Would you be a Republican IF...

[tjwash]

...they actually subscribed to the behavior they say that they represent?

In other words, if they actually were for less government in your lives, instead of intrusive "patriot act" laws, and the stripping of basic right via the "war on drugs."

If they were for the separation of church and state, and stopped pandering to the religious right, instead of sneaking in "faith based" initiatives under our noses.

If they actually were for fiscal responsibility, instead of cutting social programs that take up tenths of percents of the budget, and giving away trillions to their corporate and defense contractor contributers.

If they actually were for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, instead of attempting to pass constitutional amendments on everything from denying gays the right to marriage to making dissent a crime.

If they were actually for a strong defense of our shores and our citizens, instead of using other peoples children as a means to dominate other cultures imperialistically, and as gunboat diplomacy.

Come to think of it, if they did all that, they would probably start to look a lot like liberals...

[RobertSeattle]

1. DNC McCauliff has a similar meme he uses

It goes something like

If fiscal responsibility, paying down the debt, keeping America at peace, not mucking with the Constitution for political gain, respecting person privacy, reducing the size of government are "Conservative" ideals, then Clinton/Gore was the greatest Conservative administration ever.

[Cats Against Frist]

2. No, they'd look like moderates

That's how far this debate has been re-framed in crazy land. To make those kinds of changes would be a moderate government, not a liberal one.

[zbdent]

3. Biggest reason why I do not believe in the Repukes

The larger and larger control of them by the Religious Right.

Once somebody tells you "God told me to." or continuously sticks God into every bit of conversation, then I just pretty much tune that person out. God, or more likely the person who "speaks for God" (a.k.a. the person who does read and understand the news then discards the truth that cancels out what he doesn't want people to know) might just decide to play a practical joke on them and tell them to take their kids over the "invisible bridge" across a thousand-foot ravine just for fun.

[OpSomBlood]

9. The sad thing is, they don't understand conservatism OR God.

The "religious right" would do very well to read Matthew 6 once in a while to get a real idea of what it means to be a Christian.

[fdr_hst_fan]

4. No, because even after all of that,

they'd STILL be the party of the RICH!

[tjwash]

5. Good point.

nt

[Tweed]

6. I would not become one, I might consider considering voting for one though

Maybe

[WilliamPitt]

7. I would be a Republican if

I woke up tomorrow in 1861, and Lincoln was President, and Copperhead Democrats were fighting to extend and maintain slavery.

[Melsky]

11. That would make a cool movie

or book.

I guess I would vote republican in bizzarro world, which is where they would have to be to want all the stuff the original poster mentioned. Maybe the republicans started out as good intentioned, but they have become a tool to advance the interests of corporations against those of the people.

[Inland]

8. I used to say that

>>...they actually subscribed to the behavior they say that they represent?<<


I used to say that if Republicans really believed in half the stuff they said they believed in---in market economics, smaller governent, local control, individual liberty, Life or the American family-- I would be a republican. But that was twenty years ago.

I don't think they even bother paying lip service to these ideas. Its all giving money to the rich disguised as economics and giving power to the corporations and Bush disguised as patriotism.

[funkybutt]

10. but then they wouldnt be republicans, would they? n/t

[OpSomBlood]

12. If Republicans actually were conservative, I probably would be one.

By "conservative," I mean people who believe in strict fiscal discipline, separation of church and state, small federal government and conservation of the environment and natural resources.

Today's "conservatives" aren't interested in conserving much of anything.