AMA: ExtremeConservative

[100% pro-life no matter what]

In light of Vosem's thread, I thought this would be a good idea, because some here have tons of misconceptions about social conservatives and our ideology (including a few places you might be surprised).  I also hate it when some accuse us of being hypocrites, so I thought I would take any questions you may have for someone with my values, so y'all can at least see where I'm coming from.

[Dr. MB]

Would you support a candidate that agreed with you on nearly every issue, but was neutral on abortion, over a candidate that was very pro-life but agreed with you on only 50% of other issues?

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

If a women was found in a condition where the only way to save their life was for them to have an abortion, would you want to prevent it?

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Would you support a candidate that agreed with you on nearly every issue, but was neutral on abortion, over a candidate that was very pro-life but agreed with you on only 50% of other issues?

It would depend on exact stances, but I would likely vote for the pro-lifer in that scenario.

Why do you want to invade countries where abortion is legal?

That was a statement I pretty much instantly regretted posting and considered modifying that post to remove the last part.  I think sanctions would be good, but you also have to consider whether the expected number of lives saved from an action is greater than the expected number of lives lost from it.  I'm not sure if an invasion is the best strategy, but we all know that such a decision will never be made.  Still, extremism in the pursuit of virtue is no vice.

If a women was found in a condition where the only way to save their life was for them to have an abortion, would you want to prevent it?

That is a false decision.  It's impossible for there to actually be a "abort or die" situation.  I would never deny treatment to a woman for a life-threatening disease, but you cannot simply give up on the baby and intentionally kill it.  You need to focus equally on saving both lives as long as they are both still alive.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Thoughts on the influence of Ayn Rand on conservatism?

[RFayette 🇻🇦]

Do you believe politics flows downstream from culture, by and large?

If so, what remedies do you favor to help influence the culture?

[OSR stands with Israel]

Would you have supported the Invasion of Iraq

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Thoughts on the influence of Ayn Rand on conservatism?

I think a lot of her economic views come from a good place, even if they would be hard to implement.  Obviously, I have a strong disagreement with her social and foreign policy views, but it seems that most conservatives only cite her for her economic views and not her liberal views in other areas.  Now, the her libertarian quasi-worshippers are a completely different story.

Do you believe politics flows downstream from culture, by and large?

If so, what remedies do you favor to help influence the culture?

I think that stream can flow in both directions, but it is more common that politics is downstream of culture, for sure.  The biggest cultural harm was the sexual revolution, when Americans' attitudes about sexual morality seemed to completely change.  Most of our problems as a society, from abortion to the issue of sexual assault can trace themselves in some way to the sexual revolution.  That's why, apart from abortion, where we have developed a very coherent message, we have had to go from the actual moral issue to protections for those who dissent (e.g. the transition from supporting traditional marriage to giving up on that politically but trying to defend the rights of those who do personally).  One huge thing is that our anti-immigration stance is completely misguided, as immigrants are mostly coming from countries more religious than our own, so they should be able to help heal the country of its wounds from secularism.  An equally large problem is that it's difficult to find a TV show or a movie that doesn't embrace sexual immorality in some way (many even directly touch on social liberalism).  Unfortunately, we backed ourselves into a corner once we stopped directly fighting casual sex (and everything stemming from that), and we have to focus on teaching others what it means to be Christian (and politically fighting certain key, but winnable, battles)

Would you have supported the Invasion of Iraq

We need to remember the context of America in 2003.  I think that, at that point, almost all of us would have, given the legitimate fear we felt over 9/11.  Obviously, it didn't work as we intended it to, but given the knowledge we had at the time, I would have supported it.  Even in hindsight, I place more of the blame on Obama for how he left Iraq (pretty much to fulfill a campaign promise).  Once we were in there, we should have overseen the creation of a stable democracy.  The way we left created the vacuum necessary for ISIS to form in 2014.

And, I saw your question about Roy Moore earlier.  It's obviously best to move on from that election and focus on finding the right person to beat Doug Jones in 2020 (I think I like Mo Brooks for that).  With that said, I do not think we have reached the end of what the Senate can do on abortion.  The midterms aren't looking great, but there are enough possible pickups that, if the environment changes a bit, we could have 60 votes for the Pain-Capable Unborn Children Protection Act to pass.  Another example is that defunding PP (in the health care bill) failed by one vote.  I do expect the GOP to pick up a couple seats in the Senate despite the environment (due to the map), so what if we are one vote short again because Moore lost.  Lastly, what if Kennedy retires and the hypothetical fifth vote to overturn Roe fails by one vote because Moore lost?  Plus, I don't even factor any personal scandals into a general election vote, because I believe that the policies they implement will affect far more people than their personal scandal could (and it's not like them losing would ever change the personal scandal).

[TJ in Oregon]

What, in your opinion, is the relationship between faith and science?

[Torie]

Do you favor treating gays differently than straights as a matter of law in certain contexts, and if so which? Regarding gay marriage, please don't see denying the right of gays to marry the person they love, because they can always marry someone of the opposite sex. Straights get to marry the person they love.

[GM Team Member and Deputy PPT WB]

would you consider changing your legal name like this guy?

[Sirius_]

Are there any issues on which you don't take a somewhat conservative stance?

[100% pro-life no matter what]

What, in your opinion, is the relationship between faith and science?

I'm, generally speaking, a proponent of intelligent design, so I don't think there is a contradiction.

Do you favor treating gays differently than straights as a matter of law in certain contexts, and if so which? Regarding gay marriage, please don't see denying the right of gays to marry the person they love, because they can always marry someone of the opposite sex. Straights get to marry the person they love.

I believe that everyone should have equal rights, but my discomfort solely stems from the use of the term 'marriage' for same-sex relationships.  I support civil unions with the same tax benefits and all, but I just can't call it 'marriage'.  As a matter of policy, I strongly believe Obergefell was wrongly decided (I actually probably oppose that decision even more strongly than I oppose the issue itself), but I would be shocked if it is ever revisited.  I do think that the religious freedom cases are very serious and that protecting the rights to religious freedom and freedom of conscience when it comes to weddings needs to be a top priority.

would you consider changing your legal name like this guy?

I have always found that guy amusing, but I can see his deeply-held belief in the cause and his desire to give his whole life towards ending abortion.  His heart is definitely in the right place, but I think there may be more effective ways to fight for life.

Are there any issues on which you don't take a somewhat conservative stance?

Immigration is the big one.  I know my signature says "center-left on immigration", but centrist is probably truthfully a better term for my views on immigration.  Essentially, I believe that we have a right to know who is in our country and I would lean towards favoring those who came "the right way", but I think it should be much easier to come here legally, especially if you have the skills or drive to help our economy.  I am extremely disappointed in the anti-immigration turn the GOP has taken over the last couple years.  I used to really like watching things like Sean Hannity, but now I can't stomach him- it's all anti-immigration nonsense and stupid conspiracy theories about Russia (I think both sides are into stupid conspiracy theories there).  Laura Ingraham is even worse.  If I'm watching FOX and there isn't a big event, I turn it off after Tucker Carlson, because it's all downhill from there.  Also, I support President Trump and voted for him, but the people who almost seem to worship him are unbearable.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

If you were the deciding vote on whether or not to pass the proposed Rounds-King Immigration Bill, how would you vote? Text: https://www.collins.senate.gov/sites/default/files/Text%20of%20Immigration%20Security%20and%20Opportunity%20Act.pdf

Same question on the Trump-Grassley Immigration Bill: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Secure%20and%20Succeed%20Act%20of%202018.pdf

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Do you have any idea why we have so many politicians who preach the whole pro-traditional marriage, pro-life, pro-sex only in marriage, pro-family, etc. line, but then are eventually found to have been engaged in divorces, affairs, sexually assaulting other people, persuading people to get abortions, or on rare occasions, even come out as LGBT? Basically, why does the "socially conservative sect" end up producing so many people who just don't practice what they preach?

If you were the deciding vote on a proposal to change the Legislative Filibuster from a 60 vote rule to a 55 vote rule, how would you vote? Remember that this would potentially sting your party the next time it's in the minority.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

If you were the deciding vote on whether or not to pass the proposed Rounds-King Immigration Bill, how would you vote? Text: https://www.collins.senate.gov/sites/default/files/Text%20of%20Immigration%20Security%20and%20Opportunity%20Act.pdf

Same question on the Trump-Grassley Immigration Bill: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Secure%20and%20Succeed%20Act%20of%202018.pdf

---------------

Do you have any idea why we have so many politicians who preach the whole pro-traditional marriage, pro-life, pro-sex only in marriage, pro-family, etc. line, but then are eventually found to have been engaged in divorces, affairs, sexually assaulting other people, persuading people to get abortions, or on rare occasions, even come out as LGBT? Basically, why does the "socially conservative sect" end up producing so many people who just don't practice what they preach?

If you were the deciding vote on a proposal to change the Legislative Filibuster from a 60 vote rule to a 55 vote rule, how would you vote? Remember that this would potentially sting your party the next time it's in the minority.

I would vote yes on both immigration bills, though neither is exactly what I would want.  I would be more enthusiastic about Rounds-King if there were a different conservative concession (sanctuary cities instead of wall funding, but I know why they would want that for Trump).

To your second question, I saw TCG's answer in his thread, and mine is similar, but I will add that, even among politicians, these are a tiny fraction.  Just like there are some hypocritical socialists who want more money for themselves, there are a few hypocritical social conservatives.  Also, given the scandalous nature of it and the media's general disdain for social conservatism, the amount you hear about these scandals isn't proportionate to their frequency.

Lastly, I think I reluctantly would.  I do believe that the Senate favors the GOP in the long term (using an even PV and a uniform swing from 2016, it would be 64-36 GOP).  However, my preoccupation is that it is very hard to repeal a liberal policy once created, since people feel like you're taking something that is theirs.  Still, I don't see the Democrats getting to 55 in the Senate anytime soon, and we need to be bolder in our conservative vision for America.

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Are you more of a boob or a butt guy?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Do you ever sit on your hand for a long period of time until it goes numb and then pretend someone else is...um....briefly relaxing you?

[Doimper]

Do you ever sit on your hand for a long period of time until it goes numb and then pretend someone else is...um....briefly relaxing you?

This thread is called "AMA: ExtremeConservative", not "A Day In The Life of Sanchez"

[7,052,770]

You describe yourself as an "ends justify the means" guy when it comes to abortion.

How do you feel about Sandra Fluke and the ACA Contraception Mandate? It's mind-boggling how many abortions that policy may have prevented, and even if you don't believe it's prevented that many for whatever reasons, you've previously expressed that any reduction of the abortion rate is worthwhile.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

You describe yourself as an "ends justify the means" guy when it comes to abortion.

How do you feel about Sandra Fluke and the ACA Contraception Mandate? It's mind-boggling how many abortions that policy may have prevented, and even if you don't believe it's prevented that many for whatever reasons, you've previously expressed that any reduction of the abortion rate is worthwhile.

The big problem with contraception mandates is that some forms of contraception (like Plan B) are also abortifacients themselves.  This is because Plan B can work after conception by preventing implementation.  That is still an abortion.  I would be willing to fund condoms or something that can't actually cause an abortion if that will help end abortion.

And, Sanchez and Scott, I don't really think those questions are appropriate for this forum.