# 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:** 3
**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, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/41 "2010-04-10T23:10:19Z")
Not at all! You forget the intellectual gymnastics necessary to hold opinions like that, you gotta be pretty smart to be that stupid. ---
**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, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/42 "2010-04-10T23:17:59Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > . . . all opinions and not factual at all. You failed at listing examples that meet your own criteria. 1, 3, and 5: Factual 2: Not Factual 4: Nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/43 "2010-04-10T23:35:00Z")
I think the OP’s question is backwards. None of this stupid shit is stuff you HAVE to believe “to be a conservative today”, and most of it isn’t even believed by a majority of conservatives AFAICT. What we really seem to be talking about is “stupid shit that you have to be a conservative to believe”. That is, there are some idiotic notions (like the Obama-birther stuff and the AGW-conspiracy-of-scientists idea) that only conservatives (but not necessarily all or even most conservatives) put any credence in (just as there are some other idiotic notions that only liberals, but not all or even most liberals, put any credence in). ---
**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, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/44 "2010-04-10T23:57:33Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > What we really seem to be talking about is “stupid shit that you have to be a conservative to believe”. That is, there are some idiotic notions (like the Obama-birther stuff and the AGW-conspiracy-of-scientists idea) that only conservatives (but not necessarily all or even most conservatives) put any credence in (just as there are some other idiotic notions that only liberals, but not all or even most liberals, put any credence in). The problem there, is you end up with the No True Scotsman [non-conservative] fallacy. There are a non-trivial number of Democratic birthers and AGW-deniers. Are they automatically to be considered “conservative”? I mean, I see your point, I just don’t think it’s that simple. ---
**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 11, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/45 "2010-04-11T00:20:03Z")
I believe in God, but He’s an interstellar travelling alien. That’s why he hasn’t been around intervening, performing miracles and stuff. He’s got lots of other worlds to keep tabs on. He’ll come around eventually and check on how we are doing, likely in the wake of the next Halle-Bopp comet appearance. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/46 "2010-04-11T00:22:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > …There are a non-trivial number of Democratic birthers and AGW-deniers… AGW deniers I can buy. But Dem “birthers”? Dunno, bit of a stretch. ---
**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 11, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/47 "2010-04-11T00:26:07Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > AGW deniers I can buy. But Dem “birthers”? Dunno, bit of a stretch. We’ll see when Ah-nold challenges for the throne in 2012. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/48 "2010-04-11T00:27:14Z")
That “Obama’s gonna take ur guns”. ---
**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 11, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/49 "2010-04-11T00:35:55Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > AGW deniers I can buy. But Dem “birthers”? Dunno, bit of a stretch. The discovery of racist Democrats in the 2008 election was a surprise to some, but not to me. You probably won’t believe [this cite](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/31/760087/-Birthers-are-mostly-Republican-and-Southern), because it’s biased, but looks like the number is 4% for Dems, and 8% for Independents (vs 28% for Republicans). ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/50 "2010-04-11T00:44:10Z")
That Obama is the anti-Christ. That he has “brought us closer to dictatorship” than any other president. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/51 "2010-04-11T02:16:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The discovery of racist Democrats in the 2008 election was a surprise to some, but not to me. You probably won’t believe [this cite](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/31/760087/-Birthers-are-mostly-Republican-and-Southern), because it’s biased, but looks like the number is 4% for Dems, and 8% for Independents (vs 28% for Republicans). _Das Kos_? No way, bunch of weak-ass centrists. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/52 "2010-04-11T03:32:46Z")
That it makes you look clever to come out opposed to an as yet unnamed candidate for the supreme court? That Rush Limbag is anything but a fearmongering, obstructionist, shitstirrer? ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/53 "2010-04-11T17:17:55Z")
Another one in Parade magazine today: that Laura Bush only had one assistant while Michele Obama has 23 at a cost of $1.7M. Turns out Laura had 24 and a similar budget. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/54 "2010-04-11T17:48:35Z")
Having access to health care makes one lazy. I hear that one a lot. It’s nonsense, of course. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/55 "2010-04-11T18:12:00Z")
That Obama is going to prohibit or otherwise somehow ban recreational fishing. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/56 "2010-04-11T18:31:08Z")
Take care, sir! The last time that subject was broached, it led to a lenghty series of wretched piscean puns. One must not tempt the weak-willed! ---
**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 11, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/57 "2010-04-11T18:44:18Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Take care, sir! The last time that subject was broached, it led to a lenghty series of wretched piscean puns. One must not tempt the weak-willed! Exactly. You should only resort to fish-puns if it somehow relates to the topic. You certainly shouldn’t do it just for the halibut. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/58 "2010-04-11T18:58:21Z")
Moderators! Emergency thread lock required! 911! _Arrroooooga! Arrrrooooga_! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/59 "2010-04-11T20:03:45Z")
That a Republican package of minor checks on insurance providers will “destry the country” (the exact words of the House Minority Leader). That there is something called “Obamacare” (there isn’t), and that the HCR package is a “government takeover of health care.” These are things stated by the elected Republican leadership, not just nutbars at teabag rallies. ---
**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 11, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660/60 "2010-04-11T20:24:58Z")
None of those things is subject to factual verification, except maybe #2 And since Obama put forth a HC proposal, it could be reasonably called “Obamacare”. That is just a slogan, afterall. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stupid-shit-do-you-have-to-believe-to-be-a-conservative-today/535660.md?page=4)