold to many of the American people.

I think someone like DeSantis has a pretty good shot. I keep telling people Candace Owens but it goes nowhere.
Do people realize how much of a winning ticket that would be? Even, say, DeSantis/Owens. We would easily pick up some votes that, let's just say, we don't normally get - and she is brilliant, second to none in every type of situation, debate, conversation, Q&A, etc. Imagine picking up just a tiny FRACTION of the Democrats' female and black votes. Just a tiny fraction and we'd win in a landslide!

 

[Isaac]

@conception_native_0123
Do you consider yourself closer to Republican or Democrat? And don't take this "I am nothing of the sort" tack that's become so popular now. The truth is most people are pretty easily pegged as closer to one or the other, despite everyone claiming to loathe both, entirely.
Just out with it.
Why did you ask this question?

I remember in my early days, which were the early days of at least 2-3 of your iterations, but probably not your actual early days by far, you seemed to be more conservative than liberal by a long shot. Until, as I remember, I said something about section 8 or HUD housing at which point I received a fireball of some kind back! Honestly I can't even remember what I said. Anyway.

Or, did you just want to start something, like when Colin asks something like "Why is Trump so bad?", or, "Does everyone walk around shooting each other in America?", etc. etc.

 

[KitaYama]

I'm Republican, though I know it has become more and more rare these days to dare identify as such. People seem to think that if you say I'm Such-and-Such, that means you are ready to defend anything and everything they have ever done or will ever do or are doing now.
Of course, that's not true.

"When faced with the Democrat vs. Republican ballot choice, I practically always choose Republican".

I think these two sections contradict each other. Or at least is very confusing.

 

[KitaYama]

Since the day I joined AWF (6 months ago?) and started reading political posts, I was convinced that US is an all-Republican country ruled by Democrats. It's very rare somebody post anything in the favor of Democrat party.

 

[Pat Hartman]

But he has become a polarizing figure to the right and what we really need right now is more of a centrist.

As I mentioned earlier, Trump takes no prisoners. His "problem" is he says the things that people think but don't say. That is is lack of a filter and it doesn't matter whether it offends the Republicans or the Democrats.

I think someone like DeSantis has a pretty good shot.

If Trump decides not to run, he would be a good choice but we actually need Trump even more than we did in 2016 and Florida needs DeSantis. DeSantis is already being attacked by the Media and treated almost as badly as Trump is in preparation for just such an event. DeSantis is too new to the game to be able to stand up to the constant ad hominem attacks. If Trump opens his mouth, he's a liar, he's a racist, he hates transgender people, he hates women because he is pro choice. On and on and on - it is absolutely all out warfare. They just don't stop and the Republicans just cower in the corner and refuse to stand up for the Constitution which is really what Trump and DeSantis are doing.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Since the day I joined AWF (6 months ago?) and started reading political posts, I was convinced that US is an all-Republican country ruled by Democrats. It's very rare somebody post anything in the favor of Democrat party.

I guess this falls back to Adam's original question. Why is it that so many of us USA members on the forum lean away from the Democratic party? But that makes me wonder even more about our non-USA members who live in countries where THEY have a choice in voting.

Adam (@conception_native_0123) asked about the USA political parties by selecting their symbols - a donkey and an elephant. But I wonder about the political parties in other countries now... liberal / socialism parties, conservative / capitalist parties, labor-centric parties, other orientations. I know that the UK has many parties that tend to favor some aspect of citizen interest.

Would any of the UK members care to classify themselves according to the subject of interest for their parties?

 

[Dick7Access]

As I mentioned earlier, Trump takes no prisoners. His "problem" is he says the things that people think but don't say. That is is lack of a filter and it doesn't matter whether it offends the Republicans or the Democrats.

If Trump decides not to run, he would be a good choice but we actually need Trump even more than we did in 2016 and Florida needs DeSantis. DeSantis is already being attacked by the Media and treated almost as badly as Trump is in preparation for just such an event. DeSantis is too new to the game to be able to stand up to the constant ad hominem attacks. If Trump opens his mouth, he's a liar, he's a racist, he hates transgender people, he hates women because he is pro choice. On and on and on - it is absolutely all out warfare. They just don't stop and the Republicans just cower in the corner and refuse to stand up for the Constitution which is really what Trump and DeSantis are doing.

Amen

 

[conception_native_0123]

Are you TRYING to give me a stroke?

never!

 

[conception_native_0123]

Why did you ask this question?

honestly, I don't even know the diff between rebpulican and libertarian. i don't know which I am, but I know I'm not a dem. at least not in the majority of me. I asked the ? in part because there seems to be a lot of bitching about democrats here and in the political forum, so I just assumed that the majjority of the bitchers are republicans.

 

[Isaac]

I think these two sections contradict each other. Or at least is very confusing.

Sorry, but I cannot see any contradiction at all in these 2 things:

1) I don't defend every single thing the Republicans do
2) I always vote Republican rather than Democrat.

 

[KitaYama]

Sorry, but I cannot see any contradiction at all in these 2 things:

1) I don't defend every single thing the Republicans do
2) I always vote Republican rather than Democrat.

Maybe it's because of my level of English that causes me think they are contradicting each other. Maybe our culture.
But if you always vote Republican no matter what, doesn't it mean you are ready to defend anything and everything republicans say?

If not, why you always vote them?

In my case, When I always vote somebody, it means I always support them.
Otherwise I won't use ALWAYS.

Again maybe it's because "Always" is a very strong word in our language and is not used that much.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I know I tend to vote Republican more often than not, but for our current governor, John Bel Edwards, I supported him because he is actually a moderate, not an extremist of either flavor. Refreshing guy... but sadly, term-limited now.

 

[Pat Hartman]

The problem Kita is that we have a 2-party system. The Democrats and the Republications There are lots of other parties but they don't get a lot of traction because you would have to beat both of the major parties. The last time an independent candidate took a substantial number of votes in a Presidential election was H. Ross Perot in 1992. He garnered 19% of the popular vote depriving H.W. Bush a second term and giving Bill Clinton the win. He ran a second time in 1996 but got only 8% of the vote. He is actually an inspiring character. Ken Follett, a well respected author, wrote a true story about Perot's efforts to rescue two of his EDS employees who had been taken prisoner by the Iranians. It's called "On Wings of Eagles", published in 1983, just a few years before the 1992 election. Ken Follett is a great author and the story is inspiring showing the character and gumption of Ross Perot when the US government would do nothing to help rescue Perot's employees from Iran. I think Perot would have been a great president but would have had problems similar to the ones Trump had. Washington closes ranks against outsiders and given the Social Media movement in recent years, the opposition can be downright vicious. Luckily Trump isn't a teenage girl or he would have committed suicide years ago with all the harassment.

this is actually a major reason that Trump decided to run as a Republican rather than a Democrat. That and the fact that it was Hillary's "turn" to get the presidential nomination for the Democrat party so Trump had no chance given the cheating system the Dems use to choose their Presidential candidate. So, Trump, a life-long Democrat, ran as a Republican and won in 2016. No wonder Hillary still thinks the election was stolen from her.

Like Isaac, even though I am not a Republican, I am much more likely to vote for the Republican candidate than the Democrat candidate because my positions are more closely aligned with the Republican positions. Too bad the Republicans keep saying the right things but voting with the Democrats No follow-through.

In 2008 our choices for President were John McCain (R) who was the absolute worst kind of RINO (Republican In Name Only) possible and Obama (D). What a quandary. One choice was worse than the other. But in the summer when the housing market was dissolving and taking Wall Street with it, the candidates were on the campaign trail and President Bush and the Congress wanted a bailout bill so the two candidates, who were both sitting Senators at the time decided to come back to Washington to vote on the bill. I thought, great. I will vote for the one who votes AGAINST the bailout bill. But, keeping in character, they both voted for bailing out Wall Street so I knew I was absolutely right about the two of them and so for that election I voted for the third party candidate who happened to be the perennial third party candidate - Ralph Nader of "Unsafe at any speed" fame. Nader was considered to be something of a joke and only ended up with .5% of the votes (~700,000 votes ) so technically, my vote was wasted but I'm not sorry Obama won that election. If McCain had won, we would have had WWIII. Obama was a horrible president and instead of uniting American, he divided it. He worked very hard to make black people hate their white neighbors and here we are today with our large Democrat run cities devolving into lawlessness and hete crimes like the murder of Ashli Babbott on Jan 6th.

 

[conception_native_0123]

I know I tend to vote Republican more often than not, but for our current governor, John Bel Edwards, I supported him because he is actually a moderate, not an extremist of either flavor. Refreshing guy... but sadly, term-limited now.

A non extremist for a candidate is hard to find in this day and age Richard. I applaud you for your vote.

 

[Isaac]

But if you always vote Republican no matter what, doesn't it mean you are ready to defend anything and everything republicans say?

Umm....No, it doesn't mean that at all.
The most that you could conclude would be that each time I vote, Republicans are the better choice.

In order to be "the better choice", must they be flawless? Of course not - just better