During Saturday’s debate, the question was asked of a few candidates what conservatism meant to them. They stumbled around with answers that made it sound like whatever their campaign was up to. Now that I’ve sobered up from watching that event, I finally thought I’d look it up:
From Merriam-Webster:
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capitalized a : the principles and policies of a Conservative party b : the Conservative party
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a : disposition in politics to preserve what is established b : a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change; specifically : such a philosophy calling for lower taxes, limited government regulation of business and investing, a strong national defense, and individual financial responsibility for personal needs (as retirement income or health-care coverage)
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: the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change
So the republicans obviously get that first definition, and that’s what the media can run with. But look at 2, particularly the part I emphasized with bold. If we take point 2 as the better, less self referential definition, there’s only one true conservative candidate running in either party’s primary…
Sorry Hillary.
Makes it a little harder to run as a progressive if you’re the clear conservative, no?