"Sweetie, please just be gay!"

Trump a conservative?

Other than Obama, who has been the most liberal president since FDR? At National Review Jonah Goldberg says it was Richard Nixon!

In office, he created the EPA, institutionalized affirmative action, loved regulation, and pushed for ever more domestic spending, including a proposed massive government takeover of health care.

And yet, even today, it’s hard to find a liberal who isn’t convinced that Nixon was a rabid right-winger. Indeed, Nixon’s entire appeal to the “silent majority” was an attempt to forge a populist, big-government alternative to both FDR-LBJ liberalism and Buckleyite conservatism.

Which brings me to Donald Trump, the new leader of a very loud “silent majority.” I keep hearing that Trump poses a grave threat to the GOP because he pits “the conservative base” against the presumably more liberal “GOP establishment.” The first part is true: He does pose a threat to the GOP. But are the labels right? For starters, the so-called “establishment” is more conservative than any time in GOP history. Until Trump descended his golden escalator, the “conservative base” generally referred to committed pro-lifers and other social conservatives. The term also suggested people who were for very limited government, strict adherence to the Constitution, etc. Most of all, it described people who called themselves “very conservative.”

While it’s absolutely true that Trump draws support from people who fit such descriptions, it’s far from the entirety of Trump’s following. According to polls, Trump draws heavily from more secular Republicans who are more likely to describe themselves as “liberal” or “moderate” than “conservative” or “very conservative.” Ted Cruz draws more exclusively from the traditional base.

And I would argue that his “very conservative” followers aren’t supporting Trump because he’s a conservative but because he’s a walking, talking thumb in the eyes of “elites” in the media and both parties.

The claim that Trump is a committed conservative is not very believable. Until recently, he was for higher taxes on the wealthy, taking in Syrian refugees, and single-payer health care. He almost never talks about the Constitution, faith, or liberty unless forced to. In 2012, Trump condemned Mitt Romney for being too harsh on illegal immigration. In May of this year, he attacked “publicity seekers” who needlessly provoked Muslims. With the exception of a few single-issue voters on immigration, Trump fans love him for his enemies and for his populist bombast, not for any specific principles. In other words, he divides the GOP more up-down than he does left-right.

Trump defenders can rightly point to the fact that he draws support from a wide swath of voters. Critics can rightly point out that he draws animosity from an even wider swath of voters. But neither should go around talking about how Trump represents the conservative base.

Read more here.

Being transgender is one thing...

Prediction: Bruce Jenner will soon be off the covers of the supermarket tabloids. Why? Go here to read the startling words that came out of his mouth.

Extreme Conservative . . . and Proud of IT!!!

Guest post
by
Suzann Darnall

I guess I am one of the Extreme Conservatives who sends Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) into a tizzy. Since I am not welcome in New York, guess it is a good thing I live in Texas!

Actually, I generally refer to myself as a Radical Conservative or a Conservative Radical, 'cause although I am mostly Conservative, I do have some views on a few topics that lean more towards Libertarian. Though, some might actually call that Constitutional Conservative, so labels can get a little confusing at times. However, I am pretty sure Governor Cuomo deserves the label "jerk"!

How do so many of these politicians get that out of touch with their constituencies? I know Liberal media feeds them the constant idea that US citizens all lean left, but are the politicians completely unaware that there are media sources which show it is otherwise? And, do all the politicians ignore the extensive feedback people send through mail, email, polls, rallies, protests, town halls, and other venues, to show that WE THE PEOPLE are displeased with them and their Progressive policies???

I am especially confused by the idea that being pro-life makes us extremists. I mean, really??? In a supposedly civilized society which is more extreme?

#1 - Considering each unborn child to be a treasure who should be cherished and nurtured as our future.

- - - OR - - -

#2 - Considering unborn babies to be disposable and allowing them to be killed even up to the last moment before birth.

I know I am pretty darn sure it is not the pro-lifers that are extreme! Any more than those of us who believe in the Second Amendment are extreme for wanting to protect our right to defend our lives, homes, and families with firearms!!!

I consider it kinda extreme and crazy that the politicians and celebrities who speak out the loudest against gun ownership are among the elite class that has body guards and protective details . . . who ALL carry guns!!! Sooo, I guess it would be okay for me to own a gun if I also hired someone else to carry it for me?

All in all, I find the majority of the views expressed by the Left to be extreme . . . as in extremely silly! I listen and read time after time trying to make sense of some of their ideas. I keep coming up with nuthin'! A big fat zero for the logic column. Now, I am not saying they are stupid, but they are certainly not making much sense.

The problem is that silliness or stupidity can be dangerous and even deadly. Have any doubts about that, just think about some of the dumb things done by people that result in disastrous outcomes. I know many of them start off with the words, "Look at me" or "Y'all ain't gonna believe this"! Stupid is as stupid does. Dumb and dumber do walk among us. But, even if idiocy is common, it still makes no sense.

Just like Andrew Cuomo's anti-Conservative rant made no sense. But, hey, if there are any Conservative New Yorkers feeling unloved and unwanted in New York, come on down to Texas! We like Conservatives and even accept Liberals . . . just check out Austin! Plus, we even got some New Yorkers that have already made the move. So, y'all come!

© Suzann C. Darnall, JANUARY 2014