@oldpuppymax:

The US IS a socially conservative nation.

Now this would make for an interesting thread, all its own.

What is a social conservative?

To take me, for an example, I personally have moderate to conservative social values. But I don’t consider myself to be a social conservative — at least by the current definition as it currently appears in Wikipedia:

Social conservatism is a political or moral ideology that believes government and/or society have a role in encouraging or enforcing traditional values or behaviors based on the belief that these are what keep people civilized and decent

.

Here are some of my personal views, along with what I think government should do about these:

1. I hate many of the obscene rap lyrics. I’m in favor of Tipper Gore-style warning labels, but I’m not in favor of censorship.

2. I don’t like television shows like “Sex in the City,” which I do feel contribute to the erosion of traditional behavior standards, but, again, I’m against censorship. Same thing for present-day movies, compared to the standards which still existed as recently as the 60s.

3. I’m personally opposed to abortion, but I believe that the government has no right to decide for a woman whether or not she must complete a pregnancy.

4. I’m against official government recognition of same sex marriage, but I feel that there must be equal rights and protections — hence I’m in favor of legal domestic partnerships.

5. I think that don’t ask/don’t tell is a very reasonable compromise.

6. I don’t think that government buildings should display religious documents, including the 10 Commandments.

7. I don’t have the slightest problem with schools and other public places displaying symbols of important religious holidays, but I think that there can’t be discrimination in favor of one religion over another.

8. I think that certain religious symbols with historical value (e.g the Soledad and other public “crosses”) constructed during earlier time periods should be allowed to remain in place, uncovered.

9. I see no harm for traditional, non-denominational prayers to be said in public functions, outside of schools. I see no harm in observing periods of silence for private prayer or reflection in schools.

10. I don’t think that there should be any role for government in end of life decisions, which should strictly be a matter for patients, doctors, and families.

11. I’m against the concept of advocating that the USA is or ever was a “Christian nation.” People are Christians; nations are not, or should not be. Don’t take my word for it; ask Christ.

12. I’m personally against the use of recreational drugs, but I think that government efforts to ban the use of these substances have produced more problems than solutions.

13. I think that there is more to be feared from viewing the Constitution as a work in progress, as opposed to being set in stone, but I think it’s important to have excellent judges with a range of mainstream judicial philosophies on the Federal bench.

and so forth. There are lots of people out there, in the broad middle, who’d be more than happy to have the opportunity to vote for fiscal conservatives who feel that the government should avoid trying to legislate any particular brand of morality.

- Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach, CA

Like or Dislike: 0  0

I disagree. The US IS a socially conservative nation. But the republican party so screwed up this race as to require a Hoffman victory be nothing less than a miracle. Had he been the original pick, complete with party backing he would have won. Hell, Scozzafava’s name was even on the ballot TWICE, as was that of Owens! Hoffman only once of course. And don’t forget…although we might have been quite up on ALL the goings on in 23, don’t assume that the voters there shared either our exuberance or our obligatory hourly updates on the facts and issues.

Like or Dislike: 0  0

One of the more interesting results yesterday was Maine’s (1) legalizing pot dispensaries, while (2) outlawing same sex marriage. Identical to what California voters had decided in prior elections.

- LW/HB

Like or Dislike: 0  0

Hey, if we get a Darryl we’ll have Larry, Larry, and Darryl.

I like to give credit where credit is due; that one made me chuckle.

- LW/HB

Like or Dislike: 0  0

Sorry Larry S. That was for the other Larry-aka delusional larry.
Hey, if we get a Darryl we’ll have Larry, Larry, and Darryl.

Like or Dislike: 0  0

“Grassroots activists saw a decided switch in the conduct of the campaign over the last 72 hours, after Scozzafava’s withdrawal. Unconfirmed rumors abounded that Hoffman was taking advice from NRCC hotshots who had come up to help over the crucial last weekend, and that the candidate became less accessible to volunteers and was not conducting enough face to face voter events. Though his election day schedule was busy, for instance, his only public event on Monday was the Watertown rally hosted by Fred Thompson.

From the tcotreport link.

In other words, the RNCC found a way to save the day for their people, Owens and Scuzzy.

Hoffman’s mistake was listening to the. Interesting.

That report doesn’t mention how many millions dollars of RNCC (and our) money Scuzzy spent in the effort to get Owens elected.

Why do I think that effort by the RNCC started months ago?

Like or Dislike: 0  0

You need to say which “Larry” you are talking about (Every “Tom”, “Dick”, and “Harry” is named “Larry” it seems).

I can’t thing of anything I have said that could be interpreted as a “claim NY-23 was the rejection of Conservatism”!

I did say “Did anybody notice that the Republican party put up a candidate way to the left of the Democrat, spent millions of our dollars campaigning against Hoffman and at the last minute, had their puppet bail and go public (including TV ads paid for with our money) for the Democrat.” which is sort of ambiguous but was intended to a slam on the RNC and Gingrich and Steele.

But “And as far as Hoffman’s inarticulateness–I had not noticed that, and if I had, I would scored it a major plus because I never once saw him bobblehead between two Teleprompters, reading what his handlers wanted him to say.” seems pretty clear.

I would like to know what, once again, causes the big disparity between the poll (even the hostile ones) and the vote count.

I’m guessing nobody took my advice to watch the parked cars with boxes of ballots in hte run, waiting to be “found” as required.

How much robocalling was there to advise Republican voters that Hoffman is in the bag, you don’t need to trouble yourself?

Like or Dislike: 0  0

Larry, before you continue to claim NY-23 was the rejection of Conservatism, check this link.
Turns out Scuzzyfavor’s endorsement helped.

http://www.tcotreport.com/election2009.html

Like or Dislike: 0  0

@Patvann: Do we need more proof that the manchild is a pathological narcissist? He’s spent more time talking about himself than he has governing. He spent more time campaigning for Corzine in New Jersey than he has in meeting with General McChrystal about Afghanistan.

Every day Obama is in office he makes Jimmy Carter look better by comparison.

Like or Dislike: 0  0

Did anybody notice that the Republican party put up a candidate way to the left of the Democrat, spent millions of our dollars campaigning against Hoffman and at the last minute, had their puppet bail and go public (including TV ads paid for with our money) for the Democrat.

And as far as Hoffman’s inarticulateness–I had not noticed that, and if I had, I would scored it a major plus because I never once saw him bobblehead between two Teleprompters, reading what his handlers wanted him to say.

Like or Dislike: 0  0