What is Digg?374 Comments
- augiegram, on 09/17/2008, -5/+300Conservatives should read this and pay close attention. The Republicans do not really have a conservative platoform, they have a regressive platform.
- nkhogan, on 09/17/2008, -5/+225I agree. This is a key article to answer charges that people make about Obama that he is too 'liberal.' I think Obama is post-liberal and his worldview is very reflective of traditional values of family and personal responsibility.
- ChessPieceFace, on 09/17/2008, -3/+212FTA: "Most important, Obama will be a realist. I doubt he will taunt Russia, as McCain has, at the very moment when our national interest requires it as an ally. The crucial distinction in my mind is that, unlike John McCain, I am convinced he will not impulsively take us into another war unless American national interests are directly threatened.
“Every great cause,” Eric Hoffer wrote, “begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.” As a cause, conservatism may be dead. But as a stance, as a way of making judgments in a complex and difficult world, I believe it is very much alive in the instincts and predispositions of a liberal named Barack Obama. "
Some conservatives are still thinking.
This is good. - klooper, on 09/17/2008, -5/+155This article clearly explains why I, as a conservative right up until the election of GWB, ardently support Barrack Obama. He is a pragmatist and our best hope to reverse the damage to American liberty perpetrated by Bush/Cheney.
If Ron Paul was in the race, I would vote for him instead. - seltaeb4, on 09/17/2008, -3/+151Everyone who has an interest in American politics should read the linked short, well-considered essay.
- seddyei, on 09/18/2008, -5/+119There is nothing wrong with conservatives. There are many things wrong with conservatives who blindly vote with party lines, thinking their candidates will serve their needs best. This article by Wick Allison is an excellent portrayal of just that, and will hopefully open people's eyes to the misdirection of the current Republican party.
- qi4all, on 09/17/2008, -5/+109Hallelujah! A written tribute to the true difference between Conservatives and NeoCons.
- inactive, on 09/17/2008, -4/+95My favorite Quote!
"...Facing this, John McCain pumps his “conservative” credentials by proposing even bigger tax cuts. Meanwhile, a movement that once fought for limited government has presided over the greatest growth of government in our history. That is not conservatism; it is profligacy using conservatism as a mask.
Today it is conservatives, not liberals, who talk with alarming bellicosity about making the world “safe for democracy.” It is John McCain who says America’s job is to “defeat evil,” a theological expansion of the nation’s mission that would make George Washington cough out his wooden teeth."
So very true...I think when it comes right down to it, most American's really are moderate pragmatists...We want government and policies that actually work!! But when folks allow themselves to become so blinded by political propaganda, lies, and false symbolism, from either party's more extremist factions, they blindly are led astray from this core desire, as we have clearly seen in recent events. - paintgrl, on 09/17/2008, -2/+91I like this article and here is the part I dug the most.
FTA: Barack Obama is not my ideal candidate for president. (In fact, I made the maximum donation to John McCain during the primaries, when there was still hope he might come to his senses.) But I now see that Obama is almost the ideal candidate for this moment in American history. I disagree with him on many issues. But those don’t matter as much as what Obama offers, which is a deeply conservative view of the world. Nobody can read Obama’s books (which, it is worth noting, he wrote himself) or listen to him speak without realizing that this is a thoughtful, pragmatic, and prudent man. It gives me comfort just to think that after eight years of George W. Bush we will have a president who has actually read the Federalist Papers. - MoneyTutor, on 09/17/2008, -5/+76A must read - good article!
- NoDrama, on 09/18/2008, -2/+72I'm a fiscal conservative, and Bush is not.
Socially, I'm more of a progressive.
IOW, I don't fit conveniently in any of the party labels. I've voted for members of both the so-called major parties and for a libertarian candidate... I'm probably one of those oft-talked about swing voters, eh? I don't simply vote for a party name, which probably has my grandmother spinning in her grave, may she rest in peace.
I've been around long enough to know ***** when I hear it, and McCain's ***** is the same ***** that got Bush elected twice - so I'm not surprised to hear it coming around again, and I'm doing all I can to get the more candid, straightforward guy elected.
No more lies. - Thumper13, on 09/18/2008, -2/+63I've watched my Republican party rape this country with a horrific deficit, the largest and most bloated government agency in existence, continue to use religion to show their "moral superiority," and rescue giant corporations from the graveyard they created for themselves. I am disgusted and tired of it.
This man read my mind and wrote about why I, as a Republican will vote for Barack Obama in November. - acroyear2, on 09/18/2008, -2/+62This article makes me proud to be an independent, often a liberal and sometimes a conservative. Definitely for Obama though. We should all be ashamed that the republican party is so defunct and bringing this country down.
- thelif, on 09/18/2008, -2/+57"It gives me comfort just to think that after eight years of George W. Bush we will have a president who has actually read the Federalist Papers."
That is something seldom remarked despite the school credentials tossed around between the two campaigns. Barack Obama is an intellectual, whose education background is related to the very foundations this country was built. From his writing to his accomplishments, this is a man I would be proud to call President. How many of us has every proudly say, "that George Bush, that's my president"? - USArugula, on 09/17/2008, -1/+56"'Every great cause,' Eric Hoffer wrote, 'begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.' As a cause, conservatism may be dead. But as a stance, as a way of making judgments in a complex and difficult world, I believe it is very much alive in the instincts and predispositions of a liberal named Barack Obama."
Amen. - apastafarian, on 09/17/2008, -12/+67You were good till "Republitards", then you fell into the crapper
- GorfTron, on 09/18/2008, -0/+54I was a Republican in the past, but the party is dominated by nitwits and nuts. They need a nice long timeout.
- synystar, on 09/18/2008, -0/+50I learned a new word: proflligacy. The trait of spending extravagantly. "That is not conservatism; it is profligacy using conservatism as a mask." Love it when that happens.
- inactive, on 09/17/2008, -52/+100Pay attention, Republitards. This is how a real American and patriot behaves.
- lisaatucla, on 09/18/2008, -1/+48"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." ~George Orwell
- DougChristian, on 09/18/2008, -2/+49It's so so true.
A military empire and preemptive wars.
Government takeovers of major corporations.
Massive deficit spending.
Embracing worldviews that refuse thought or compromise.
Contempt for intelligence.
Split second decisions and extreme stubbornness.
Suppression of Constitutional rights.
Dishonesty and deception.
Scandals and cronyism.
It's so NOT conservative.
Ayn Rand wept. - lisaatucla, on 09/18/2008, -0/+41I completely agree that the current Republican leadership has moved away for core conservative values of small federal gov't and fiscal responsibility.
- psyclonic, on 09/18/2008, -2/+42It's good to see a self-described conservative come to his senses on this election.
And to quote Eric Hoffer is icing on the cake. - apastafarian, on 09/17/2008, -2/+38DUDE, do you like being called dem, lib, lefty, libtards, etc? The name calling cheapens the process, why not stop it? As for which side I'm leaning to? You do know how to use this site, right?
- buzzben, on 09/18/2008, -3/+39I'm just waiting for the ignorant right followers to mark this opinion piece as "innacurate".
:) - Aguyinachair, on 09/18/2008, -0/+35Seraph, did you read that article? It's terrible. I'm not going to bother with if Obama is "change" or not. I just want to point out the McCain as an agent of change is ***** ridiculous.
It says John McCain did not 'actually' vote with Bush 95% of the time because he only voted for 44% of all the issues. Also because McCain's 'voting record' is longer than this last term of congress. Except that most people liked the old McCain of the last term. It's only recently that he's turned into a tool of the Republicans in order to "unify the base".
"So voting against your own party almost 20% of the time during these partisan times, as McCain has done, is a real accomplishment,"
I spit out my soft-beverage.
I really enjoyed how voting for a measure with the Democrats is referred to as "listening to what Harry Reid tells them to do", because heaven forbid a Congress work together to pass legislature efficiently and quickly, or that people of the same political affiliation agree on legislation.
It also doesn't seem to like McCain=Bush...and tries to disprove it while calling it a meme?
People aren't just comparing voting records here.
What about McCain isn't exactly like Bush?
Other than the obvious "old and white", McCain also is a huge supporter of Bush's Iraq war, Bush's tax cuts, and Bush's stance on gay-marriage and abortion. Those are just the over-rated issues that people love to talk about. I'm guessing if I cared I could come up with alot more. To say that McCain is different from Bush is a ************************joke************************. - aben9woaha, on 09/18/2008, -1/+33This essay really moved me. And it reminded me that it's time to get beyond the labels "conservative" and "liberal."
- clarino1, on 09/18/2008, -1/+33Finally someone who talks some sense... even better than he represents "conservatives".
This reminds me of what I would describe as a 'red tory' in the Canadian system - a conservative point of view with realistic awareness of social responsibility and thoughtful policy promotion... - Gemfinder, on 09/17/2008, -3/+34Goldwater and his people did it differently back then, before the Theocons young-turked the party. I don't think he'd be a GOPpie if he were still alive.
- booksnmore4you, on 09/18/2008, -1/+31Like I've maintained for years, today's Republican party is not the same party of Buckley. Would that Democrats had a faithful opposition as opposed to the obstructionists of today along with those who demonize "liberals" as, in essence, The Great American Satan. Today's Republican party has been taken over by the Neo-Fascists wing of Americans, egged on by the AM radio hate talkers, their new leaders. It's nice to see a Republican of Buckley's generation recognize this and see Obama as this election's best option.
- jessehadden, on 09/18/2008, -1/+30Ever since I "woke up" and jumped ship from the Republican Party, I've watched as countless friends -- who used to argue with me until they were red in the face -- have followed suit. Even older, more set-in-their-ways people have reached the end of their cognitive dissonance rope.
I won't bury the article of course, but I can't digg it for one reason... the description of Obama as a liberal. Please, the word "liberal" has a meaning too, just like the word "conservative." Obama is a moderate conservative. I would love to have a liberal candidate/party in this nation, but that is not on the menu, and hasn't been for decades. - cadmiumpaint, on 09/18/2008, -1/+29its nice to see a sensible conservative......
one who hasn't bought into to the highjacked "christian" neocon, rush limbaugh b.s. that has destroyed the GOP. - oldgal, on 09/18/2008, -0/+28I see Obama as a Eisenhower style republican, crossed with a traditional liberal, with a big twist. I agree with the essay on the conservative observations. The traditional liberal "ought to dos" I see him posing as "ought to wants", the twist is in how you get what you "ought to want".
From what I have researched and observed, here is his management methodology:
1) He states the problem to be solved
2) He gets knowledge experts on the team that cover a broad spectrum of thought and accomplishments
3) He gets agreement about what the problem is - it no doubt morphs a bit in the process
4) The team lists the "ought to wants" - this will include liberal, conservative, and totally new ideas, and gets team buy-in.
5) The team brainstorms solutions, and he selects 1 to 3 that best resolve the problem and satisfy the wants. Between 6-8, this generally gets narrowed down to 1.
6) The team synchs the resolution, and wants - both probably change - then they verify the solution solves the problem
7) The team develops an implementation/roll-out plan, identifying chunks that can be implemented independently - then they schedule the chunks and figure out how to communicate the stuff - to the guys who do the real work, to the people who provide the resources and to the people impacted by the solution...
8) Then they make it happen (after validating solution, wants and problem one more time)
9) Then they verify that is working as planned and adjust/adapt accordingly.
10) Then they implement ongoing monitoring to make sure it continues to work as planned.
The big twist is that he prefers solutions that speak to the wants by empowering people to get what they need. Traditionally conservatives have preferred to do nothing, and liberals have tended to give them what they need. note: they/them references can be interpreted as people, corps., the U.S., foreign countries...whatever is being impacted in a given situation. - Paal, on 09/18/2008, -2/+29To be fair, most conservatives are still thinking, at least the ideological ones do. You can't have an ideology of any sort and wish to promote it, without at least THINKING about your ideology and what it means.
As a libertarian, neither candidate really appeals to me all that much, but the writer here has really articulated some of the feelings I've had about Obama.
He just may have swung my current vote of "NO, Thank You." over to "Obama" - jaxcs, on 09/18/2008, -1/+27Sadly, you don't even come close to proving your point. The issue isn't who votes more or less often with their party, it's which party holds more closely to traditional conservative principles. The article's shocking conclusion is that it's Obama who is more conservative than McCain! The article's main idea is that the republican party has lost it's way. If that's true then voting for the party that opposes the republicans may actaully be more sensible. Obama, by voting with his party is actually less regressive than McCain who only sometimes crosses party lines.
- JazLive, on 09/18/2008, -5/+31This reminds me of a airport joke about GW Bush:
He was walking through a commercial airport with his personal security and saw a man dressed in attire similar to Moses; looking up a the ceiling and holding a staff.
GW: Hey, are you Moses?
The Man: continued to stare as the ceiling and said nothing
GW: Hey, are you Moses?
One of the security guys asked: GW are you okay? Is there a problem?
GW: Either this man is deaf or is awfully stupid. I asked him if he was Moses and he did not answer me.
The Man: Yes I am and the last time I spoke to a "bush" I wander the desert for 40 years.
Well, that joke is now an economic reality. Banks are failing like dominoes, the US economy has been assaulted in some way with every Republican president starting with Nixon; removing Gold that once backed US currency; Reagan, (really Bush Sr.'s influence) funding Afghanistan army to fight Germany with US tax payer's money ~ later coined a Reaganomics; Bush Sr. ~ Savings and Loan Crisis and now Bush Jr. ~ failing financial institutions.
Collectively, these presidents has helped the objective of so called radicals by diminishing the value of America via Washington, D.C. - scotinus, on 09/18/2008, -1/+26Great perspective. Anyone who over-identifies with one particular trait, is denying their ability to think for themselves. Most of us are conservative on some issues and liberal on others.
I used to like McCain. He used to be his own man and even perhaps worthy of the "maverick" status. But from the moment he began his run for president, he has moved steadily to the right, to pander to his extremist base.
He used to be his own man. Now he is a desperate man, who would do and say anything to win the presidency. He has become a hot-headed, ideological hawk; who doesn't understand the economy or the modern world; and who has forgone his honesty and morality, to run the sleaziest campaign in history, in a desperate effort to become president.
Get me a government who will balance the budget.
Get me a government who will REDUCE taxes for the middle class who will spend the reductions in the US and so stimulate the economy.
Get me a government who will INCREASE taxes for the super-rich who increasingly ignore the US economy to invest their windfalls overseas.
Get me a government who doesn't care what I worship, who I have sex with, or what I consume.
Get me a government who cares about my kids _after_ they're born as well as _before_, and who recognizes the difference between a human baby and a collection of cells / chemicals
Get me a government who understands the importance of our military, but who has the judgment to commit it to war, ONLY WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
Get me Obama and Biden - cedarbaydave, on 09/18/2008, -2/+27I believe most intelligent folks who understand the issues, and can look past old party alliances will almost all migrate to Obama by election day.
I supported Bush in 04 because of short sided business goals, but I have learned my lesson. Even though my business has stayed strong, it is not worth what Bush's terms have done to a majority of the people of the United States or our standing in the world.
Obama - Biden 08 - oldgal, on 09/18/2008, -2/+27I have to admit I took a real close look at Ron Paul, and almost went that way. There are a lot of things I like about him but I had 2 major problems:
1) For whatever reason, he didn't put together a viable organization - He was able to get a lot of supporters and a lot of money, but they were not organized effectively. He should have paid for a top-notch communications person who knows how to get media attention. A good exec has to recognize the need and make sure these things happen.
2) His economic theory appeared ideological. The difference between theory and reality is usually a lot of pain. I didn't see how we would get from where we are to where he would like things to be. And I didn't get any sense that he would recognize things that didn't work and adapt accordingly. - DrGalakiewicz, on 09/18/2008, -5/+29The freepers certainly aren't falling in line to join the author of that article.
"A conservative would never champion a socialist/fascist like Obama."
"Fake “conservative.” Proof in every paragraph."
"I don't know how a real conservative could cast a vote for a closet communist like Obama."
Oh and here's a good one...
"Obama didn’t write much of his two books. The guy can barely speak in a coherent sentence."
http://freerepublic.info/focus/f-news/2084731/post ... - rotundo, on 09/18/2008, -2/+26Goddammit, stop with the republithugs/republitards crap. Don't you realize sound like an idiot when you say stuff like that?
And yes, I'm an Obama supporter. - rotundo, on 09/18/2008, -1/+25Please stop the the name calling. It makes you, and by extension other Obama supporters, look like idiots. As an Obama supporter I don't appreciate it.
This article was respectful of the subtlety and seriousness of the issues facing this country. Try to be the same. - acroyear2, on 09/18/2008, -0/+22Definitely. The republican party is going to require lots of healing after these horrible 8 years. Electing McCain will only make it worse.
- OpaqueMurdock, on 09/18/2008, -0/+22Let me just say that when I read this article this morning I finally felt like we were could start having the discussion I have been wanting to have for weeks...
This was a person I felt I could sit down with and chat about the issues with and how conservatism would address them as opposed to liberalism in the modern world... Man I CRAVE that!
Please people, can we just get over the bad behavior and start talking about what is actually important again? Surprisingly, if we swallow our pride a bit like this brave and reasonable person has done, we may find we have more in common as Americans then we remember.
If we are careful and respectful we can easily address our differences, keeping in mind that we are part of the same great nation.
We have been pried apart as a political ploy from BOTH sides for too damn long... We don't have to let them do it to us any longer. - oldgal, on 09/18/2008, -0/+22I was impressed that he read the books. I was also impressed that the books were so readable. I just gave the first one to my son who is half Japanese and who we did our best to raise in both cultures. Because I have seen him struggling with some of the same cultural issues as Obama, I thought he would find it illuminating. For a world in search of peace, we could do a lot worse than a president who understands multiple cultures and understands the need to understand the culture of folks we are dealing with.
- SoulGrub, on 09/18/2008, -1/+22How do you equate partisanship with regressiveness?
- bjornski, on 09/18/2008, -2/+23Racist.
- mcspeakeasy, on 09/18/2008, -1/+21I like this article very much (mind you, not just because he supports Obama). He talks objectively about the candidates, and even notes that he does not entirely agree with Obama's personal stances, yet, he understands what's important for him and this country, and recognizes the level of organization and nobility that Obama has as a candidate over McCain. While some people are choosing sides as if it was some type of team, there are others who are actually looking at the issues and seeing which candidate is more prepared to handle those issues. according to this author he believe Obama has that edge. Gobama!
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