Just what is "Conservative" about today's Republicans? What exactly do they "Conserve"?

[LENNY0229]

If we need to do better communication, then just why the hell do we say "Conservative" when referring to today's Republicans?

Seriously, can anyone please explain to me why in hell we say "conservative" to describe them? In the past they were about "conserving" tradition and money. Nowadays just what do they "conserve"?

They sure as helll don't conserve money. It's massive and endless budget busting tax cuts for billionaires. They don't conserve traditional American institutions and values. They attack them relentlessly. They don't conserve decency, honesty, or a belief in science and reason. They sure don't conserve the environment.

So just what the hell is "conservative" about them?

They are Trump Personality Cultists and Radical Right Wingers. That's what they are. They sure as all hell are not "conservative."

[blm]

1. No conservatives left. Rabid reactionaries took over GOP

and pushed the real conservatives out of the party.

[LENNY0229]

4. George Will is a "conservative" and a perfect case in point. No longer a Republican.

[Solomon]

2. They are conserving white supremacy.

[LENNY0229]

3. Yes they are conserving racism. But then let's call them racists and not conservatives.

[Solomon]

7. Been doing that all my life.

[LENNY0229]

12. Good! And saying Radical Right Wingers and Trump Cultists is also good.

[texasfiddler]

5. Calling the GQP conservative is a lie, horrible messaging and damaging to the nation.

I automatically use right wing now instead. I am a conservative. I want to conserve our planet and our Democracy.

[LENNY0229]

11. YUP! Proper MESSAGING and BRANDING are SO important!!

[krispos42]

6. They think there is a magical better time for them.

Like 1955. When the top tax bracket was 91%, unionization was over 30%, and there was was legal oppression of women and minority races & ethnicities. They'd bitch about the tax rates and high labor costs!

[Thomas Hurt]

8. Mythical utopian ideals

[CrispyQ]

9. They've hijacked the language & the messaging for 40 years & we still do nothing about it. -nt

[LENNY0229]

10. I see folks here saying "conservative". Why? We and OUR party need to BRAND THEM PROPERLY!!

[Jedi Guy]

13. True conservatism is pretty much dead among the modern GOP.

The "traditional conservatives" (for lack of a better term) have been pushed out of the party as Trump remade it into his own little cult of personality. The only real conservatives you'll find these days are the ones who were the Never Trumpers from the start. The rest have surrendered whatever principles they may once have held to worship at the altar of Trumpism. They're in it for power and money, not out of any sort of ideals.

And it's a real shame, too. Once upon a time (how long ago that is, exactly, is debatable), conservatives did actually care about America and its ideals. They simply disagreed with liberals/progressives on how to go about things. And that's fine. People aren't always going to agree and there are going to be different ideas on what to do, but as long as their motives are decent, that conflict can be overcome in the end. You can compromise with someone whose motives are decent.

Alas, as you point out, the modern GOP is a cult of personality for the True Believers, and a vehicle to power and wealth for those who pay lip service to Trump. Both are destructive as hell, they're just there for different reasons. I hold out some hope that the true conservatives will find their way back from the wilderness to establish a conservative party like the GOP of old and challenge Trumpism.

[Shermann]

14. They are conservative about the resources they are willing to invest in government

If you don't think government can solve problems in the first place, then there's really no need to focus much on government programs.

The end result is unqualified politicians getting elected who prioritize exaggerated problems and promise quick fixes for the real problems. Their voters don't take any of this very seriously so they can merely assert the great job they are doing on their behalf. Inflate a conservative news bubble devoid of fact-checking and it's up, up and away.

[LENNY0229]

15. They have busted budgets and spent like drunken sailors. Here is how:

They invest PLENTY in government spedning programs. TONS in the military, subsidies for fossil fuel companies and many others, endless wars, no bid corporate contracts, and on and on and on. They have spent like drunken sailors on steroids and racked up massive deficits.

And it's not just that. They have also claimed they conserve traditional values. Well, not anymore.

We need to deny them that LIE of being "conservative" and BRAND THEM as the RADICAL RIGHT WINGERS that they really are.

[Shell_Seas]

16. They're conserving white supremacy

[LENNY0229]

18. Yes, conserving racism. They must be called out for it.

[Emile]

17. Tax cuts to billionaires who don't pay taxes to begin with. In turn

throws the country into deeper debt. Then they sit on their hemorrhoid ass and point their shit stained finger at democrats and their wasteful spending on much needed social programs that they cut.

[John Ludi]

19. That's easy!

They conserve on the replication of brain cells!

[LENNY0229]

20. No brain cells to begin with as far as I see. They are conserving their exposure to Covid though.