Semantic Antics

I know among us friends that it's common to refer to the oposition by such endearments as Repugs and Pukes. I hope that for all of us who are serious about changing hearts and minds for the next election, however, that we're more tactful when trying to convert someone at the water cooler or over the dinner table. To this end, I'd like to suggest using the word radical rather than conservative when discussing the utter venality of the other side. Two reasons: (1) conservatism in it purest form is a legitimate political philosophy--small government; more individual responsibility--that bears little resemblance to what's being practiced by the Right today (2) most mainstream Americans still see things on a concervative-liberal spectrum and feel more comfortable caling themselves conservative. What we have to do is get them to see Bush & Co for what they really are--Radicals bent on destroying government social services, breaking down the separation between Chruch & State, pursuing a Pax Americana foreign policy, and doing it all under the cloak of secrecy and deception. I think it's important that both on an individual basis and in our mass communication of political ads, etc, that we begin to refer to these people not as conservatives, but as Radicals--the most dangerous Radicals ever to take control of American democracy.

Conceptual Guerilla is a great site.

This makes me nuts. I think conservatism must be balanced with liberalism, but I don't have any problem with conservatism per se, and it can be very valuable in a society. Republicans, Rush Limbaugh, freepers, Fox, and all the rest have about as much relation to conservatism as a Toyota has to a papaya. Actually, they are more of an insult to geniune conservatives (if there are any; I haven't met one in this country yet) than to anyone else, because they co-opt and pervert the meaning of the conservative tradition. They're radical, yes, though I don't see "radical" as a pejorative term. The problem is, they're radical hypocrites who embrace tyranny and the "biggest government" you could ever want to find.

I've discovered that when you calmly tell them they're pro-tyranny, pro-unaccountable power, and pro-big government, their heads spin and they look like the Exorcist kid.

I mean I grew up in a conservative area, and still know a number of conservatives that I respect. My father was conservative. This trend of us calling them REpukes and so on is almost as disconcerting as some conservatives hatred of us.

Their hatred of us is a bit louder though, I've noticed.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

They're not conservatives at all. They're corporatists.