From your post #86222:

As I've said before, I don't have conversations with conservatives under any illusions that I'm going to change their mind. I do it because it helps me understand what conservatives believe about the world (including what conservatives believe that liberals believe).

I don’t think you’re having conversations with conservatives. The last mostly conservative on this board was Big Hairy Mike, and he hasn’t posted in a long time.

Your conversations are with the MAGA cult. And MAGA is NOT conservative.

Now, I could list a bunch of conservative principles, but that would be imposing my opinion about what conservative principles actually are (yes, I lean left, but I also have some conservative beliefs, especially about fiscal policy. What did you expect from a Gemini?).

So I decided to use Mini Mike Johnson’s 7 core principles of conservatism; Individual Freedom, Limited Government, The Rule of Law, Peace through Strength, Fiscal Responsibility, Free Markets, and Human Dignity. See link below.

Please keep in mind, these are just a quick list off the top of my head.

Individual Freedom: MAGA tries to crush individual freedom that it opposes. Booting journalists from the White House, firing government workers who were ordered to perform an investigation, withholding funds from universities because of DEI policies, ordering prosecutions of political opponents, invading homes without a warrant, arresting individuals without the right to defend themselves, and killing unarmed protesters. Just a sample of MAGA principles.

Limited Government: Government taking partial ownership of private companies, weaponizing the DOJ, inserting the Executive branch and the post office into elections, and endless Executive Orders.

Rule of Law: Nominating a convicted 34 count felon, refusing to release the Epstein files, violating the Constitution’s emolument clause daily.

Peace through Strength: Another endless Middle East war costing lives, serious injuries, and spending billions of dollars to achieve what was already in place before the war, weakening our military and intelligence agencies by firing competent and experienced individuals, and testing for testosterone (seriously?).

Fiscal Responsibility: Over $3.5 trillion added to debt in 2nd term (less than 2 years), firing tax auditors costing billions of dollars. I could go on, but really? It’s a gimme.

Free Markets: Endless no-bid contracts to incompetent individuals/companies who gave millions “donations” to Trump, partial government ownership of private companies, endless grifting.

Human Dignity: Placing 6 year olds in detention centers, holding individuals without warrants or allowing a proper defense, unsanitary conditions in detention centers and naval ships, removing millions from receiving healthcare, killing unarmed citizens, and sexual abuse in detention centers.

Sorry albaby1, you’re debating MAGA, not conservatives.

mikejohnson.house.gov - Core principles of conservatism