I’ve seen the term used several times…most recently in a pit thread talking about the ranting conservative types vs the, er, other type I guess (contrasting the thoughtful liberals vs the other type usually).
Anyway, who do you dopers think are thoughtful conservatives…or conservatives you may disagree with but still respect or listen too? At one time or another I’ve seen such stellar conservatives (well, IMHO) as Bricker even come under attack.
So…I’m curious. 'Dopers…name your favorite conservatives.
I’d rather not see any “contrast and compare” here. As in the recent “What posters do you miss?”, Iif you can’t say something positive, don’t say anything. We have a forum for that.
Bricker. I don’t always agree with his opinions but he presents them extremely well, backs up what he says and he seems to stick to his philosophical guns.
First off, those I think of as conservative may not think of themselves that way.
Even when tearing my hair out, I pay attention to and value posters who challenge my thinking in an articulate, interesting, and honest way.
Bricker, Martin Hyde, xtisme, John Mace leap to mind. I hasten to add, there are others. These are just the ones currently at the top of my must-read list.
I second Sam Stone and Airman Doors. While I don’t consider him a conservative myself, John Mace certainly is someone I find thoughtful and who’s posts I enjoy listening too (though for my part its because I usually agree with them ). I don’t know if he’s still here, and he can be sometimes a bit controversial, by Scylla is also a poster who sometimes has some very interesting things to say.
I’ll get shit for this back at the Leftwing Ranch, but Mr. Moto gets points in my book for speaking in an indoor voice and not losing his temper. I rarely agree with him on political stuff, but vive la différence, eh?
Most of the doper conservatives I admired have left the boards for various reasons, or have given no reasons. As often as not these days I tend to think of those who take the “conservative” position in SDMB debates/arguements as more contrarians than conservatives. Less interested in advancing conservatism as a worthwhile worldview than in opposing the liberals who post here. Too mired in current politics and the attack or defense of the flavor of the day instead of stepping back to the broader view. Maybe it’s a symptom of how polarizing the political climate is now, but I’d rather discuss things in the abstract instead of going back and forth over the scandal du jour.
I like Mr Moto as well…he has some very interesting posts and views sometimes, IMHO.
Sam is definitely top shelf. But is FRDE really considered a conservative? I never thought of him even remotely that way…not even from a ‘SDMB libertarian “conservative”’ perspective. Or do you consider him a conservative on the European mold? I’m just curious.
Aw…sorry I didn’t make your list. Hope with further interactions, I can convince you that I am thoughtful.
Thanks to those who mentioned me here.
As far as being conservative, I guess I am (to answer **Revenant Threshold’s ** question). Definitely fiscally conservative. Tend to be anti-government in general, especially the federal government. But socially I tend to be liberal (or, I guess libertarian would be more accurate, since I personally lead a pretty conservative lifestyle, but really don’t care much what other folks do).
Truthfully? I usually forget that you’re conservative. Mostly because you tend not to wade in with elbows flying on the threads that pit the liberals and the conservatives at each other around here…
How close FRDE is to me politically is uncanny. He’s to the Right of me, but not by much, and I’m well aware that I’m to the Right of many on the Dope.
Still, it’s sobering to think that Margaret Thatcher would likely have been a Democrat in America. (NB She’s already a democrat )
