Originally Posted By utahjosh We NEED conservative pragmatism as part of our national discourse. Instead they're a joke, a parody of themselves that would make Saturday Night Live blush. Agreed - but you just exemplified the problem that liberals paint a picture that MOST conservatives believe the things you just wrote. We aren't as extreme as you say, even though SNL and others continue to paint us that way.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<Drill baby drill = Yes, until new technology can adequatly replace it.>> Even when you're presented with the evidence that the US doesn't actually have access to enough resources to make a dent in our energy needs by drilling? Why risk destroying our natural resources when we will still need to get most of our oil from foreign sources? <<Love of guns = When they are threated to be taken away.>> No one is trying to take them away, so this shouldn't even be an issue. <<Climate change denial = Not denial usually, but challenged, yes.>> Challenged by whom? Not by most climate scientists, who came to consensus long ago. The only real challengers are politicians, political commentators, and industry who might lose profit if they actually have to clean up the messes they are making of our environment. <<Opposition to healthcare reform = That's not true. Opposed to the recent bill. Reform is needed.>> And yet, we never actually see any viable reform options put forth by the opposition. We just keep hearing that reform is needed, and we don't like the Democrats solution. <<Demonization of Muslims and Mexicans = That's just unfortunate, and I don't see it a lot.>> That's probably because you're not paying attention. Just because you don't personally see a problem doesn't make it not true.
Originally Posted By ecdc <<Drill baby drill = Yes, until new technology can adequatly replace it.>> But this just proves my point. There's a huge difference between recognizing the pragmatic need for oil while exploring other options, and a crowd of thousands of people screaming "drill baby drill" and stamping their feet like they're at a rock concert. >>Agreed - but you just exemplified the problem that liberals paint a picture that MOST conservatives believe the things you just wrote.<< And yet you defended every one of them, sans the last. This is what conservatives, by and large, believe. I know there's dissenters and difference of opinion, but they're a small minority. The message from both Republican leadership and talk radio - who are a huge part of the conservative movement - is very clear on each of these issues. And those who aren't in line, like Bob Bennett, are sent packing.
Originally Posted By pecos bill I suppose there are few good scientific reasons for liking guns, but there certainly are valid emotional reasons. Most people who oppose guns have never hunted, but still eat meat; they rely on others to do the killing for them. My own dad, as a youth, hunted for survival during the lean years of the depression. Although I no longer hunt, I was raised in a hunter's family. All I am saying is try to at least understand why someone could be a gun enthusiast before you lump him in with the masses and ridicule him. Not all gun owners are right wing republicans either, myself included. You guys are so politically correct around here, why not extend it toward those of us who are legal and responsible gun owners, before you portray us as a bunch of trigger happy imbeciles?
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<All I am saying is try to at least understand why someone could be a gun enthusiast before you lump him in with the masses and ridicule him.>> I'm not ridiculing people who like guns. I don't understand them, but I'm not ridiculing them. What I do take issue with is when someone glorifies guns. There just isn't really anything to celebrate about a weapon of any kind - no matter what it's used for.
Originally Posted By pecos bill Suppose you used a gun to frighten away someone or something that was going to harm you? How about the security in knowing you can defend yourself if the need arises?
Originally Posted By ecdc >>How about the security in knowing you can defend yourself if the need arises?<< Asked and answered. It's a myth. It happens so rarely it makes about as much sense as purchasing special insurance in case you get attacked by a kangaroo. The odds of an accident happening as a result of a gun in your home are much, much better than the odds of you stopping a criminal or protecting your family. If someone wants to hunt or target shoot, I've got no problem with that. But you don't need an assault rifle for that and you certainly don't need a concealed weapon. I really don't want someone eating next to my family in a restaurant who's so paranoid about the world he packs heat just so he can be a hero if something goes wrong. It's a terribly warped way of thinking about the world.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<How about the security in knowing you can defend yourself if the need arises?>> That sense of "security" is usually a false one. Studies have shown that most people don't actually have the wherewithal to properly defend themselves when in a dangerous situation, even when armed. And there are far to many cases of people accidentally shooting someone who wasn't actually a threat by mistake.
Originally Posted By utahjosh <And yet you defended every one of them, sans the last.> Wrong. I didn't defend them. I challenged your "dangerous, ignorant" explanation of them.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "You're glorifying an object that's sole purpose is to kill. You are, in effect, glorifying war and romanticizing it..." Ding ding ding
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Look, marriage should be between one man and however many women of whatever age he chooses to be his wives.
Originally Posted By gadzuux Nice to see you're still around, tom - I haven't noticed a post from you in some time.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***When they are threated to be taken away*** Except they're not. That's just a lie. Josh made it up. Now, you kids wanna get back on topic? Post 51 - lmao. Can't believe I used to argue with this guy so much. Oh, wait. Yeah, it was mostly a DCA thing. Hey Tom, DCA still sucks! Okay now, Josh, go ahead and defend this anti-gay stuff, if you think you can.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 "Love of guns = When they are threated to be taken away. " And how many prominent politicians have proposed that? Oh, that's right. None of them. And yet, this mantra of the bogeyman "coming to take away your guns!!!" is still believed by the gullible.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Any time I hear about state governments, regardless of party control, the corruption is just off the charts. ---- it's all about patronage, skimming monies off the topo, employing all family and friends regardless of qualifications etc-- coming from the most corrupt state in the nation- highest taxed and leading in most ex politicians in proson- Illinois ! Home of Gov Blago who actually looks good compared to the idiot we have today who won 3 of 105 counties in Illinois but since Cook was one of them where his patronage army lives -- he delcares he had a 'mandate' to raise state income tax this year by 66 2/3% and corporate income tax by 75% -- and addressed zero spending issues... so is life in Illinois
Originally Posted By gadzuux And 'vbdad' too! This is getting to be like a reunion thread. Where have you'se guys been?
Originally Posted By ecdc I know! It's nice to have them around again. Guys, I looked for happiness with family and career too. They're dead-ends. Spend your time on LP
Originally Posted By mawnck >>And yet, this mantra of the bogeyman "coming to take away your guns!!!" is still believed by the gullible. << Now the Muslim ninjas, on the other hand -- THEY really are gonna take your guns away! And nothin' you can do about it.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Shh!!! atthay uzway upposedsay ootay eebay a ecretsay. But while we're on the subject, brother Mawnck, have you yet discovered a good way to get schawarma stains out of our black get-ups, particularly the veil part? I've tried everything. It's so frustrating when... ...I've said too much.
Originally Posted By ecdc Is there anything scarier than Muslim ninjas? Only pythons with lasers. And teabaggers when the cable goes out and Nascar isn't on.
