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gulliver

(13,197 posts)
Thu Dec 29, 2011, 08:35 PM Dec 2011

Is the word "conservative" about to become a putdown?

The word "Republican" has gone out of vogue thanks to George W. Bush and the Great Recession. One needs look no further than the Tea Party to see a clear example of stout-hearted Republicans running away from their party name and performance. Nowadays, even the most Republican of Republicans knows to sidestep their party affiliation when in polite company. If nothing else, it lets them avoid being asked if they voted for Bush.

The word Republican is toast, but what about the talismanic, argument-settling, self-worth-asserting word "conservative" itself? Have its many unfortunate recent associations with crackpots, serial liars, and flabby, diamond-ring-twisting hegemons finally brought down the last safe right wing word? What will conservatism call itself now that the word conservative is starting to become short for "laughably deranged asshole" in popular culture?

There has been a perceptible change in the Zeitgeist. I can't say for sure when it occurred. Perhaps at some point the Tea Party took off its glasses and everyone saw it was just George W. Republican after all. Maybe enough people witnessed Rush Limbaugh twitching on video making fun of Alex P. Keaton's multiple sclerosis. Maybe a critical mass of media consumers noticed that recently Fox News has begun to morph into a culture-wide laughingstock. I don't know when it happened, but the writing is on the Facebook wall.

Saying "I'm conservative" these days doesn't mean what it did ten short years ago. The presumption of respectability formerly accorded the words has disintegrated. The good will has dwindled to a puddle. Thanks to the hard work of self-professed "conservatives" like George W. Bush, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, and (let's definitely not forget) Glenn Beck, saying "I'm conservative" today is a quick way to lose people. If the trend continues, it won't be long before calling someone a "conservative" will be a putdown.

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Is the word "conservative" about to become a putdown? (Original Post) gulliver Dec 2011 OP
Always has been in my book slay Dec 2011 #1
Has been for a while, I think, elleng Dec 2011 #2
I certainly hope so. backscatter712 Dec 2011 #3
Not among the committed batshit crazy eridani Dec 2011 #4
It already is...they jus don noes it yet....LOL opihimoimoi Dec 2011 #5
It always was the ultimate insult in my opinion. Bluenorthwest Dec 2011 #6
+1 Zorra Dec 2011 #7
Don't forget the complete lack of intellectual curiosity. TroglodyteScholar Dec 2011 #10
If "about" means since the era of Tricky Dick, then yes. IDemo Dec 2011 #8
This message was self-deleted by its author TroglodyteScholar Dec 2011 #9
"Conservative" is really a misnomer Proud Liberal Dem Dec 2011 #11
Would that it were so. eom tledford Dec 2011 #12
Can we get it redefined in the minds of the public LiberalFighter Dec 2011 #13
I think we should try. dawg Dec 2011 #15
Absolutely LiberalFighter Dec 2011 #17
I use it as a synonym for "constipate" izquierdista Dec 2011 #14
From your keyboard to God's ears socialist_n_TN Dec 2011 #16
About to? Odin2005 Dec 2011 #18
IMO - we need to align "conservative" with "neanderthal/backwardness" - n/t mazzarro Dec 2011 #19
 

slay

(7,670 posts)
1. Always has been in my book
Thu Dec 29, 2011, 08:41 PM
Dec 2011

conservatives like to cling to the past and progressives like to progress towards the future.

elleng

(131,237 posts)
2. Has been for a while, I think,
Thu Dec 29, 2011, 08:46 PM
Dec 2011

because of its misuse by those you name, and lack of understanding of essential definition:

1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
2. Traditional or restrained in style.
3. Moderate; cautious.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
6. It always was the ultimate insult in my opinion.
Thu Dec 29, 2011, 08:56 PM
Dec 2011

It implies a dislike of the new, extreme risk aversion, a general complacency and lack of forward motion. Lethargy, parsimony and fear.

TroglodyteScholar

(5,477 posts)
10. Don't forget the complete lack of intellectual curiosity.
Thu Dec 29, 2011, 10:01 PM
Dec 2011

"I have a simple (if flawed) answer for every question, and time spent actually thinking about it is time wasted."

Response to IDemo (Reply #8)

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,450 posts)
11. "Conservative" is really a misnomer
Thu Dec 29, 2011, 10:04 PM
Dec 2011

in terms of describing most of the right-wing/Republicans nowadays. "Regressives" seem to be a better way to describe them and their policies IMHO as they seem fixated in not only preventing progress but actually taking us ass-backwards to..........well, somewhere I'm pretty sure most of us don't want to go.

LiberalFighter

(51,196 posts)
13. Can we get it redefined in the minds of the public
Thu Dec 29, 2011, 10:08 PM
Dec 2011

so they don't want to be associated with conservatives?

 

izquierdista

(11,689 posts)
14. I use it as a synonym for "constipate"
Thu Dec 29, 2011, 10:09 PM
Dec 2011

Fortunately a diet high in fiber cures conservatism.....err constipation.

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