# Why are conservatives such dicks? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 7, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657 "2009-08-07T16:54:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/61 "2009-08-07T20:12:05Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > And it’s always amusing how you like to retreat to personal attacks rather than actually trying to refute what people say. You are irrefutable. You make ad hominem stereotype remarks about large swaths of people and claim you hate bigotry. That is the DEFINITION of bigotry. There is nothing to be said really. Both parties have their foibles. Of course it’s not a 1-1 corrolation. The Democratic party sucks in its own way. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/62 "2009-08-07T20:12:07Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > But come on…town hall shout downs? Get real. I got your shout down, [right here](http://patriotpost.us/images/editions/09-31d-cartoon.jpg). I’ll see your “[patriotpost.us](http://patriotpost.us)” political cartoon, and raise you [actual video footage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX4F_cb9AXk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ehuffingtonpost%2Ecom%2F2009%2F08%2F06%2Ftampa%2Dtown%2Dhall%2Don%2Dhealth%5Fn%5F253478%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded). ---
**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:** [August 7, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/63 "2009-08-07T20:12:46Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > The Democrats dragged Palin’s kids through the mud, for crying out loud. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/64 "2009-08-07T20:13:27Z")
> [@](#): > > …And Rush and Glenn. My, my, how you liberals do hate those two. You just can’t stand the fact that you can’t refute what they say, so all you can do is attack them personally. And then you accuse _us_ of being dicks. What a skewed, skewed world you libs live in… Are you kidding me? No, seriously, I mean it, I am hopeful that there is an element of sarcasm and jest there. Glenn Beck is an unspeakable swine pandering to the worst instincts of the Trog Right. You have to know this, you can’t possibly have paid any attention to him without seeing this. To his credit, he has yet to state that Obama is the AntiChrist. I believe he has only indirectly implied it. But as his ratings go up and Rush gets nervous, who will do it first, I wonder… ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/65 "2009-08-07T20:21:34Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > The party out of power carps about the part that is in power. One group isn’t any more dickish than the other. The Democrats dragged Palin’s kids through the mud, for crying out loud. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Cite? David Letterman made a joke about one of them. Dear Lord, when will the persecution end? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/66 "2009-08-07T20:21:34Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > You are irrefutable. You make ad hominem stereotype remarks about large swaths of people and claim you hate bigotry. That is the DEFINITION of bigotry. No, it’s not; not when the characteristics in question are part of what defines the group. Calling blacks stupid is bigoted because it’s not a characteristic of blacks; calling Nazis evil isn’t bigotry because Nazism was an evil movement that people chose to join. Calling a group like Republicans or conservative names isn’t bigotry because they are groups defined by beliefs and actions. And no, calling Democrats stupid or traitor isn’t bigotry either; it’s bad for other reasons but not that. I’ll point out that by your claimed definition of “bigot”, calling groups like the Nazis or Communists evil WOULD be bigotry. Not that I expect you to be consistent, since your real definition of “bigot” appears to be “anyone who dares to say bad things about the Right”. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/67 "2009-08-07T20:32:22Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, it’s not; not when the characteristics in question are part of what defines the group. Calling blacks stupid is bigoted because it’s not a characteristic of blacks; calling Nazis evil isn’t bigotry because Nazism was an evil movement that people chose to join. Calling a group like Republicans or conservative names isn’t bigotry because they are groups defined by beliefs and actions. And no, calling Democrats stupid or traitor isn’t bigotry either; it’s bad for other reasons but not that. Bigotry is an irrational hatred for a whole group even though that hatred only applies to that group partially. > [@](#): > > I’ll point out that by your claimed definition of “bigot”, calling groups like the Nazis or Communists evil WOULD be bigotry. Not that I expect you to be consistent, since your real definition of “bigot” appears to be “anyone who dares to say bad things about the Right”. Anyway, since even a lot of people who share your politics agree with me, I see no reason to hijack yet another thread calling you out. As for you trying to turn it on me, I’d like to point out that I don’t go around calling everyone bigots all the time. I only call people bigots when I am pointing out their inherent hypocrisy. Your bit about me being a crusader for the right is funny also considering I’m more left of center than I am right of center. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/68 "2009-08-07T20:38:25Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > But come on…town hall shout downs? Get real. I got your shout down, [right here](http://patriotpost.us/images/editions/09-31d-cartoon.jpg). You know that’s a cartoon, right? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/69 "2009-08-07T20:43:51Z")
Republicans are an ethnic group, now? Actually, maybe they are … ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/70 "2009-08-07T20:50:12Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Bigotry is an irrational hatred for a whole group even though that hatred only applies to that group partially. My hatred isn’t irrational; they’ve earned it. And “bigotry” most certainly doesn’t apply to political groups people choose to be part of. I notice that you are carefully ignoring my point that your definition of bigotry would mean that calling groups like the Nazis evil is bigotry. > [@mswas](#): > > Anyway, since even a lot of people who share your politics agree with me, I see no reason to hijack yet another thread calling you out. In other words, your attempted hijack failed to do anything but underline that you are wrong. > [@mswas](#): > > Your bit about me being a crusader for the right is funny also considering I’m more left of center than I am right of center. Not that I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/71 "2009-08-07T20:53:27Z")
And FAT. Has anyone noticed how fat conservatives are? Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/72 "2009-08-07T20:59:55Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Not that I’ve ever seen. LOL I am Pro-Choice, Pro Gay Marriage, Pro UHC, think we should end drug prohibition. Yeah, I’m definitely extreme right. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/73 "2009-08-07T21:11:20Z")
I wish you guys would quit posting mud slinging contests in **Great Debates**. Off to the BBQ Pit. [/Modding] ---
**Author:** ![jakesteele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/74 "2009-08-07T21:11:46Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I actually find plenty to admire about the traditional conservative worldview - small government, strong military, emphasis on personal responsibility, etc. I think many rational people can identify with those principles. > Lately, however, conservatives have taken dicktitude to a whole new level - birther conspiracies, town hall shout downs, cries of socialism, equating Obama’s healthcare plan to the Final Solution. And that’s not even counting everything that took the place the past eight years, when daring to question the Republican president got you branded as some sort of latte-sipping, un-American pussy. > Of course this is not to say that the left doesn’t have it’s share of assholes - Michael Moore and Keith Olbermann, I’m looking at you. But those assholes don’t set the agenda in the same way nor do they have the type of sway within the Democratic Party as the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck do in the GOP. I agree with everything you said except this: “town hall shout downs”. The Left invented shout downs in the modern era. If you go onto any half way liberal college and dare to utter anything conservative you get ‘shouted down’ and you voice drowned in a sea of hypocrisy. Just look at what happened to the Minute Men and then a college turned right around and let Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have the podium pretty much unharassed. Liberals who bitch about conservative shoutdowns should be ashamed, bitch slap themselves and apologize to the conservatives. All that’s happening is that they are getting a taste of their own medicine. If you can’t take it, don’t dish it out. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/75 "2009-08-07T21:13:16Z")
> [@bup](#): > > And FAT. Has anyone noticed how fat conservatives are? Why is that? Babies are high-caloric food sources. ---
**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:** [August 7, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/76 "2009-08-07T21:14:39Z")
I have no idea what you’re talking about. What happened to the Minute Men? You’re not citing anything. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/77 "2009-08-07T21:33:01Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > More important, when did conservatives become such lunatics? > > I grew up on the conservatism of Ronald Regan, George Bush Sr and Rudolph Guiliani. The types of conservatives who defeated the Soviets in the Cold War, won the first Gulf War and turned NYC from a shithole into a place where people actually wanted to live. The categories are not mutually exclusive, as Giuliani is a moderate conversative _and_ a lunatic. He’s just not crazy for social conservatism. And he did not clean up New York City. Crime goes down when the economy gets better, and the national economy got better when Giualiani was in office. He _did_ do his best to act like a hardass and support the police no matter how bad they screwed up, which allowed him to get credit for the drop in crime. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/78 "2009-08-07T21:35:48Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I actually find plenty to admire about the traditional liberal worldview - helping the community, staying out of each other’s personal lives, etc. I think many rational people can identify with those principles. > Lately, however, liberals have taken pussiitude to a whole new level - “free” insurance for all, everyone needs a new car. And that’s not even counting everything that took the place the past eight years, questioning the Republican president at every turn about every issue and yet not leveraging congressional power to do anything against him. > Of course this is not to say that the right doesn’t have it’s share of assholes - O’Reilly and Savage, I’m looking at you. But those assholes don’t set the agenda in the same way nor do they have the type of sway within the Republican Party as the likes of Pelosi do in the Democratic party. I appreciate that you’re plenty dumb, but if you think that advocating for universal health care and the CARS program, that is, advocating certain policy proposals through the duly constituted political process, is anything like these transparently partisan attempts to _shut the political process down_, then your daftness is even more breathtaking than I have hitherto surmised. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/79 "2009-08-07T21:38:46Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Equating Obama’s healthcare plan to the Final Solution? I haven’t seen that. [Here you go](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/americans-for-prosperity-compares-health-care-reform-to-holocaust-tells-protesters-to-put-fear-of-go.php). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657/80 "2009-08-07T21:39:29Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I actually find plenty to admire about the traditional conservative worldview - small government, strong military, emphasis on personal responsibility, etc. I think many rational people can identify with those principles. > Lately, however, conservatives have taken dicktitude to a whole new level - birther conspiracies, town hall shout downs, cries of socialism, equating Obama’s healthcare plan to the Final Solution. And that’s not even counting everything that took the place the past eight years, when daring to question the Republican president got you branded as some sort of latte-sipping, un-American pussy. > Of course this is not to say that the left doesn’t have it’s share of assholes - Michael Moore and Keith Olbermann, I’m looking at you. But those assholes don’t set the agenda in the same way nor do they have the type of sway within the Democratic Party as the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck do in the GOP. Rush Limbaugh sets GOP policy? Really? And Michael Moore has no power over Democratic policy? Really? Quiz time! Which of the following is true: 1. Rush Limbaugh was a guest of honor at the 2004 Republican convention. 2. Michael Moore was a guest of honor at the 2004 Democratic convention. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservatives-such-dicks/505657.md?page=5)