2026 Midterm Thread

[CobbVol]

I don't know why my question was provacative to you. It was asked on face value. Just as I asked 423 how he considers himself.

I was curious what your classification of me would be. I know my classification of myself.

Moderates are like you. Some issues are prioritized over others.

It wasn’t provacative, sorry you got that impression. Moderates don’t have a party and was just wondering how they rationalize in an election. Is it policies, candidates, or both.

 

[McDad]

It wasn’t provacative, sorry you got that impression. Moderates don’t have a party and was just wondering how they rationalize in an election. Is it policies, candidates, or both.

Don't care to answer if you consider me moderate or something else?

 

[RockyTop85]

I'll ask a question in reply. I align with the following from your list:
lower taxes
personal freedom

I consider 'secure borders' to be a PR term.

I am anti abortion personally but don't think it is smart policy for the entire population.

Am I conservative or moderate?

I thought about this the other day but assumed it would get swamped by people getting pissy over learning that they’re not conservative:

IMO, “Conservative” describes principles that create a preference for certain policies. “Republican” describes a group that promotes policies.

Some of the things on this list are conservative principles (individual freedom, limited government) and some are Republican policies (pro-life, secure borders) that have crept into the definition of conservative because the two are so often used interchangeably.

I don’t think the principles and policies actually align well enough to warrant that type of usage. I see a lot more overlap between the “principles” of the two parties and those of their followers than I do between “conservative” principles and those of either party. E.g. Republicans don’t want a smaller cheaper government. They want to borrow the same amount and pay it toward their preferred government services instead of those of democrats. They don’t want individual freedom, they want to use government to enforce their preferred social norms.

I’d be interested to see a two-stage debate where the parties first agreed on principles-based definitions of liberal and conservative and then went through the platforms of the two major parties to see if they actually had any loyalty to those principle. I don’t think either would fare well.

 

[Vol423]

LOL. "frustratingly moderate". that was funny.

I consider myself radical in comparison to all the other politiphiles.

I've always considered you slightly right of center.

 

[FLVOL_79]

I'll ask a question in reply. I align with the following from your list:
lower taxes
personal freedom

I consider 'secure borders' to be a PR term.

I am anti abortion personally but don't think it is smart policy for the entire population.

Am I conservative or moderate?

Moderate and mostly sane

 

[InVOLuntary]

He was just trolling the right I'm sure.

Yeah, even his left wing radical boyfriend was shocked by the text. You guys are violent communist that want to kill everyone that you disagree with.

 

[CobbVol]

Don't care to answer if you consider me moderate or something else?

I assume you are moderate based on your responses. Is that how you view yourself?

 

[McDad]

I thought about this the other day but assumed it would get swamped by people getting pissy over learning that they’re not conservative:

IMO, “Conservative” describes principles that create a preference for certain policies. “Republican” describes a group that promotes policies.

Some of the things on this list are conservative principles (individual freedom, limited government) and some are Republican policies (pro-life, secure borders) that have crept into the definition of conservative because the two are so often used interchangeably.

I don’t think the principles and policies actually align well enough to warrant that type of usage. I see a lot more overlap between the “principles” of the two parties and those of their followers than I do between “conservative” principles and those of either party. E.g. Republicans don’t want a smaller cheaper government. They want to borrow the same amount and pay it toward their preferred government services instead of those of democrats. They don’t want individual freedom, they want to use government to enforce their preferred social norms.

I’d be interested to see a two-stage debate where the parties first agreed on principles-based definitions of liberal and conservative and then went through the platforms of the two major parties to see if they actually had any loyalty to those principle. I don’t think either would fare well.

You have your moments of stupidity but this post isn't one of them.

well done.

 

[McDad]

View attachment 787678
I've always considered you slightly right of center.

I can see that. I don't offer a lot of discussion on the subjects beaten to death or are unimportant to me especially when I have outlined my thoughts previously.

 

[McDad]

Moderate and mostly sane

I expected to get mostly center, moderate or close to center answers.

Mostly sane is way off.

 

[McDad]

I assume you are moderate based on your responses. Is that how you view yourself?

I actually view myself as radical compared to most everyone else. But i can easily see why others would see me as moderate.

 

[RockyTop85]

You have your moments of stupidity but this post isn't one of them.

well done.

 

[Orangeburst]

I assume you are moderate based on your responses. Is that how you view yourself?

I think so,,moderately obese, moderately intelligent..

 

[Vol since 77]

You consider yourself as moderate?

Somewhat, yes. My 24 year old recent college grad says I'm an "old classical liberal" because I'm fiscally conservative but socially liberal". I don’t really care one way or another what others think to be honest though. TIFWIW

 

[Vol423]

I actually view myself as radical compared to most everyone else. But i can easily see why others would see me as moderate.

Correct me if I'm wrong, McDad, but I recall you being one of the many on this board that has said that you generally don't vote for a presidential candidate (or vote 3rd party which I view as basically the same thing).

 

[Smokey123]

 

[FLVOL_79]

Yeah, even his left wing radical boyfriend was shocked by the text. You guys are violent communist that want to kill everyone that you disagree with.

Lol. I'm a Republican bro. But an American, not Maga.

 

[Orangeburst]

nm

 

[FLVOL_79]

I actually view myself as radical compared to most everyone else. But i can easily see why others would see me as moderate.

I'm radical but I a teenage mutant ninja turtle kind of way.

 

[Orangeburst]

I'm surprised that "kill him, and his kids in front of their mother so she can watch them die" was an effective campaign slogan but we are talking about the democrats here.

did that pos win?

 

[LadyVolette]

did that pos win?

Yep.. are you surprised? I’m not

 

[InVOLuntary]

Lol. I'm a Republican bro. But an American, not Maga.

Nah.

 

[OHvol40]

I'm not saying that isn't going to happen, but I don't consider NY, NJ, VA, and CA competitive areas for the R's

What about Rs basically getting shut-out in PA?

 

[Orangeslice13]

I thought about this the other day but assumed it would get swamped by people getting pissy over learning that they’re not conservative:

IMO, “Conservative” describes principles that create a preference for certain policies. “Republican” describes a group that promotes policies.

Some of the things on this list are conservative principles (individual freedom, limited government) and some are Republican policies (pro-life, secure borders) that have crept into the definition of conservative because the two are so often used interchangeably.

I don’t think the principles and policies actually align well enough to warrant that type of usage. I see a lot more overlap between the “principles” of the two parties and those of their followers than I do between “conservative” principles and those of either party. E.g. Republicans don’t want a smaller cheaper government. They want to borrow the same amount and pay it toward their preferred government services instead of those of democrats. They don’t want individual freedom, they want to use government to enforce their preferred social norms.

I’d be interested to see a two-stage debate where the parties first agreed on principles-based definitions of liberal and conservative and then went through the platforms of the two major parties to see if they actually had any loyalty to those principle. I don’t think either would fare well.

Years ago in a psychology class they had 200 students answer a 30 question survey on their beliefs then asked who would they vote for in an upcoming election. Nearly 70 % of the people in the study we’re voting in opposition to their beliefs.

I believe you’re probably right

 

[Sandman 423]

Doesn't VA historically go the inverse of whoever is POTUS for gubernatorial elections anyway?

I honestly don't know. I figure with it being so close to DC that it would naturally lean Democrat.