Leland says:

You’re right. It’s a waste of time and money. If this group finds the spanky-vision offensive, then they shouldn’t press the order button on hotel remote. But it’s not up to them to dictate what an adult can and cannot watch in the comfort of their own cheap hotel room.

Then Andrew wrote, “Now “conservative” means intolerance, bigotry, wanton spending, blind faith in those in power (!), and a demand that the government investigate and regulate our private lives as much as the most radical among us want it to.”

Now that hurts. Andrew, I’m conservative in wanting government out of our personal lives, off our private property and with a substantially smaller bite out of my wallet. I’m not the least bit shy about my desire to stomp on terrorists when ever and where ever they turn up. I don’t think the federal government should be in the charity business.

However, it is still possible to consider one’s self a conservative and have no use for organized religion and even less use for it’s application to government business and decisions. It is still possible to be conservative and support gay marriage. In fact, it’s even possible to hold fiscally conservative views while not really caring what color someone is, what religious beliefs they hold or even who or what they are sleeping with.

I’m getting tired of being lumped into the same pile with the religious zealots.

Dorene says:

Well said, Andrew, well said.

gnomic says:

Since the “religious” “zealots” (I generally call them “nut-jobs,” but, hey, its your blog) have taken over the Republican party and lied to America about the word of the Founding Fathers as well as the words of Christ, its not about religion or living a Christian life. Its all about pissing in someone’s beer. Or - more politically correctly - about forcing others to bow to their will.

Its not about convincing others by following the word of God, its about legislating and otherwise forcing a rather shallow and hateful view of Christianity upon everyone else. And if you raise an objection to teaching veiled religion in Science class, you are somehow persecuting them.

Its become a Christian mental welfare state - don’t think and certainly don’t read the Bible - just vote to put their puppets in power and the world will get better. Or at least they’ll get working on Armageddon.

Because killing Muslims is OK - their lives aren’t worth anything. It says so in the Bible, just as our founding fathers intended.

Andrew says:

See, Leland, I’m conservative too on a lot of issues. I have a deep mistrust for government, not just government social programs. I think it should demand personal responsibility, but I also think it should stay out of my bedroom (or hotel room).

Which is why stuff like this ticks me off. “Conservatives” today aren’t conservative. They and the liberals are two sides of the same coin — both want the government to enforce their particular agenda and support their particular values.

But what about those of us who think government should try as hard as possible not to enforce *any* agenda? That the moment the word “ban” enters the conversation, the legislative brakes should be slammed down?

“Conservative” used to mean that. But now when I hear the word I think “intolerance.” And that just sucks.

Leland says:

Andew wrote: “But what about those of us who think government should try as hard as possible not to enforce *any* agenda? That the moment the word “ban” enters the conversation, the legislative brakes should be slammed down?”

I’ll be damned. We’re on the same side after all.