# What stupid shit do you have to believe to be a conservative today? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 10, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660 "2010-04-10T19:22:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/21 "2010-04-10T20:58:41Z")
Hmm… that God exists? ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/22 "2010-04-10T21:00:30Z")
Believe that using gun-related terminology like “reload,” “targetting,” and “aim” when discussing political opponents and mapping their districts with gun sight crosshairs is acceptable. ([Cite](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36010425%2336010425#36010425)) Believe in judicial activism when it suits you, but not the other way around. ([Cite](http://www.thepoliticalcarnival.net/2010/04/video-foxs-rosen-points-out-that.html)) Think it’s perfectly acceptable to refuse an open hearing to a presidential appointee (let alone a confirmation vote) because said appointee has the gall to openly disagree with Bush doctrine. ([Cite](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/04/dawn-johnsen-withdraws-from-co.html?wprss=44)) Be opposed to providing full, accurate and timely responses to the Census for who knows exactly what reason. ([Cite](http://www.thepoliticalcarnival.net/2010/04/gov-pawlenty-hasnt-responded-to-census.html), [Cite](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-5095844-503544.html), [Cite](http://mediamatters.org/research/201003170039), [Cite](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/35338.html)) ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/23 "2010-04-10T21:01:24Z")
That family, charities and churches will automatically step in and take over if the government would just stop the entitlements of unemployment insurance and public assistance. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/24 "2010-04-10T21:05:04Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > A person who will be holding his nose and voting Democrat for the foreseeable future? Meh. I didn’t do that last time. It was painfully clear to me by then that McCain and especially Palin weren’t fit to run the nation and that the Republican Party only spouted some platitudes I generally believed in but conducted themselves in complete opposition to that. Actually the last time I “held my nose and pulled the handle” was when I voted for GWB in 2004, because I just could not _stand_ John Kerry or John Edwards…but I didn’t much like GWB and certainly not Cheney, either. I wanted to vote for Ron Paul, even if some of his ideas were a little…strange, but I identified with his assertions regarding the hijacking of the Republican Party and the concept of “blowback” in reference to our foreign policy. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/25 "2010-04-10T21:12:35Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I believe in evolution, abortion, legalization of marijuana, that global warming exists (although I think the degree as to how much of it is from humans and how much is cyclical is debatable) Regarding evolution, you are indeed in the minority among Republicans: > **[Majority of Republicans Doubt Theory of Evolution](https://news.gallup.com/poll/27847/majority-republicans-doubt-theory-evolution.aspx)** > > Many Americans today reject the theory of evolution as an explanation for human origins. This appears to be substantially based on a belief in the creation story as outlined in the Bible. Because highly religious Americans are more likely to be... Same goes for Abortion, OTOH Marijuana legalization is not really supported even by Democrats: > **[Who Supports Marijuana Legalization?](https://news.gallup.com/poll/19561/who-supports-marijuana-legalization.aspx)** > > Since the late 1960s, Gallup has periodically asked Americans whether the use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States. Although a majority of Americans have consistently opposed the idea of legalizing marijuana, public support has... The largest number of supporters for legalization are independents. As for global warming. Suffice to say is that Republican Think tanks still pulled a number on you, as Historian Naomi Oreskes reported, it is important for conservative think tanks and bloggers to keep pushing the idea that scientists are \*\*still \*\*debating about the human component behind the current global warming to confuse the issue. In reality there is virtually no debate going among active climate researchers regarding the human component of the current warming. > **[What does Naomi Oreskes' study on consensus show?](https://skepticalscience.com/naomi-oreskes-consensus-on-global-warming.htm)** > > \An examination of the papers that critics claim refute the consensus are found to actually endorse the consensus or are review papers (eg - they don't offer any new research but merely review other papers). This led the original critic Benny... > **[Naomi Oreskes: The American Denial of Global Warming – ideonexus](http://ideonexus.com/2008/02/19/naomi-oreskes-the-american-denial-of-global-warming/)** > [@](#): > > The political tactic of manufacturing a fake debate to dispute the scientific consensus on Global Warming has been previously used to dispute scientific criticisms of the Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars), the consensus that sulfur and nitrogen emissions cause acid rain, the consensus that CFCs cause the hole in the ozone layer, the consensus that cigarette smoking causes cancer, and that Environmental Tobacco smoke causes cancer. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/26 "2010-04-10T21:16:41Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I wanted to vote for Ron Paul… _ **Ron** _ Paul? DAMMIT! I thought I was voting for RuPaul! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/27 "2010-04-10T21:22:00Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > Believe that using gun-related terminology like “reload,” “targetting,” and “aim” when discussing political opponents and mapping their districts with gun sight crosshairs is acceptable. ([Cite](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36010425%2336010425#36010425)) > > Believe in judicial activism when it suits you, but not the other way around. ([Cite](http://www.thepoliticalcarnival.net/2010/04/video-foxs-rosen-points-out-that.html)) > > Think it’s perfectly acceptable to refuse an open hearing to a presidential appointee (let alone a confirmation vote) because said appointee has the gall to openly disagree with Bush doctrine. ([Cite](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/04/dawn-johnsen-withdraws-from-co.html?wprss=44)) > > Be opposed to providing full, accurate and timely responses to the Census for who knows exactly what reason. ([Cite](http://www.thepoliticalcarnival.net/2010/04/gov-pawlenty-hasnt-responded-to-census.html), [Cite](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-5095844-503544.html), [Cite](http://mediamatters.org/research/201003170039), [Cite](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/35338.html)) :rolleyes: That’s even more stupid than the OP’s list. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/28 "2010-04-10T21:44:40Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Hmm.. that God exists? You mean like most liberals/democrats? ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/29 "2010-04-10T22:06:14Z")
Mostly, the dumbest thing you have to believe is that your party’s elected office holders are actually conservative in any meaningful characteristic. It’s kind of like believing that your party comprises actual liberals, if you are a Democrat. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/30 "2010-04-10T22:08:42Z")
> [@Triskadecamus](#): > > Mostly, the dumbest thing you have to believe is that your party’s elected office holders are actually conservative in any meaningful characteristic. It’s kind of like believing that your party comprises actual liberals, if you are a Democrat. > > Tris Bingo! Equal-opportunity bashing ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/31 "2010-04-10T22:13:03Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > You mean like most liberals/democrats? I suppose so. But the OP/thread is specific to Conservatives. Most of them believe God exists, therefore that is an answer to the OP’s question. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/32 "2010-04-10T22:20:10Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I suppose so. > > But the OP/thread is specific to Conservatives. Most of them believe God exists, therefore that is an answer to the OP’s question. Only if you think that “belief in God” = “stupid shit”. Now, I’m sure many on this board would agree, but it’s certainly objectively true. And I say that as someone who doesn’t believe in God. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/33 "2010-04-10T22:25:21Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Only if you think that “belief in God” = “stupid shit”. Now, I’m sure many on this board would agree, but it’s certainly objectively true. And I say that as someone who doesn’t believe in God. Er… OK. You’re correct. Can I go now? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/34 "2010-04-10T22:40:03Z")
\*\*John \*\*gets very tired of hearing that. So, five or six more times should be enough. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/35 "2010-04-10T22:40:42Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Er… OK. You’re correct. Can I go now? :smack: “not objectively true”. Now, that was some stupid shit! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/36 "2010-04-10T22:44:12Z")
You have to believe that the Free Market works on Darwinistic principles that promotes economic well-being by eliminating the weak and inefficient. That Big Government exists as a discrete entity, and that it has certain invariant characteristics, and that one of those is that it always interferes with the Darwinistic function of the Free Market You don’t believe in Darwin. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/37 "2010-04-10T22:46:44Z")
> [@](#): > > You don’t believe in Darwin. “Darwinism”. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/38 "2010-04-10T22:55:01Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > I don’t want opinions, like say on abortion, but actually factual stupidity that conservatives just sort of pretend is true. The examples I can think of are: . . . all opinions and not factual at all. You failed at listing examples that meet your own criteria. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/39 "2010-04-10T22:59:12Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > . . . all opinions and not factual at all. You failed at listing examples that meet your own criteria. Now this should be good, are you claiming that it is not a fact that Birthers are following stupid shit with no evidence in their favor? You thought I was going to go for global warming huh? 😛 That is next if you do not pull out of the Birther shit. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/40 "2010-04-10T23:05:12Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > . . . all opinions and not factual at all. You failed at listing examples that meet your own criteria. This would be an example of the casual stupidity I was talking about. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660.md?page=3)