Can a Parrothead be a conservative

[redwinemaker]

yes. I am a conservative with some libertarian leanings. A few notes:

The term conservative has been co-opted by the religious right who may or may not be in fact conservatives on some issues but absolutely deny true conservatism with their desire to legislate morality. I guess they are free to pick and choose what parts of conservatism they want to adhere to but I wish the media would stop portraying them as the bastion of conservatism because they are not.

With regard to teachers, it was my observation (25 years ago) and confirmed in todays world by my high school and college age children that: teachers who are democrat/liberal will usually let you know what their political leanings are (sometimes forcefully) while teachers who are republican/conservative generally keep it to themselves. This may be because some liberal teachers view themselves as instruments of social and political change while conservative teachers view themselves as teachers.

[AlbatrossFlyer]

yes. I am a conservative with some libertarian leanings. A few notes:

The term conservative has been co-opted by the religious right who may or may not be in fact conservatives on some issues but absolutely deny true conservatism with their desire to legislate morality. I guess they are free to pick and choose what parts of conservatism they want to adhere to but I wish the media would stop portraying them as the bastion of conservatism because they are not.

here here

[AlbatrossFlyer]

john birch is a commie loving liberal

[SchoolGirlHeart]

yes. I am a conservative with some libertarian leanings. A few notes:

The term conservative has been co-opted by the religious right who may or may not be in fact conservatives on some issues but absolutely deny true conservatism with their desire to legislate morality. I guess they are free to pick and choose what parts of conservatism they want to adhere to but I wish the media would stop portraying them as the bastion of conservatism because they are not.

here here

what they said.

[OceanCityGirl]

yes. I am a conservative with some libertarian leanings

That's a good description of my views. And even if do to my faith I wish people would behave a certain way, it doesn't mean I think we need a law to make them. That's using politics to force your agenda.

With regard to teachers, it was my observation (25 years ago) and confirmed in todays world by my high school and college age children that: teachers who are democrat/liberal will usually let you know what their political leanings are (sometimes forcefully) while teachers who are republican/conservative generally keep it to themselves. This may be because some liberal teachers view themselves as instruments of political change while conservative teachers view themselves as teachers.

Absolutely true.

[Wino you know]

There are times when I feel like coming out of the closet at work. I'm conservative, I'm pro-life in most circumstances, I like Bush and support the action in Iraq to a point, I hate big government and generally disagree with union stances.
But I'm also a parrothead and like to let my hair down and have a good time. I would never criticize you for having different opinions then I do, I don't blindly agree with Bush and have voted democrat at times. I would truly be ostracized at work. I see it happen all the time. It's not even good natured ribbing. I guess I'm a bit of a wimp and tend to like to see people all just get along.

O.C.G.
The more I read from you, the more I like you.
I've tried and tried, and discovered EONS ago that trying to get along with MOST liberal thinking people around here is absolutely pointless-IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. (I'm not talking about the liberals here-most are decent people, and I like to think I can get along with the majority of them). I'm talking about the people HERE who like to force their agenda down everyone's throat, and damn you to hell if you dare disagree with them. Hell, I've even been ostracized by my own family. This past Thanksgiving was by far and away one of the worst days in a long time for me. During the entire meal, the whole family bitched and whined about the fact that Bush had recently been re-elected and made my wife and me feel as if we alone were responsible for everything from ingrown nose hairs to the death of Chuckles the Clown.
We told my relatives in no uncertain terms that we'd no longer be joining them in any family functions. THEIR reaction? WE over-reacted. I have this crazy-ass notion that, due to the fact that I fought in a war for this country, I feel somewhat ENTITLED to my opinions. I'll continue to visit MOST of my relatives individually, but no more family gatherings. Ever.

[lookingat40]

Abso-F'n-lutley we can be conservative!!!!!!!!! Conservatives are far more open minded than liberals...We allow liberals to be wrong all the time...it's their right...their choice...I'm always amazed how close minded liberals are...I mean liberals above everyone else should be the most open minded people of all...but they aren't.

[OceanCityGirl]

During the entire meal, the whole family bitched and whined about the fact that Bush had recently been re-elected and made my wife and me feel as if we alone were responsible for everything from ingrown nose hairs to the death of Chuckles the Clown

Yep that's the deal at my school. If I hadn't voted for Bush Terry Schiavo would be happy now.

I have this crazy-ass notion that, due to the fact that I fought in a war for this country, I feel somewhat ENTITLED to my opinions

Yep it does.
Oddly enough in my family there are some members that make me uncomfortable because they seem more like the Falwel type of conservative. And here I am a conservative trying to defend some of the other side's thoughts. I do have friends who I can be myself with, thank God.

[Alan11]

There are times when I feel like coming out of the closet at work. I'm conservative, I'm pro-life in most circumstances, I like Bush and support the action in Iraq to a point, I hate big government and generally disagree with union stances.
But I'm also a parrothead and like to let my hair down and have a good time. I would never criticize you for having different opinions then I do, I don't blindly agree with Bush and have voted democrat at times. I would truly be ostracized at work. I see it happen all the time. It's not even good natured ribbing. I guess I'm a bit of a wimp and tend to like to see people all just get along.

O.C.G.
The more I read from you, the more I like you.
I've tried and tried, and discovered EONS ago that trying to get along with MOST liberal thinking people around here is absolutely pointless-IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. (I'm not talking about the liberals here-most are decent people, and I like to think I can get along with the majority of them). I'm talking about the people HERE who like to force their agenda down everyone's throat, and damn you to hell if you dare disagree with them. Hell, I've even been ostracized by my own family. This past Thanksgiving was by far and away one of the worst days in a long time for me. During the entire meal, the whole family bitched and whined about the fact that Bush had recently been re-elected and made my wife and me feel as if we alone were responsible for everything from ingrown nose hairs to the death of Chuckles the Clown.
We told my relatives in no uncertain terms that we'd no longer be joining them in any family functions. THEIR reaction? WE over-reacted. I have this crazy-ass notion that, due to the fact that I fought in a war for this country, I feel somewhat ENTITLED to my opinions. I'll continue to visit MOST of my relatives individually, but no more family gatherings. Ever.

Evening sir again, look me up when you decide to run for office I would like to be your running mate or hell at least your campaign manager

[Wino you know]

I do have friends who I can be myself with, thank God.

AMEN!

[Wino you know]

Evening sir again, look me up when you decide to run for office I would like to be your running mate or hell at least your campaign manager

Thanks for the support, but I think I have about as much chance of getting elected to ANYTHING as I do finding a cow that gives beer.

[aquaholic]

I'm conservative.....I was almost out of mixers for my vodka

[Alan11]

Evening sir again, look me up when you decide to run for office I would like to be your running mate or hell at least your campaign manager

Thanks for the support, but I think I have about as much chance of getting elected to ANYTHING as I do finding a cow that gives beer.

Screw the beer right now how about a cow that can gives out gas to help us out at the pump

[Wino you know]

I've seen LOTS of cows give gas, but NOT the kind we need.

[redwinemaker]

O.C.G.
The more I read from you, the more I like you.
I've tried and tried, and discovered EONS ago that trying to get along with MOST liberal thinking people around here is absolutely pointless-IT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. (I'm not talking about the liberals here-most are decent people, and I like to think I can get along with the majority of them). I'm talking about the people HERE who like to force their agenda down everyone's throat, and damn you to hell if you dare disagree with them. Hell, I've even been ostracized by my own family. This past Thanksgiving was by far and away one of the worst days in a long time for me. During the entire meal, the whole family bitched and whined about the fact that Bush had recently been re-elected and made my wife and me feel as if we alone were responsible for everything from ingrown nose hairs to the death of Chuckles the Clown.
We told my relatives in no uncertain terms that we'd no longer be joining them in any family functions. THEIR reaction? WE over-reacted. I have this crazy-ass notion that, due to the fact that I fought in a war for this country, I feel somewhat ENTITLED to my opinions. I'll continue to visit MOST of my relatives individually, but no more family gatherings. Ever.

The conversation in my family often turns to politics. When the political discussion gets mixed with too much alcohol, the racism of my grandfathers generation starts to pop out. It is at this point I excuse myself. There is no point arguing with people who already know they are wrong.

My new father-in-law is one of those Bush-bashers too. I once simply told him "you are wrong" and got up and left. Problem solved, he has backed off since.

I would suggest before you abandon your family altogether you let them know your discomfort sometime when everybody is sober and request that the political discussion be reserved for before and/or after dinner when you are not forced to partake

[Alan11]

I've seen LOTS of cows give gas, but NOT the kind we need.

Damn it, you work on the beer cow and I will work on the gasoline cow.

[krusin1]

Yes, you CAN be a parrothead and a conservative. And even work in the field of education (successfully) after enduring the liberal idealogues of undergrad and grad school trying to "enlighten" you from your poor, ignorant, common-sense ways. (Sorry, soapbox flew across my field of vision for a second there...)

A thought or two...

I actually wouldn't be surprised if quite a few BN'ers were actually conservative.

From what I have read of the posts, a bunch of you/us are self-reliant, take responsibility for your own actions (even when we act up!), believe in law and order - especially when it comes to people doing evil or stupid things (drunk driving) that can hurt others, don't wait around for the government to help/save us, would rather take risks and control our own destinies, believe in capitalism (Margaritaville empire, anyone?), and just generally would prefer for the government to NOT try to tell us what to do.

That, to me, ladies and gents... sounds like a conservative.

(Ok, let the flaying begin. )

[phjrsaunt]

Evening sir again, look me up when you decide to run for office I would like to be your running mate or hell at least your campaign manager

Thanks for the support, but I think I have about as much chance of getting elected to ANYTHING as I do finding a cow that gives beer.

Screw the beer right now how about a cow that can gives out gas to help us out at the pump

Very MOOOOOOving comments, gentlemen.
And I, too, echo all y'all's sentiments.

[Alan11]

Evening sir again, look me up when you decide to run for office I would like to be your running mate or hell at least your campaign manager

Thanks for the support, but I think I have about as much chance of getting elected to ANYTHING as I do finding a cow that gives beer.

Screw the beer right now how about a cow that can gives out gas to help us out at the pump

Very MOOOOOOving comments, gentlemen.
And I, too, echo all y'all's sentiments.

Thank moooooo very much, hell your listening more to us than those dumbass windbags in washington are. Gas it 2.09 today in Roanoke when is the madness going to stop?

[Wino you know]

The conversation in my family often turns to politics. When the political discussion gets mixed with too much alcohol, the racism of my grandfathers generation starts to pop out. It is at this point I excuse myself. There is no point arguing with people who already know they are wrong.

My new father-in-law is one of those Bush-bashers too. I once simply told him "you are wrong" and got up and left. Problem solved, he has backed off since.

I would suggest before you abandon your family altogether you let them know your discomfort sometime when everybody is sober and request that the political discussion be reserved for before and/or after dinner when you are not forced to partake

It's good advice, but, as I said, I'm not really abandoning them altogether-I'll still visit them, just not all at the same time. Thankfully, my youngest sister understands, and has shown me respect.
I could (and probably SHOULD) tell the rest of them to can the political crap, but I know what kind of reply I'd get-"Oh, you know, your old Uncle 'So and So'-he just likes to start these arguments."
No thanks-been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
They know how I vote, therefore, I'm responsible for all of their problems. I don't need that-life is too short, and I intend to enjoy whatever time I have left.
But I really do appreciate your input-I think under normal circumstances your advice would work.