(04-27-2021, 09:46 AM)The Real Marty Wrote:

(04-27-2021, 09:29 AM)Lucky2Last Wrote: It's a gotcha question because it was preceded by a supposition that conservatives don't care how he/she/it stands on the issues. Remember stating that? So what else would you call a question that tries to reduce a choice to one question without any context?

As for the liberal thing (and your last response), I think most Americans don't really put much thought into political affiliations. For most of the US history, the parties differed on one primary issue: State or federal power. That's it. The constitution was the framework, and every other issue was simply about who got to make the final decision, the state or the federal government. In the early 1900's, you get, for the first time, a group that is pushing the bounds of the constitution, which are known as progressives.

For simplicity's sake, I am going to give a rough outline of how I think these different groups are structured. 

Conservatives: State's rights are paramount, strictly adhere to the constitution, limited federal government, favor individual liberty and capitalism
Liberals: Federal government is supreme, adhere to the constitution, big federal government, favor individual liberty and capitalism
Moderates/Independents: Balance between state and federal government, adhere to the constitution, mixed federal government, favor individual liberty and capitalism
Libertarians: Individual rights are paramount, strictly adhere to the constitution, small or no federal government, favor individual liberty and capitalism
Progressives: Federal government is sacrosanct, the constitution is oppressive, there is only the federal government, capitalism is bad and individual liberty is defined by the collective good.

One of these things is not like the others. Yet, Democrats are playing with fire by incorporating progressive thought into their platform, which is turning them into something fascist. They think they can keep the progressives at bay, but they are growing. Until the first 4 groups unite under their common cause, the progressives are going to keep morphing the Democratic party into something unrecognizable from what we have traditionally understood as American. I know you and Mike think this is just a passing fad, but it's a real danger. Tulsi Gabbard is a great example of someone who is seeing the writing on the wall. Even though she is a lifelong liberal, she is beginning to ally with conservatives because there is more common ground. Bill Maher is next. We need as many people falling under this common banner, because things are reaching a tipping point. I truly can't believe how much things have changed in the last 10 years. Biden is implementing progressive policies at a rapid pace. Our standards are disappearing. I beat this drum because we the people are losing power every day.

Regarding the bolded part- where the hell did you get that idea?  Can you quote me on that?  All I asked was, does it matter to you how she stands on the issues.  Where do you see that "supposition?"

Regarding it being a simple question with no context, if you think it deserves context, put some context in your answer.  I was just wondering whether his/her stand on the issues matter to you in your hypothetical choice to support him/her or not support him/her.  I was just wondering how strongly you (and everyone else) felt about the transgender issue and if it would override any other consideration.  No trap.  I swear.

Believe it or not, I am not always looking for a knock-down drag-out argument around here.  Sometimes, I just curious as to why people say some of the things they say.

I read your original question as a statement. A rhetorical question. The follow up seemed to reaffirm that, but if I reread it in the context you are presenting currently, I can see how I would have been wrong in assuming that. Either way, I would rather you fixate on the latter half of my post and not the former. I tend to group moderates and liberals because they don't have a principled stand against the federal government. I tend to group libertarians and conservatives together because they do have a principled stand against the federal government. Naturally, those alliances break down depending on the issue, but, regardless, those 4 groups are FAR more in line with their way of thinking than the progressive movement. The fact that Dems keep including progressives and pushing their policies is dangerous. So, I take back any accusation of it being a "gotcha" question, but I want you to acknowledge which party is jeopardizing our republic by incorporating progressive values. You are allying with the wrong group. 

Truth be told, it's looking more and more like conservatives are breaking down on their states' rights stance.

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