December 09, 2012

Vince Vaughn Conservativism Watch
— Ace

Last week I read a Jay Nordinger column which was mostly about the need to recapture the institutions of thought (especially education), but he also mentioned this:

A reader of ours is a teacher and a conservative, and he suspects that the teacher in the next room is a conservative too. But he doesn’t quite know how to find out without revealing his own conservatism — and that revelation could be bad, professionally.

He wrote me to ask, “Maybe I could tap on the wall? Is there some secret code for ‘I believe that Western civilization is, on the whole, a good thing’?”

I thought that might make an interesting topic for discussion. Some of you may be lucky enough to live in largely conservative areas or work in largely conservative fields.

Conservatives who live in liberal areas, or move in liberal circles, on the other hand, tend to either be pretty quiet about politics or, if trying to suss someone else out, employ shibboleths to see if the other party is a member of the tribe.

I don't have a go-to shibboleth for this purpose. I suppose that something noncomittal and sneaky, like "Are you a fan of David Mamet?," might work. Hey, you might just mean his movies and plays. Alternatively, you might mean his recent political conversion to conservatism. A member of the tribe might pick up on that last bit and say something like, "I've become a bigger fan lately."

Bringing this around to Vince Vaughn: I'm watching the commentary for Couples Retreat. I just bought it, because we were talking about it, and I saw it for sale used. Ten bucks.

I know this is silly, but it's Sunday, and we were just talking about this.

Early in the movie there's a scene where Vaughn's character is in bed reading Thomas Paine's Common Sense. Looks like a Penguin Classics edition. In the commentary, he says, "I'm reading the Thomas Paine paperback Common Sense book, which of course was the book that Thomas Paine wrote which helped inspire the first American Revolution."

First? The first American Revolution? Was there a second?

So three possibilities:

1. He misspoke and meant something like "Thomas Paine vigorously agitated for two revolutions. The American Revolution was the first, and the second was the French Revolution." Thomas Paine was over in Paris agitating for that one, too.

2. He means the Civil War was not just an insurrection but a revolution against federal power.

3. He's suggesting there's a second American Revolution to come.

I suppose he might also mean the Reagan Revolution, but I don't know about that one. For that matter, he might have meant FDR's undeclared revolution.

I don't know, just thought it was something. I don't think it's a pure mistake, like a completely dumb mistake, because I assume he chose that book for his character to read. I assume he's familiar enough with the topic to know there's not a generally-acknowledged Second American Revolution.

So: A shibboleth or simple error?

Posted by: Ace at 10:25 AM | Comments (237)
Post contains 512 words, total size 3 kb.

1 I don't know that Vaughn is cunning enough to pack this much innuendo into a dvd commentary.

More likely he meant to say that it inspired the first, COMMA, ITALIC American, CLOSE ITALIC, CAPITAL R Revolution. Implying the next one was the one in France with the bouncing heads.

Posted by: boulder hobo at December 09, 2012 10:30 AM (QTHTd)

2 You know how there's people on your team that you wish were on the other side instead?  Vince Vaughn would be one of them.

Not that I hate him, I'd just rather prefer we had more Hollywood types on our side whose claim to fame wasn't through bottom barrel scraping toilet humor and ubiquitous dick jokes.

Posted by: Christina Hendricks's Mighty Jugs Are Now Decorated For Christmas at December 09, 2012 10:30 AM (+AV7H)

3 Damn there are a lot of good threads today.

Posted by: RWC at December 09, 2012 10:31 AM (sqp6o)

4 He just misspoke.

Posted by: William of Ockham at December 09, 2012 10:31 AM (OZPoa)

5 Didn't Owen Wilson pretty much say that Vince was a conservative Republican?

http://tinyurl.com/allneem

Posted by: MrCaniac at December 09, 2012 10:32 AM (Zd/NW)

6 Purity of Essence OR Verwundet mein herz mit eintonige matischkeit

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 09, 2012 10:32 AM (XkWWK)

7 Just be conservative!

We are not the new Jews were we have to hide who and what we are.

I have worked in the post production industry for over twenty years, I can count on one hand the number of people that have shared my views.

You can tell if someone shares similar beliefs and outlooks.

I worked as an engineer at the house that did the editing and effects for Farneheight 9/11 as you can imagine the atmosphere was not one that viewed Republicans in a positive light.

Everyone knew who was on team blue and who was on team red.

Posted by: General Woundwort at December 09, 2012 10:32 AM (0fxcV)

8 My husband says feeling out a conservative coworker or student must be like two gay guys trying to subtlety feel out if the other plays for their team.

Posted by: Lauren at December 09, 2012 10:33 AM (wsGWu)

9 Seems like a gaffe. Don't read too much into it. As freud said: Sometimes a cigar is just a big juicy penis.

Posted by: Truman North at December 09, 2012 10:33 AM (I2LwF)

10 >>>I'd just rather prefer we had more Hollywood types on our side whose claim to fame wasn't through bottom barrel scraping toilet humor and ubiquitous dick jokes. Posted by: Christina Hendricks's Mighty Jugs Are Now Decorated For Christmas ... ??? What's wrong with dick jokes? Or jugs jokes for that matter? I don't think he's "scraping the bottom of the barrel." He makes movies like "Made," which are risky ventures. It's a darker movie, not obviously a Big Summer Comedy like The Hangover. "The Break-Up" was also in this vein, a moody, dark-note semi-comedy. I think he's actually more of a craftsman than you're crediting him (although, sure, he does the cash-in movies too; man's gotta eat).

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 10:33 AM (LCRYB)

11 >>>9 Seems like a gaffe. Don't read too much into it. Meh. He could have chose any book for his character to read. Why not "The Secret?" or "The Celestine Prophecy"? Why not something by Toni Morrison? No, he chose that, and in case you haven't noticed, it's conservatives who are picking up books like Common Sense. Didn't Beck do some kind of republication of it?

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 10:35 AM (LCRYB)

12 It's not the dick. It's the ubiquity, stupid.
Ubiquity's always funny. Ubiquitous dicks, even moreso.

Posted by: comatus at December 09, 2012 10:36 AM (qaVK+)

13 Buy him a couple of drinks and let him talk. Start with stuff that tends to be apolitical, and let the conversation bounce around. Get someone talking for long enough, and eventually they'll drop something.

Posted by: Secundus at December 09, 2012 10:37 AM (d36EI)

14 >>>My husband says feeling out a conservative coworker or student must be like two gay guys trying to subtlety feel out if the other plays for their team. well that's exactly what it's like, exactly. I meant to write about this four days ago and intended (at that time) do make the Friend of Dorothy analogy. It's just like that. A gay guy might offer up a stuff like "Have you seen the new [x] musical" or whatever. A conservative in enemy territory does the same thing, just with different references.

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 10:37 AM (LCRYB)

15 7 Posted by: General Woundwort at December 09, 2012 02:32 PM (0fxcV) That must have been painful. And you couldn't make a peep or your job and career was kaput. Me? 30 years story editing and screenwriting in NYC and LA. I know what you went through.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 09, 2012 10:37 AM (XkWWK)

16 Maybe he was refering to the War of 1812, I've heard several historians phrase it as the second american revolution. That could be just lazy story telling to make the war more relevant.

Posted by: Adam Smith's Invisible Pimp Hand at December 09, 2012 10:37 AM (NzBQO)

17 I personally liked the shibboleth better when Kubrick used it in 2001.

Posted by: The Mega Independent at December 09, 2012 10:38 AM (6JMZR)

18 I live in a deep blue area and I tend to ask people what they think of man made Global Warming. I'm very subtle about it. When they answer that they believe in it, I tell them they're an idiot and never talk to them again.

Posted by: The Mega Independent at December 09, 2012 10:40 AM (6JMZR)

19 What's wrong with dick jokes? Or jugs jokes for that matter?
******************************

Hey, jugs jokes I can get behind.  And in front of.

It's really a preference thing, I miss the old days of Mel Brooks where the jokes had shock value but were cerebral and didn't overly focus on bodily functions, whereas these days everyone seems to be imitating Adam Sandler, and Vaughn always struck me as being cut from the same cloth.

Kinda telling that the only movie I could stomach watching with him in the lead was The Breakup.

Posted by: Christina Hendricks's Mighty Jugs Are Now Decorated For Christmas at December 09, 2012 10:40 AM (+AV7H)

20 Oh no I meant the commentary, not he book. The book was absolutely a concious and risky choice. And gays have it was easier because its fairly simple to dress and talk gay and be mistaken for a hipster. Plus a lot of gay guys have a certain face. A gay face. I can't explain it. Maybe I just have super gaydar?

Posted by: Truman North at December 09, 2012 10:41 AM (jFLnC)

21

It's really a preference thing, I miss the old days of Mel Brooks where the jokes had shock value but were cerebral and didn't overly focus on bodily functions, whereas these days everyone seems to be imitating Adam Sandler, and Vaughn always struck me as being cut from the same cloth.

 

I see your Schwartz is as big as mine.

Posted by: Mel Brooks' subtlety at December 09, 2012 10:42 AM (GULKT)

22 (let me say right off the bat that I'm guilty of all that I have ascribed to others below. I do not hold myself as some sort of righteously pure free speech zealot enduring the slings and arrows of the vicious left without a care or concern. I've been just as gutless as any one else and depending on the situation will remain silent under circumstances that may have a drastic affect on my well being. I don't discuss my politics where I get my teeth worked on because it's clinic dedicated to those on medicaid/medicare and of lower income. they would not be amused. I'd say 99% of the staff voted for Obama. IYKWIM)

You all do understand the significance of the fact that we have to have this kind of discussion in the supposed land of Free speech?

That we do have to have this discussion is an indictment of the country's collective cowardice, guilt and fear of retribution for politically incorrect speech and thought that began 40 years ago and continues unabated, unrequited (because the left never forgives the right for any supposed acts of H8TE™) and the left is unrepentant to this day for the quasi thought police state they have created and applauded. Aided and abetted by the MFM of course.

All with the conscious collusion of the leadership of those on the right who wouldn't stand up and say NO. And say so repeatedly.

When one is hesitant and fearful of letting a colleague know what ones true political leanings are then we have already lost the fight and are just negotiating the degree of degradation of our surrender.

Sort of like what's going on in DC right now over the economy.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 10:42 AM (3E2th)

23 Plus a lot of gay guys have a certain face. A gay face. Hmm. Is there something perhaps in this face?

Posted by: The Mega Independent at December 09, 2012 10:43 AM (6JMZR)

24 Well, the book is entirely irrelevant to anything in the movie. it's purely a detail thrown in for no reason other than a movie needs details (from wallpaper to type of car driven to type of shoes worn to what they eat for dinner in a dining room scene). There was no particular reason to mention this detail. He seemed to think it was important, though.

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 10:43 AM (LCRYB)

25 The idea that educators are overwhelmingly lefties is totally wrong.  Surveys have shown that they break evenly R/D/I.  The notion comes from the fact that the most visible of that community are the unions and their minions.  They tend to be urban dwellers where the population skews left.  In fact, the unions and organizations such as the NEA and the AFT have caused rifts in the education community.  The 67% that are not Dems have not been happy with the fact that 98% of these organizations go to D's.  They have withdrawn from membership in these groups.

I work for a school district, and I see many, many conservatives.  A large number of teachers who self-identify as D's hold many conservative values.

Posted by: Zombie John Gotti at December 09, 2012 10:43 AM (ky8o3)

26 Gays have this system.

A good friend of mine had a gay boss and he told my friend that gays have a system to recognize fellow travellers without tipping anyone else off if there are other people in the room or the conversation.  It's a certain codephrase (David Mamet fan?) that one gay would say, then the other gay person would recognize and know he was in certain company.

My friend was in a job interview and was answer the usual HR type questions when the interview started into normal conversation since it was over.  They were bullshitting around and he heard the codephrase that his gay friend told him about.  He cannot remember what it was, but he said it was the exact set of words his gay friend told him about.

Posted by: EC at December 09, 2012 10:44 AM (doBIb)

27 Yeah like calling global warming global cooling. On accident. And guaging the reactions. Also tapping your foot in the bathroom.

Posted by: A-Hole at December 09, 2012 10:44 AM (wsGWu)

28 How about "Are you a fan of Andrew Breitbart?"

Posted by: EC at December 09, 2012 10:44 AM (doBIb)

29 There's nothing wrong with a good dick joke.

You're just jealous. Or something.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 10:44 AM (3E2th)

30 @15

Yeah it sucked but the greatest feeling in the world was on election day when Bush won.

If you remember Michael Moore got on this jag about the electoral college and that whoever won the popular vote should be the President. They used to have daily bitch sessions over the electoral college. I used to get into heated arguments with my collegues over this.

Well being that Bush won the overwhelming popular vote, the only possible way for Kerry to have won was the electoral college.

I rubbed EVERYONE'S nose in that little fact and it was glorious!!!

Posted by: General Woundwort at December 09, 2012 10:44 AM (0fxcV)

31 Wife's a teacher and she works with a couple guys who are hardcore righties and don't care who knows it. Some of the shit they put on email is  hilarious.

Posted by: USS Diversity at December 09, 2012 10:46 AM (85EaA)

32 I thought Vaughn was had already come out as a conservative? Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I read that somewhere.

Posted by: Big T Party at December 09, 2012 10:47 AM (WiQr+)

33 a friend of mine in the FBI was down at a bar near quantico for the 2004 election night. When Bush won, a whole bunch of people who didn't really know each other silently nodded to each other with import.

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 10:47 AM (LCRYB)

34
I hope he means the second coming revolution.

*bans self from Hot Air*

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 09, 2012 10:48 AM (n/ubI)

35 "It's really a preference thing, I miss the old days of Mel Brooks where the jokes had shock value but were cerebral and didn't overly focus on bodily functions"

OH really?

Apparently we've watched different mel brooks comedies. The man never passed up a bodily humor (aka dick joke) if his life woulda depended on it.

Mel had a perfect understanding of humor; farts, dicks, tits, pussy etc. always funny

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 10:49 AM (3E2th)

36 Truman, what does your gaydar read when it comes to our Dear Leader? P.S not Ace

Posted by: Helen at December 09, 2012 10:49 AM (93bH6)

37 Zombie John Gotti- I know some teachers in NYC who are at least libertarian.

In Houston I hung out with a group of teachers once. There was one 24 year old anti-Republican d-bag, who probably thought of himself as a moderate and definitely thought of himself as too smart for any "partisanship". You know the type; they're all over slashdot and Pharyngula and other tech and science oriented fora, like roaches.

But everyone else in that group left his steaming turds of smug alone. They just engaged him when he wasn't being political.

Posted by: boulder hobo at December 09, 2012 10:49 AM (QTHTd)

38 Uh...oh.  ace has a friend at the FBI.



O_O!

Posted by: Tami at December 09, 2012 10:49 AM (X6akg)

39 I had the misfortune to speak at a museum conference the day after the November election. So telling when casual conversation would automatically go into how great Obama was for getting re elected. Im sure my silence was very telling as well.

Posted by: Leigh at December 09, 2012 10:49 AM (5STds)

40 @15

And it's not just that we work in liberal fields with liberal people, they tend to be aggressively liberal.

So I can  instantly tell who is and is not conservative or a Paulbot!!

There was a Flame/Smoke Artist at one house I knew he wasn't a liberal because he would be openly derisive of liberals and democrats and then he started going on about FDR forbidding the private ownership of gold and how Israel is an aggressor.

I was like "OH SHIT A PAULBOT!!!"

RUN AWAY!!!!

Posted by: General Woundwort at December 09, 2012 10:49 AM (0fxcV)

41 25 The idea that educators are overwhelmingly lefties is totally wrong. ---- Then it's a shame that their union is so unrepresentative of their political views.

Posted by: Y-not at December 09, 2012 10:50 AM (5H6zj)

42 At least stuff like comic timing mattered to Brooks. Today's jokes involve no timing at all. Just saying them is supposed to be enough because, you know, pussy.

Posted by: The Mega Independent at December 09, 2012 10:50 AM (6JMZR)

43
Mel had a perfect understanding of humor; farts, dicks, tits, pussy etc. always funny

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 02:49 PM (3E2th)


You look like the piss boy!!!

Posted by: Count the Money at December 09, 2012 10:50 AM (Zd/NW)

44 30, 33 Oh, how we expected a replay of 8 years ago. To better days, my friends.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 09, 2012 10:50 AM (XkWWK)

45 We'll have the blind guy sitting on the crapper feeling up a "braille" nudie magazine!  Genius!

Posted by: Mel Brooks' subtlety at December 09, 2012 10:51 AM (GULKT)

46 The codeword thing about the teach is interesting. I'm glad to see that I wasn't the only one. When I was in graduate school (history Phd) I was the only really outspoken conservative. There were a couple others who were known conservatives, but they didn't talk about it. I got in trouble and was given a bad grade by a history professor who's on TV all the time as a "presidential historian" simply for not voting for Obama. I had received A's on every piece of work, but the prof ended up giving me a grade bad enough to get me kicked out or at least have the graduate committee talk about kicking me out. It was then when I realized that there are many conservatives in academia that simply don't out themselves. I had two or three other colleagues come into my office privately to tell me that they were conservative and had my back. They liked that I stood up against Obama in class, etc because they were afraid it would hurt them in becoming a professor. I suspect Hollywood is the same way. What we need is more people to not be afraid. We win the arguments, but we have to be willing to make them.

Posted by: Carl at December 09, 2012 10:51 AM (OeUnr)

47 40 Posted by: General Woundwort at December 09, 2012 02:49 PM (0fxcV) About 6 months or so ago, when SCOAMF looked like he was going to be wiped out, my ultra-lib wife (very long story), asked me what I thought about Ron Paul. THAT was weird.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 09, 2012 10:52 AM (XkWWK)

48 we need something like a "conservadar" so we can properly interpret the vibes real conservatives give off.

Get in touch with @GayPatriot on twitter, maybe he has some tips.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at December 09, 2012 10:53 AM (qvify)

49 "Didn't Beck do some kind of republication of [Common Sense]? ----------------------------------- Beck published a coffee table book of pictures of him standing in front of chalkboards on which he illustrated the meaning of a chapter of "Common Sense" "Glenn Beck Brings The Paine" by, I think, Simon and Schuster. _

Posted by: BumperStickerist at December 09, 2012 10:54 AM (RuUvx)

50 Well, in Boulder Valley it is all pretty much commies, smug moderates (they're the ones with the Obama stickers), and Ronulans. At any rate they're the ones you see on the road, or overhear their loud conversations at the coffeehouse.

Posted by: boulder hobo at December 09, 2012 10:54 AM (QTHTd)

51 46 Posted by: Carl at December 09, 2012 02:51 PM (OeUnr) If there are so many conservatives in academia, how can we explain the election, polling about issues, socialism, etc.? My friend's son, a brilliant kid and conservative, goes to Columbia and says it's like being in a cult at every level. It is a challenge to bite his tongue every damned day, in and out of class.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 09, 2012 10:55 AM (XkWWK)

52 Ask what they think of the 47%.

Just don't qualify which 47% you're talking about.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 10:55 AM (3E2th)

53 Can't speculate on the 3 possibilities.

http://youtu.be/jIIZZuwolPI

VV in Be Cool

Posted by: sTevo at December 09, 2012 10:55 AM (ikBXS)

54 this commentary is pretty awful so far. Billingsly and Vaughn are just telling us the purpose of every scene. "This scene demonstrates this couple has really put their relationship on the back-burner.' I'm hoping they're going to say something more interesting at some point. Well, I got a post out of my $10 investment.

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 10:56 AM (LCRYB)

55 So. What do you think of Boehner's tan?  *wink wink/ nudge nudge*

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 10:56 AM (3E2th)

56 my ultra-lib wife (very long story)

If only there were a country which was full of ultra-hot Jewish females, who were also conservative.

Maybe it could be on the Mediterranean, with decent weather.

Posted by: boulder hobo at December 09, 2012 10:57 AM (QTHTd)

57 Well, I got a post out of my $10 investment.

This is not a good business model ace.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 10:57 AM (3E2th)

58 Probably reading way too much into it myself, but try this one on:

Vaughn did spend a few years trying unsuccessfully to do serious roles.  One of those roles was Nick van Owen in "The Lost World: Jurassic Park."  Nostalgia Critic took down that movie hard, and especially Vaughn's character.

Nick is an animal-rights-friendly guy sent with Ian Malcolm by John Hammond to help stop the exploitation of the animals by Hammond's evil nephew.  He is pretty much responsible for every death in the movie.  He takes an injured baby T-rex back with him to try and patch it up (thus inviting the mommy T-rex and getting Eddie killed in saving them), unleashes all the caged animals who proceed to wreck the equipment of the other team and force everybody to call a truce and hoof it through predator territory to another base (getting most of them killed in the process), and then steals Roland's bullets so he can't kill the T-rex that is being taken back to San Diego, forcing them to use sedatives and have the living T-rex break loose and rampage.  Of course, Nick is not present for the chaos in San Diego.

Again, probably reading too much into it, but what if indeed.

Posted by: They Can't Have My French Fries at December 09, 2012 10:58 AM (vnUNI)

59 boulder hobo at December 09, 2012 02:57 PM (QTHTd)

Yeah but it's a pain converting. The Rabbis' are MEAN.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 10:58 AM (3E2th)

60 Jeeze, literally all they're doing is telling you exactly what happens in the movie.

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 11:01 AM (LCRYB)

61 Vince Vaughn Conservativism Watch

Is this like a deathbed watch?

Is he now going to be black balled (or blue balled who knows?) for being a stinking rethuglican?

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 11:01 AM (3E2th)

62 I live in Oklahoma. We're one of the two States in the Union that had every county win for the Republicans. It's a beautiful thing to live in a State this conservative and not to have the need to hide any of my personal thoughts. My children say the pledge allegiance every morning before starting, and they pray if they feel like a prayer is necessary. A good example of it is the local Christmas parade. Two years ago, the City of Tulsa removed the word Christmas and demanded that the parade have no Christmas connotations whatsoever. So, the local groups got together last year to create their own Christmas parade. It was a success with 20,000 attending. This year, we attended and it was amazing. Everyone went out of their way to yell Merry Christmas to everyone, and the attendance was huge. Senator Inhofe even rode a horse with one of the equestrian groups. By the way, the Holiday parade had a max attendance of 2000 or so. Complete flop.

Posted by: OldSailor88 at December 09, 2012 11:01 AM (Bi7v+)

63 Shibboleths for Morons & Moronettes: How's about "we need to create more habitats for the free range hobo in order to make them self-sustaining?"

Posted by: Dirty Old Man at December 09, 2012 11:01 AM (UUAFX)

64 Maybe you turned on the closed caption for the blind?

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 11:01 AM (3E2th)

65

What we need is more people to not be afraid. We win the arguments, but we have to be willing to make them.

=====

I get your point, but what argument?   We just saw 60 million people vote for a piece of shit despite all evidence that he shouldn't be there. Arguing with them is like trying to teach a pig how to program computers.

Posted by: USS Diversity at December 09, 2012 11:02 AM (85EaA)

66 Nowadays in Hollywood, "coming out of the closet" means admitting out loud that you voted Republican

Posted by: kbdabear at December 09, 2012 11:02 AM (wwsoB)

67 OldSailor88

I'm too lazy to dig thru a google. What was the other state? I'm spending the next year or so picking the next spot I'm going to infest.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at December 09, 2012 11:03 AM (3E2th)

68 #48: I think the term "rightdar" might be a better fit.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler (@ProthonotaryW) at December 09, 2012 11:03 AM (RLZvP)

69 Sorry, Ace isn't one of them but Poppin' Fresh is;

Five Bloggers IÂ’d Like To See On FOX News

http://tinyurl.com/agdqoaq

Posted by: kbdabear at December 09, 2012 11:04 AM (wwsoB)

70 @47

My wife is not a political animal like I am but she is a natural conservative
from her Scottish heritage.

I was once watching a speech of Ron Paul's and she happened to walk in, she was watching along, nodding at first but then he kept going on and as Paul started in with his "A" material her demeanor changed and she said, "he's really a dick isn't he?" and walked out of the room.


Posted by: General Woundwort at December 09, 2012 11:04 AM (0fxcV)

71 I have regular job where talking about conservative stuff is fine. I'm also an (aspiring) writer and use twitter for that purpose. My timeline is full of creative types who are all leftists. Well, the vocal ones are. Sometimes it gets too much and I challenge them but I always feel like a bit of a troll and I'm also conscious that some of these people I want to work with and not toe-ing the party line would definitely go against me. So I stay in the closet and cruise with another twitter account I've set up where I can unleash my conservative side. Sounds kinda lame when I say it out loud...

Posted by: Stephen Potter at December 09, 2012 11:05 AM (nnw7g)

72 Perhaps the guy next door is only 'Liberty-Curious' and not a true conservative.

Better not risk it.

Posted by: gastorgrab at December 09, 2012 11:06 AM (FX38i)

73 @72

THREAD WINNER!!!

Posted by: General Woundwort at December 09, 2012 11:07 AM (0fxcV)

74 Ace, This is off topic, but your talk of work made me think of something I've been meaning to ask. Did you used to teach test prep for the LSAT? I'm not trying to track you down or anything....shhhhh

Posted by: A-Hole at December 09, 2012 11:07 AM (oJPHy)

75 "Everyone says 'think for yourself' but very few people do. In The Tyranny of Cliches Jonah Goldberg reveals how we've become trapped by ideas we think we understand but don't. A must read." -Vince Vaughn, from the back cover of the mentioned book.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler (@ProthonotaryW) at December 09, 2012 11:08 AM (RLZvP)

76 Am I the only one noticing the irony of somebody with the commenting name " Christina Hendricks's Mighty Jugs Are Now Decorated For Christmas" bitching about dick jokes?

Posted by: taylork at December 09, 2012 11:09 AM (ppNDn)

77 A little stay in the reeducation camp will clear it up.

Posted by: Anita Dunn at December 09, 2012 11:10 AM (jfUIE)

78 Poppin' Fresh as an FNC analyst?

Sure, they don't have enough conservative lites who just want to play nice and bring a tea cozy to a gang war

Posted by: kbdabear at December 09, 2012 11:10 AM (wwsoB)

79 This question never fails to identify the conservative from the libtard: "Hey, (insert name) I was starting a crossword puzzle and got stumped right off the bat. I need a ten letter word beginning with "c". The clue is: Ronald Reagan was a ____________. The only 2 words I can think of are: capitalist or cocksucker. What do you think the answer is?" See? Foolproof.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 09, 2012 11:10 AM (G9qZk)

80 in that movie his character w/ a wife and 2 young kids owns a handgun which he brandishes when he thinks his house is being broken into. i saw it on tv last nite and noticed when he heard a noise he didnt bother telling his wife to call 911 but instead went downstairs handgun at the ready.

Posted by: chas at December 09, 2012 11:10 AM (Dpiaa)

81 IÂ’ll usually stealthily tip-toe around the obvious and ask if theyÂ’re an A-rab schlong gobbling love muscle challenged limp-wristed steaming piece of dog squeeze. ThereÂ’s not much room for questions after that.

Posted by: FURPC at December 09, 2012 11:11 AM (0ImZM)

82 @Bitter Clinger The other State was Nebraska. Oklahoma's uneployment rate is about 5.3% and there are lots of wide open fields for employment, so it's definitely worth checking out. Cost of living is low. Natural Gas and Gasoline are both really cheap. I paid $2.93 for regular unleaded this morning.

Posted by: OldSailor88 at December 09, 2012 11:11 AM (Bi7v+)

83 I had a conservative teacher in high school. He was an open supporter of GHWB in 1992 when I was in high school in a pretty liberal part of the country. I didn't think much of it at the time. Looking back on it now, he was one brave dude. Then again in 1992 the country wasn't as polarized and it didn't mean immediate career suicide for supporting a RethugliKKKan president.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at December 09, 2012 11:11 AM (HDgX3)

84

Posted by: taylork at December 09, 2012 03:09 PM (ppNDn

 

if you cant tell the difference between boob jokes and dick jokes go back to Kos.

Posted by: chas at December 09, 2012 11:11 AM (Dpiaa)

85 I am a Graphic Art teacher in the inner city. I live in the burbs. I have to admit that I have become unbelievably cynical since the election. Can't help it. I am in the "Let it Burn" caucus. I see taxpayer waste daily and I just get furious. When my students waste product I remind them that it was not free, they don't care. We now give the ACT to all students free. Half of them don't show up or sleep through it even though it has already been paid for by the district i.e. the taxpayer. When one student gleefully announced that he slept through it, I thanked him for wasting my tax dollars. He said he didn't care, he didn't have to pay for it. LET IT BURN!

Posted by: Liliana at December 09, 2012 11:12 AM (Zx3MS)

86 He cannot remember what it was, but he said it was the exact set of words his gay friend told him about.
"Forward!"?

Posted by: president o'bumbles at December 09, 2012 11:14 AM (jPVBi)

87 >A conservative in enemy territory does the same thing, just with different references.

Or you can just slap an NRA sticker on your car and be a goddamned alpha about it.  I work in downtown Minneapolis, which is probably not as blue as NYC, but its in the ballpark. Here's the thing, I don't give a fuck if libs like me.  I treat them like I do everyone else, but I'm not going to cower to the sons of bitches.  I don't try to jam my beliefs down their throats, but I don't let them do likewise.  The end result is that we mostly get along fine. There's one little douche nozzle that likes to wear Che or "hammer and sickle" shirts that I won't talk to, but he's an outlier.

Posted by: DanInMN at December 09, 2012 11:14 AM (khf9A)

88

Sitting, mid-haircut, in my male stylist's chair a few years ago, when he starts complaining about the obscene profits oil companies make. I maintain my silence, for obvious reasons. Then he proceeds to charge me 65 bucks for 45 minutes of his precious time. Last time I engaged his services.

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 11:14 AM (S+/pH)

89 if you cant tell the difference between boob jokes and dick jokes go back to Kos. Why would I go back to a site I've never been to? Please explain to be how they are not the same type of low brow humor. (Not that there's anything wrong with low brow humor). But it seems dumb to bitch about not wanting a guy on your team because he makes dick jokes all the while you're making a boob joke.

Posted by: taylork at December 09, 2012 11:14 AM (ppNDn)

90 I use, "that Michelle Obama sure has well-toned arms, doesn't she?"

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 09, 2012 11:14 AM (pfqFp)

91 I've been working in NYC for almost 20 yrs. and there's no reason to be shy about being a wingnut unless you're an inarticulate retard.

Posted by: Abe Froman at December 09, 2012 11:16 AM (E55AK)

92 Maxine Waters To Become Senior Democrat on Financial Services Committee. http://tinyurl.com/bdkbbut Let It Burn.

Posted by: BuddyPC at December 09, 2012 11:16 AM (jfUIE)

93 Mel had a perfect understanding of humor; farts, dicks, tits, pussy etc. always funny
It's twue! It's twue!!

Posted by: lili von schtupp at December 09, 2012 11:17 AM (jPVBi)

94
  Been conservative--social and fiscal--all my life.  Never hide it, no matter the circumstance.  Mostly, I'm polite about it, unless any disagreement gets vituperative.

  I've never felt any need to hide or apologize.

Posted by: irongrampa at December 09, 2012 11:17 AM (SAMxH)

95 I have an idea for "conservatives" that are afraid of coming out." Stop being a pussy. That might help. Personally I'm a hammer and tongs, axe swinging berserker viking of a rock ribbed conservative. When a liberal wants to mix it up he or she gets both barrels.  I just got a job and I have gotten into politics. Not deeply, but it is plain that I'm no liberal. A coworker went on a pretty loud republican rant. The liberals that are there are harmless. Basic soft mush liberalism that most times goes completely unchallenged nothing major.

Posted by: theworldisnotenough at December 09, 2012 11:18 AM (j3UJu)

96 For this exact reason, I appreciate working in the military. I am not surrounded by liberals. . .

Posted by: NavyOne at December 09, 2012 11:18 AM (oihOH)

97 Well, to tell who is a conservative in liberal circles you have to be a good listener.  If you're in a group in which it is just automatically assumed that everyone is a liberal (such as college professors, sociology grad students, etc.), inevitably someone will say something nasty about Republicans.  It's just tribalism at work.  You have to then carefully watch to see who joins in with the snark and who simply lets it pass.  The people who let it pass, you can then have a conversation later, using the nasty comment as a basis, but still on a nonpartisan level - something like "isn't it a shame that the country is so polarized", and then watch what happens.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 11:18 AM (d/5qf)

98 When I was in graduate school (history Phd) I was the only really outspoken conservative. ...

What we need is more people to not be afraid. We win the arguments, but we have to be willing to make them.

Posted by: Carl

Yes, but the GOP and other conservatives have sat on their asses for the past 35+years and watched the academy become what it is today.

The 90's were full of conservative commentary about the state of higher education. What exactly did the GOP do in response? A whole lot of nothing as far as I know.

The problem we're facing is that those have leadership roles don't bother with anything outside the Beltway. We didn't just arrive at the point where profs and the media are comfortable with insulting us, making us wear the Black Hat in all situations.

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at December 09, 2012 11:18 AM (08zV/)

99 I am gay can often tell if someone (male) is gay, just by making eye contact. Not sure what it is, but I can. Happens less often as many younger (20 & 30-somethings) straight guys nowadays seem less masculine.

Posted by: Baldy at December 09, 2012 11:19 AM (opS9C)

100 92 Maxine Waters To Become Senior Democrat on Financial Services Committee.

http://tinyurl.com/bdkbbut

Let It Burn. Posted by: BuddyPC at December 09, 2012 03:16 PM

The Scientific Research committee was all filled up

Posted by: kbdabear at December 09, 2012 11:19 AM (wwsoB)

101 Ace, i am not surprised at what your FBI friend experienced.  I am a federal agent in New Jersey, and I can tell you that the overwhelming response, contrary to the general belief about LE being a bunch of union goons, was disappointment in both '08 and last November among my LE associates.  That was at all levels (Fed, State, & Local).  There were a few who were happy, but not many. 

Posted by: elliot at December 09, 2012 11:20 AM (blkVM)

102 What I find interesting is that code words and caution are even needed. Must be because liberals are so tolerant.

Posted by: Cricket at December 09, 2012 11:21 AM (2ArJQ)

103 The people who let it pass, you can then have a conversation later, using the nasty comment as a basis, but still on a nonpartisan level - something like "isn't it a shame that the country is so polarized", and then watch what happens.
Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 03:18 PM

It's always the lefties who complain about "polarization" and "divisiveness".

They don't want compromise or comity, they want submission and surrender

Posted by: kbdabear at December 09, 2012 11:22 AM (wwsoB)

104 Posted by: OldSailor88 at December 09, 2012 03:01 PM (Bi7v+)

I'm Jewish, and a Christmas parade doesn't offend me at all. Let's face it, this country was founded by Christians, and some -- sometimes most -- of the impetus was based on religion.

I am also a firm believer in the 1st Amendment, so just don't establish a state religion and I am cool with it.

Plugs, you fuckers have much, much better music.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 09, 2012 11:22 AM (GsoHv)

105 You're right, Ace.  I'm a gay guy and a libertarian/conservative in a *very* liberal "industry" (academics).  The difference is that 20 years ago I had to be fairly careful about the gay stuff, but could let the political stuff kind of ride.  Now nobody cares (or dare raise an eyebrow) about the gay stuff, but I am actively discriminated against for the political stuff.

Good times.

Posted by: NotA at December 09, 2012 11:23 AM (wnMoI)

106 There is a difference between hiding your politics out of fear and not openly engaging your overwhelmingly liberal coworkers, who are responsible for your job security. All of my bosses are openly liberal. I don't engage them for sake of keeping the work flowing. After all, we all know Liberals are not petty and vindictive.

Posted by: A-Hole at December 09, 2012 11:24 AM (4ZfEW)

107 Posted by: elliot at December 09, 2012 03:20 PM (blkVM)

If you are in Northern NJ, do you want in on the NY/NJ moron meetup e-mail list?

If so, shoot me an e-mail at:

nynjmeet at optimum dot net.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 09, 2012 11:24 AM (GsoHv)

108 The best way to tell whether someone is a conservative in liberal circles is to see what they don't say. Give them an opportunity to take the bait, to spout off common liberal talking points. If you notice they're not taking it, you might have a member of the tribe. Another way is, if you're talking politics, to just mention you're a libertarian (which works even better if you actually are a libertarian). This won't make liberals regard you as a leper and will give the person you're talking to the opportunity to say what, if anything, he agrees with you on. Re: Vince Vaughn: I'm sure this has been brought up by now, but I thought it's been common knowledge for years that he's a libertarian. The guy's a big Ayn Rand fan.

Posted by: AD at December 09, 2012 11:26 AM (12xfP)

109 "Good times. "

Posted by: NotA at December 09, 2012 03:23 PM (wnMoI)

I think that academia has become much less tolerant in the last 20 years.

I went to Berkeley, and while I was in the minority, I was not ostracized.

Now? anyone to the right of center hard Left is beaten up.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 09, 2012 11:29 AM (GsoHv)

110 Plugs, you fuckers have much, much better music.
Thanks, Hebe buddy. BTW, nice jugs on yer wife there. Does she wanna donate to my 2016 campaign?

Posted by: joey biden at December 09, 2012 11:30 AM (jPVBi)

111 100 92 Maxine Waters To Become Senior Democrat on Financial Services Committee. http://tinyurl.com/bdkbbut Let It Burn. Posted by: BuddyPC at December 09, 2012 03:16 PM Sweet love of god. I'm not sure you even have a choice in the matter there.

Posted by: AD at December 09, 2012 11:30 AM (2vUZT)

112 >102 What I find interesting is that code words and caution are even needed. Must be because liberals are so tolerant. Cricket I find this damn frightening. When a fellow teacher(conservative) and I found ourselves whispering during the 2008 election. I couldn't believe what I felt reduced to. I am out and vocal now. I don't care anymore. Let it burn.

Posted by: Liliana at December 09, 2012 11:30 AM (Zx3MS)

113 I had thought the media already showed everyone how to ,find who might be a conservative.
bible thumping, knuckledragging, gun owning, wife beater shirted, breeders, that tawk funny, and drive pick up trucks and do not wash their childreds faces?:"

Posted by: piss'd off ette. at December 09, 2012 11:30 AM (nqBYe)

114 I find slipping SCOAMF into a conversation works quite well.

Posted by: Thread Nomad at December 09, 2012 11:31 AM (MG6Y6)

115 I think part of the problem - from the outside looking in - is that conservatives don't quite grasp the variety of views within the Democrat Party. I mean, NYC is overwhelmingly Democrats, but the only real consensus is that they all hate social conservatives.

Posted by: Abe Froman at December 09, 2012 11:31 AM (E55AK)

116 >>> I'm sure this has been brought up by now, but I thought it's been common knowledge for years that he's a libertarian. well I got the sense it was a common *suspicion.*

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 11:31 AM (LCRYB)

117 I did have an idea for a film about a gay soldier who hides the truth about who he is until the end when he comes out in a life-affirming finale. Only he's not a gay soldier but a conservative lecturer* *or someat

Posted by: Stephen Potter at December 09, 2012 11:32 AM (pv5J7)

118 @108

All you really need to do is observe over a long enough period of time and
a persons thinking will be revealed. Liberals around liberals will tend to spout off.

What's not said can be as or more instructive than what is said.

Posted by: General Woundwort at December 09, 2012 11:32 AM (0fxcV)

119 115 I think part of the problem - from the outside looking in - is that conservatives don't quite grasp the variety of views within the Democrat Party. I mean, NYC is overwhelmingly Democrats, but the only real consensus is that they all hate social conservatives.
Posted by: Abe Froman at December 09, 2012 03:31 PM

The main thing they argue over is who gets to stick their snout in the trough first and the most.

Who did you poll for consensus, our friend the Cat Pee troll?

Posted by: kbdabear at December 09, 2012 11:36 AM (wwsoB)

120 There's a simple secret to this:

Don't be such wusses. 

Democrats will transmit their beliefs to anybody who will listen.  They will tell it to people who don't even want to hear about it. Why the hell are conservatives working on a secret knock? 

Tell everybody exactly who and what you like.  Tell them you like Rubio, Christie, or whoever it is.  You don't have to say, "I'm a conservative."  Like democrats we also need to get past labeling ourselves as partisans.  We are above partisanship, we just like what's best.  If it happens to be a conservative, well that's just what it is then. 

Stand up and be counted for Christ's sake.

If you need a secret knock, we don't need you.  You aren't helping anyways.

Posted by: bskb at December 09, 2012 11:37 AM (HEatA)

121 115 I think part of the problem - from the outside looking in - is that conservatives don't quite grasp the variety of views within the Democrat Party. I mean, NYC is overwhelmingly Democrats, but the only real consensus is that they all hate social conservatives.
Posted by: Abe Froman at December 09, 2012 03:31 PM

I guess the consensus at the Harlem Church of Christ is that those social conservatives are all evil for opposing gay marriage

Posted by: kbdabear at December 09, 2012 11:38 AM (wwsoB)

122 Sometimes I think it might be best if nobody knows my views. Like in  the Resistance.

Posted by: USS Diversity at December 09, 2012 11:39 AM (85EaA)

123 Yeah guys, if your not throwing away your livelihood by running into your office guns literally blazing, gtfo!

Posted by: bskb super warrior at December 09, 2012 11:39 AM (wsGWu)

124 I don't understand; is the chair by the door or is it against the door?

Posted by: fluffy at December 09, 2012 11:40 AM (z9HTb)

125 @22: Yeah, well...sigh. @97: You are correct, good listening and time. My go-to tell is a reference to Drudge. A simple: "Did you see Drudge's headline?" is usually enough to get liberals to self-identify with a "What the hell do you read him for?!" Unlike a reference to Breitbart, a la @28, Drudge is newsy enough to allow me a "research" out. So sad.

Posted by: ewb at December 09, 2012 11:40 AM (r0iue)

126 @119

You have to remember conservative and republican was not part of the NYC milieu until Rudy.

It has disappeared since he has left the scene.


Posted by: General Woundwort at December 09, 2012 11:41 AM (0fxcV)

127 "The main thing they argue over is who gets to stick their snout in the trough first and the most.

Who did you poll for consensus, our friend the Cat Pee troll?"

I can't disagree because I don't know what the fuck you're saying, but it sounds wrong.

Posted by: Abe Froman at December 09, 2012 11:41 AM (E55AK)

128 Conservatives will be the quiet, thoughtful types in any crowd. Liberals spout off their inanities and expect that everyone should agree with them. It is as simple as that.

Posted by: Truck Monkey at December 09, 2012 11:42 AM (jucos)

129 I posted this last time Vince Vaughn came up.  There's nothing hidden about it, he's on the right.  As someone else posted earlier, he blurbed Jonah Goldberg's latest book.  He introduced Ron Paul at an event.  I get Jonah's email newsletter, a few weeks ago he put in a link of a pic of him and Vince Vaughn together, arms around each others' shoulders.  He's an out conservative/libertarian, there's no mystery here.

Posted by: Bob at December 09, 2012 11:45 AM (s/Ukz)

130 "I guess the consensus at the Harlem Church of Christ is that those social conservatives are all evil for opposing gay marriage"

I only give a fuck about the opinions of educated, professional people.  Blacks vote the same wherever they live for the most part.

Posted by: Abe Froman at December 09, 2012 11:45 AM (E55AK)

131 Hey Peter Billingsly and Vince Vaughn, I like you guys but your commentary is terrible. I bought this DVD for the commentary. Please do not do commentaries where all you say is precisely what's going on the screen, or the purpose of a scene (which is usually very, very obvious, particularly if the scene works). The only thing I've learned on this is how you cover/film improved scenes.

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 11:47 AM (LCRYB)

132 @120:"Stand up and be counted for Christ's sake. If you need a secret knock, we don't need you. You aren't helping anyways. Posted by: bskb at December 09, 2012 03:37 PM (HEatA) -- Dude, don't be a shithead. Have you ever dealt with vindictive Liberal types who have power over your professional life? This is what the schools are full of. You have to be really cagey or you may get hit with open accusations of racism or worse. Apart from education, I know a guy in his 60's who got let go because he said, "come on, boys, let's go" to a couple of co-workers in their 30's who happened to be black. This is the world we're living in.

Posted by: JeremiadBullfrog at December 09, 2012 11:48 AM (Y5I9o)

133 We could have a secret handshake.

Or a code, a unusual but mundane sign and countersign:  For example, one could say, "I enjoy tennis."  And the other person could answer, "Yes, I always root for the homosexuals."

Posted by: rdbrewer at December 09, 2012 11:49 AM (Iyg03)

134 The first movie in which I recall seeing Vaughn was A Cool. Dry Place and I thought he was fantastic. Wife and mother abandons family and dad (Vaughn) does everything, including sacrificing his dream career, in exchange for being there for the son he loves.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at December 09, 2012 11:50 AM (piMMO)

135 ahem... A Cool, Dry Place

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at December 09, 2012 11:50 AM (piMMO)

136 I agree with the "don't be wusses" crowd. Be upfront about it.

I live in Austin. Whenever the subject of politics first arises between myself and a new acquaintance, I come straight out and tell them I am two steps to the right of the Tzar.

Saves a lot of time and misunderstanding.

For the most part, people accept it (and me), and the ones that get all butt hurt about it and avoid me because of it, I consider that a feature, not a bug.

I am not shy about telling someone when they cross the line from political argument to insult and abuse, either.



Posted by: Sweet Lou at December 09, 2012 11:51 AM (gsPPG)

137 Since it's the season, Fred Claus was a surprisingly good Christmas movie with an excellent cast.

And Vaughn, an actor that I previously thought very little of either way, was really good.

Posted by: ontherocks at December 09, 2012 11:52 AM (aZ6ew)

138

I think part of the problem - from the outside looking in - is that conservatives don't quite grasp the variety of views within the Democrat Party. I mean, NYC is overwhelmingly Democrats, but the only real consensus is that they all hate social conservatives.

 

Yea, because morality is a bad thing.

 

*shakes head*

Posted by: Infidel at December 09, 2012 11:53 AM (z/wx3)

139 If you can suss out someone religious proclivities, that can often tell you about their politics, esp. if you know something about the area and their place of worship. E.g., if you know someone's Catholic, there are extremely easy political "tells" that track with religious preferences. Attitude towards the Latin Mass is usually a good indicator. Anyone know about other religious groups? What are some tells for Protestants and Jews? Anyone know how to peg non-religious econ Libertarians?

Posted by: JeremiadBullfrog at December 09, 2012 11:53 AM (Y5I9o)

140 Technically the American Revolution wasn't really a revolution anyways. America didn't overthrow the king. America seceded.

Posted by: JohnJ at December 09, 2012 11:54 AM (Tt6ky)

141 Guy who does good commentaries? Sylvester Stallone. He did very candid commentaries for Rocky Balboa and Rambo (the last entries), talking about the various people who quit, how people didn't want to make the movies, difficulties, etc. I don't just want to hear how everyone "did a beautiful job here." I know they have to say that but let's hear some of the difficulties of the shoot, too.

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 11:54 AM (LCRYB)

142 123 Yeah guys, if your not throwing away your livelihood by running into your office guns literally blazing, gtfo! -------- ^This. I really have my doubts about people who cannot acknowledge the necessity of keeping your political views under wraps at work in many fields of employment.

Posted by: Y-not at December 09, 2012 11:54 AM (5H6zj)

143 If you are up front about your conservatism, though, you just have to be careful in a professional setting.  Modern workplaces have a lot of ticky-tack rules that can be used against you by vindictive liberals.

And if you are an out-and-proud conservative, it goes without saying that you will cease to be invited to the cool kids' parties.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 11:56 AM (d/5qf)

144 "133 We could have a secret handshake. Or a code, a unusual but mundane sign and countersign: For example, one could say, "I enjoy tennis." And the other person could answer, "Yes, I always root for the homosexuals." Posted by: rdbrewer at December 09, 2012 03:49 PM (Iyg03)" Yes, this worked quite well during the Cold War. Brilliant.

Posted by: AD at December 09, 2012 11:56 AM (2vUZT)

145 "Yea, because morality is a bad thing.

*shakes head*"

Having morality is a different thing than droning on like brain dead Jesus robots about it.

Posted by: Abe Froman at December 09, 2012 11:57 AM (E55AK)

146 141 Guy who does good commentaries? Sylvester Stallone. He did very candid commentaries for Rocky Balboa and Rambo (the last entries), talking about the various people who quit, how people didn't want to make the movies, difficulties, etc.

I don't just want to hear how everyone "did a beautiful job here." I know they have to say that but let's hear some of the difficulties of the shoot, too.

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 03:54 PM (LCRYB)

 

I thought his commentary on the first Expendables was pretty good too.  He gets to talking about doing a scene before they got approval from the insurance company and after they finished shooting it they were denied by insurance to do it.

Posted by: buzzion at December 09, 2012 11:58 AM (GULKT)

147 138 "I think part of the problem - from the outside looking in - is that conservatives don't quite grasp the variety of views within the Democrat Party. I mean, NYC is overwhelmingly Democrats, but the only real consensus is that they all hate social conservatives."

If liberals didn't have hate to unite them, they wouldn't be so closed-minded. And then they wouldn't be liberals. So it's kind of a catch-22.

Posted by: JohnJ at December 09, 2012 11:58 AM (Tt6ky)

148 Oh look, someone wants to fire up the SoCon flame wars again.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 11:59 AM (d/5qf)

149 Possible he meant the Sexual Revolution--The 60's/

Posted by: tasker at December 09, 2012 11:59 AM (r2PLg)

150 I've been self-employed since the mid-90s.  Hearing the stories about office politics tells me I would last all of about 10 minutes.  Not for me.  Now hanging around other self-employed people is different, since the majority are reasonably conservative.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at December 09, 2012 12:00 PM (0Db2g)

151 General Woundwart --- you listed a bunch o' numbers in an earlier thread about the tax rate climb and how it really affects the bottom line, um, we're doommmmmeeeeeeddddddddddd. You did not provide a link. I am posting 'we're doomed' posts every day on my FB filled with all-libs, all the time. Do you have a link? Not that any of them ever ask for verification, but I like to keep it real. Thank you!

Posted by: CalyxtheCommoner at December 09, 2012 12:00 PM (iXS5r)

152 143 If you are up front about your conservatism, though, you just have to be careful in a professional setting. The way I see it, employers need employees to be productive. Getting into extraneous conversations about politics (or religion or sexuality or whathaveyou) with co-workers is a bad idea simply because it takes peoples' eyes off the ball. Just be professional with each other and keep the other stuff out of the office. Now in academe it's particularly bad because most academics (especially faculty, but even staff) do not know how to behave like employees. So they constantly cross the line. I think it's best to just stay off the topic.

Posted by: Y-not at December 09, 2012 12:00 PM (5H6zj)

153 Being upfront can also be counterproductive if that means that Libs and mealy-mouthed moderates will stop listening to you because of your "brand". Remember, for most people politics is a social label rather than a set of rational principles. If you're clever about it, you can voice conservative notions without risking having people tune you out a priori.

Posted by: JeremiadBullfrog at December 09, 2012 12:00 PM (Y5I9o)

154 I think he's just qualifying the first one. And, if there are others, he's talking about the first one.

Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 12:01 PM (LpQbZ)

155 ps - Lionel Messi rocks.

Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 12:01 PM (LpQbZ)

156 Anyone know how to peg non-religious econ Libertarians? If you're discussing politics and can bring it up without looking incredibly awkward, ask about the debt. That 1. won't turn liberals off from you and 2. you can get an idea of where a person stands by what he thinks needs to be done.

Posted by: AD at December 09, 2012 12:02 PM (2vUZT)

157 I don't see a need to shout my beliefs from the rooftops. It has always been suspected that I was a conservative. It was confirmed when legislation passed that no longer permitted union dues to be deducted from paychecks. When the commies came around to collect I laughed. I was then visited upon by three union thugs, I mean representatives. I told all of them that I didn't appreciate references to "tea baggers" at meetings nor did I like the political coffers they regularly contribute to. Eventually they just stopped coming by. I am reminded on a regular basis that I no longer have union representation. Uhumm.

Posted by: Liliana at December 09, 2012 12:02 PM (Zx3MS)

158 Remember, for most people politics is a social label rather than a set of rational principles.

Yes this is a good point.  For a lot of people, being "liberal" only means "I'm in the cool kids' tribe"

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 12:02 PM (d/5qf)

159 Anyone know how to peg non-religious econ Libertarians?

SILVER DIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: RoN pAuL at December 09, 2012 12:03 PM (d/5qf)

160 @156:If you're discussing politics and can bring it up without looking incredibly awkward, ask about the debt. That 1. won't turn liberals off from you and 2. you can get an idea of where a person stands by what he thinks needs to be done.Posted by: AD at December 09, 2012 04:02 PM (2vUZT) -- ooh, good one!

Posted by: JeremiadBullfrog at December 09, 2012 12:04 PM (Y5I9o)

161

FWIW,

I've found mentioning the downward tradjectory of the stock market tends to work. (Usually as in "wow my 401K is taking a beating.")  If they launch into a tirade about how the government needs to regulate finanical industries I'm dealing with a liberal.

If they talk about opening up the american commerce engine, I'm dealing with a proto-conservative at least (or perhaps a real one.)

But also I work in academics, so I can pretty much assume liberal

Posted by: tsrblke at December 09, 2012 12:05 PM (GaqMa)

162 Anyone know how to peg non-religious econ Libertarians? **** Ask about: legalizing drugs aide to foreign nations The Fed

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at December 09, 2012 12:05 PM (piMMO)

163 aid

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at December 09, 2012 12:05 PM (piMMO)

164 @151

There is no link to give.

That's my own analysis.

You can tell them some guy on the internet said....


Posted by: General Woundwort at December 09, 2012 12:05 PM (0fxcV)

165 I think it's still a commentary on Liberals because they still think it's all about the 60's. Was actually at a commencement address where the speaker--who graduated from the college in the 60's--said that hi generation was the first to fight for 'freedom". What an absolute schmuck.

Posted by: tasker at December 09, 2012 12:07 PM (r2PLg)

166 "148 Oh look, someone wants to fire up the SoCon flame wars again."

Naaah. The post is about being a conservative in a left wing environment, and that particular type of conservative isn't even in the game.

Posted by: Abe Froman at December 09, 2012 12:07 PM (E55AK)

167 Me? 30 years story editing and screenwriting in NYC and LA. I know what you went through. Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 09, 2012 02:37 PM (XkWWK) Hey J.J., Any chance I can get you to read a script I wrote? Got good-to-excellent coverage but was told it wouldn't sell because the heroine leans right. Actually, I appreciated the honest assessment.

Posted by: Wannabe right-wing hack fimmaker at December 09, 2012 12:07 PM (mPrz3)

168 that * his * generation was the first to fight for freedom.

Posted by: tasker at December 09, 2012 12:08 PM (r2PLg)

169 My responses for lefty talking points without getting specifically big C Conservative range from a sarcastic "yeah, I heard about that", to
"I have some really good shampoo recommendations for that day when you finally get your head yanked out of your ass".

I used to think that people didn't try to come back at me because I'm bigger than most, but I've come to realize that it's more a case of mental quickness and being prepared.

If you've ever played competitive sports you know that nothing intimidates like quickness.

Nothing.

Posted by: ontherocks at December 09, 2012 12:11 PM (aZ6ew)

170 Here's a Drudge link in my sock about the upcoming tax wave to hit all of you guys in January. Is that what you were thinking about, Calyx?

Posted by: andycanuck at December 09, 2012 12:11 PM (jPVBi)

171 If you've ever played competitive sports you know that nothing intimidates like quickness.

Nothing.

And SILVER DIMES!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: RoN pAuL at December 09, 2012 12:12 PM (d/5qf)

172 >>>I thought his commentary on the first Expendables was pretty good too. He gets to talking about doing a scene before they got approval from the insurance company and after they finished shooting it they were denied by insurance to do it. that's the kind of thing I want to hear about.

Posted by: ace at December 09, 2012 12:13 PM (LCRYB)

173 153 "If you're clever about it, you can voice conservative notions without risking having people tune you out a priori."

This is what that gets you: "Ya, I agree with you that we shouldn't be killing full developed babies, it's just a shame that the only alternative we have is those conservatives who want to legalize rape."

I've tried and tried and tried to have rational discussions with liberals to find just a reasonable middle ground. I used to think it was possible. But then I went to college and law school, and no matter what I tried, I discovered that their hatred of what they thought of as conservatives kept them from seeing reason. And that hatred is fed continually by the media, including the cultural media. TV and movie villains are always white, racist businessmen, or woman-hating religious nuts, or some other caricature of conservatism, like a gun enthusiast who loves him some violent anarchism.

Most of them are perfectly willing to agree to reasonable policy in theory, but they've been made afraid and closed-minded by a news and cultural media that has them utterly convinced there is an imminent threat of some kind of conservative mob that will impose wildly ridiculous policy.

Remember how Cameron Diaz said Bush would legalize rape in his second term? It doesn't matter what conservatives say or do, because liberals are beholden to the media, who will find ways to convince them that they have to vote democrat because their "ladyparts depend on it".

Posted by: JohnJ at December 09, 2012 12:13 PM (Tt6ky)

174

I have a strong Conservadar..

 

...I just know

Posted by: Albie Damned at December 09, 2012 12:15 PM (Yhu4q)

175

>>Here's a Drudge link in my sock about the upcoming tax wave to hit all of you guys in January

 

You guys??

Posted by: Albie Damned at December 09, 2012 12:16 PM (Yhu4q)

176 Tap "Dixie' in the Mens room stall

Posted by: art garfunkels ugly kid at December 09, 2012 12:18 PM (E16uG)

177 ewb said: "My go-to tell is a reference to Drudge. A simple: "Did you see Drudge's headline?" is usually enough to get liberals to self-identify with a "What the hell do you read him for?!"

I just came down here to post the same thing.

It really is bizarre to try and feel out someones beliefs without coming out and saying it due to the social setting. Especially when others will hold it against you.

I spend part of my time in an academic research setting which could double as a set for an immediate post-Stalin, 1950s wasteland. The only way I came across a fellow who was conservative was I walked in on him reading Drudge, which in the moment was akin to not knocking and walking in on someone who's rubbing one out. This was back in 2007 and next I know we're talking about how we were both Romney supporters in the primary.

Otherwise, the level of ideological hate is ridiculous there. After one tangential conversation having nothing to do with politics, was called-out as a 'Republican' as if I was jewish in 1943 Poland and his name was Hans Landa. The irony...

Posted by: Uriah Heep at December 09, 2012 12:19 PM (jhI6f)

178 Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 09, 2012 02:55 PM (XkWWK) If there are so many conservatives in academia, how can we explain the election, polling about issues, socialism, etc.? My friend's son, a brilliant kid and conservative, goes to Columbia and says it's like being in a cult at every level. It is a challenge to bite his tongue every damned day, in and out of class. -- Not saying that the academy isn't overwhelmingly liberal. It is. They can't function in the real world so they stay in the academy. My point is that you need people to stand up for what's right because it spurs others to join you. Conservatives in the academy would never admit to being conservative so long as they're worried about getting tenure.

Posted by: Carl at December 09, 2012 12:20 PM (OeUnr)

179 150 I've been self-employed since the mid-90s. Hearing the stories about office politics tells me I would last all of about 10 minutes. Not for me. Now hanging around other self-employed people is different, since the majority are reasonably conservative.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at December 09, 2012 04:00 PM (0Db2g)


___________________________________________________


I'm self employed too. Most of my clients are libs. I've never lied about my politics if it came up. But I never volunteer them either. There's red, there's blue and then there's green.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at December 09, 2012 12:21 PM (HDgX3)

180 I have found that discussing the national debt is a good opener. Depending on who gets the blame you will know which side they are on.

Posted by: Liliana at December 09, 2012 12:21 PM (Zx3MS)

181 Remember how Cameron Diaz said Bush would legalize rape in his second term?

FYI, liberals are pushing for convicted rapists to have the right to vote.

Posted by: AmishDude at December 09, 2012 12:23 PM (xSegX)

182 A friend of mine worked on Zucker's Christmas movie, the conservative one a couple of years ago. She said it was pretty funny watching all the lefties struggle to laugh on cue at all the non-PC jokes about jihad, etc. The cons were digging it for real!

Posted by: PJ at December 09, 2012 12:23 PM (ZWaLo)

183 I think "you guys" is a common enough familiar usage for "all of you" that it's not gender specific but feel free to report me to the HQ's HR department.

Posted by: andycanuck at December 09, 2012 12:24 PM (jPVBi)

184 I think he didn't realize you're in the Great White North, andycanuck.

Posted by: Y-not at December 09, 2012 12:25 PM (5H6zj)

185 "FYI, liberals are pushing for convicted rapists to have the right to vote."
Posted by: AmishDude

I think conservatives should push for convicted rapists to have the right to die. The answer to any abortion-rape question should be "Kill the rapist, not the baby."

Posted by: JohnJ at December 09, 2012 12:26 PM (Tt6ky)

186 Well, I didn't type "you guys, eh" so maybe you're right, Y-not.

Posted by: andycanuck at December 09, 2012 12:27 PM (jPVBi)

187 @173:" It doesn't matter what conservatives say or do, because liberals are beholden to the media, who will find ways to convince them that they have to vote democrat because their "ladyparts depend on it". Posted by: JohnJ at December 09, 2012 04:13 PM (Tt6ky)" --- Well, yes. I agree. Once you're sure someone is a doctrinaire Liberal, then you can forget about rational conversation. But if you're dealing with younger, me-too "socialized" Liberals, then you may have a chance to slip in some subversively conservative ideas on the sly. (NB: I'm talking specifically about when you are in professions where open conservatism is a real risk) Sometimes, all you have to do is tack something on to a statement like, "XYZ, if only the economy weren't getting worse". That's a not necessarily conservative point of view that destabilizes the Democrat/MSM propaganda drumbeat and helps create a credibility gap

Posted by: JeremiadBullfrog at December 09, 2012 12:27 PM (Y5I9o)

188 Isn't Vince Vaughn's mom some kind of famous financial analyst/trader? Being raised with a knowledge of economics would tend to make you a conservative.

Posted by: JustLikeDavidHasselhoff at December 09, 2012 12:28 PM (wWZWw)

189 Posted by: andycanuck at December 09, 2012 04:27 PM Hoser!

Posted by: Y-not at December 09, 2012 12:30 PM (5H6zj)

190 188 Isn't Vince Vaughn's mom some kind of famous financial analyst/trader? Being raised with a knowledge of economics would tend to make you a conservative.

Posted by: JustLikeDavidHasselhoff at December 09, 2012 04:28 PM (wWZWw)



Found this on Wiki:


Vince Vaughn was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His mother, Shae Eileen (née DePalmo), a native of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, is a real-estate agent and stock broker who was once ranked as one of the United States' top money managers by Bloomberg Wealth Manager magazine. His father, Vernon Lindsay Vaughn, worked as a salesman for a toy company.[1][2] His parents divorced in 1991.



Also this:


On December 5, 2012 it was announced that Vaughn is working on a project with Peter Billingsley and Glenn Beck called Pursuit of the Truth for TheBlaze TV.

Posted by: Tami at December 09, 2012 12:31 PM (X6akg)

191 "But if you're dealing with younger, me-too "socialized" Liberals, then you may have a chance to slip in some subversively conservative ideas on the sly."

Good luck. It's never worked for me. There's not a single person I've ever talked to who went from being liberal to conservative, mainly because they're convinced that the alternative to liberalism is a ridiculous caricature of conservatism.

I believe in being open and honest, but I don't expect it to win.

Posted by: JohnJ at December 09, 2012 12:32 PM (Tt6ky)

192 Read the Trivia related to the movie Couple Retreat. Always interesting: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1078940/trivia for example: Vince Vaughn's character's father in this film, Grandpa Jim Jim, is played by his real life father, Vernon Vaughn. and Irina Krupnik, the model in the photo to which Joey (Jon Favreau) was preparing to pleasure himself, sued NBC Universal for $10 million in March 2010 for publishing her likeness in a vulgar context. A Judge ruled against her in July 2010.

Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 12:35 PM (LpQbZ)

193 Hoser!
Alright! Foreplay.

Posted by: andycanuck at December 09, 2012 12:41 PM (jPVBi)

194 Quite honestly, I would rather have a guy like Vince Vaughn on our team, that is quietly and calculatingly conservative than loud and proud types like Victoria Jackson or Stephen Baldwin. This is true on the other side as well. For every Samuel L. Jackson, there is another liberal actor that does not spout off their political views, but quietly donates to Dem candidates or just votes Dem. There are actually a lot of people out there that subscribe to the idea that another American revolution is coming. I perhaps wonder of his slip was eluding to the fact that he falls into that camp.

Posted by: Tickled Pink at December 09, 2012 12:44 PM (E1Vkf)

195 I find disparaging references to the government's spending policies is a good way of sniffing out fellow conservatives (and, incidentally, to spread the faith to wobblers).

Posted by: Jay Guevara at December 09, 2012 12:52 PM (4u2LN)

196 First job I lost for being conservative was at plasma physics lab at UIUC.  Someone there mentioned the rush to excellence, and I, not being up on the current frat stuff, blurted out, "You listen to Rush, too?" and then a couple weeks later they just didn't need me there.

Second one was later during the second Bill Clinton term, and the secretary of the engineering dept head was going on and on about how everyone cheats, and so conservatives were hypocrites for getting upset about it.  I said that I had never cheated on my spouse, had she?  She got very red and went silent, and quit a week later.  The dept head made it his personal mission to screw with me and finally just fired me three days before he went to a new job.

Posted by: kurtilator at December 09, 2012 12:52 PM (juh4Z)

197 I recently started working for a company in a Deep South state where political correctness is fully inculcated into every aspect of the environment. It kind of shocked me. I've never really dealt with this kind of situation before. I've lived in this state all my life, have even worked in education, and politics ceased to be an official issue of company policy until I got this job. I guess I've been sheltered. Luckily, it doesn't interfere with my day-to-day work. But I was informed in training and by my supervisor that conservative attitudes are unacceptable and they don't understand why anyone would ever choose to think this way. As a result, I've not wanted to socialize with anyone I work with for fear of what would happen if word got out that I believed the same things as "those people." In the end, a job's a job, and I'll live with it. But I do find the situation distasteful.

Posted by: Kat at December 09, 2012 12:57 PM (27mxn)

198 Actually, back in the 1980's there was a tendency to call the liberal undermining of America's Constitution 'the Second American Revolution'. There was even a book about it by the founder of the Rutherford Institute, John Whitehead: http://tinyurl.com/cjg2wrh

Posted by: drawandstrike at December 09, 2012 12:59 PM (uVLJc)

199 Is there some secret code for ‘I believe that Western civilization is, on the whole, a good thing’?” ___________________ Sad, isn't it, that so few people understand that. When I was in college, I must have heard at least 100 times from various professors that 25% of the world's population (i.e., we in the "evil" west) consume 75% of the world's resources. Never once did I hear a single word about how the 75% benefit from the resources consumed by the 25%. Think of all the new medicines, medical technologies, communication technologies, transportation technologies, food production technologies, etc., that have been invented/developed in the "evil" west over the past hundred years. The 75% use and/or benefit from cars, the internet, cell phones, CAT scans, antibiotics, AIDS drugs, pesticides, etc., but we never hear about any of that stuff when lefties (including all the leftist professors who brainwash college kids) lament the evil influence of the developed world.

Posted by: Observer at December 09, 2012 01:00 PM (/sohm)

200 Since this is a quasi movie thread: Just saw an ad for this, coming Christmas Day Django Unchained With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. Director: Quentin Tarantino Writer: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Jamie Foxx, Don Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853728/ Doesn't seem like a Christmas Day movie...

Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 01:00 PM (LpQbZ)

201 At the time that movie was made wasn't the Tea Party in full swing?  Those giddy days when it seemed conservatism would return?  That was before the most recent election where it became apparent that if you allow enough citizen moochers and non citizen moochers a say they will vote for the hand that feeds their dysfunction. In one movie (the one where he had to choose to tell a friend about his wives affair) I believe he actually had a tea party tea shirt on.

As far as trying to figure out if a person is conservative leaning why not try a gentle Obama eats dog joke and see if it gets a smile.

Posted by: Timwi at December 09, 2012 01:04 PM (pdhxN)

202 Most born since the 1980's will not remember this, but there was a HUGE fight in this country over home-schooling in the early to mid-1980's. Parents were even thrown into jail. But because Americans stood up for their rights, they forced the Statists who wanted EVERY child in a public school to back down.

Posted by: drawandstrike at December 09, 2012 01:04 PM (uVLJc)

203 #200- that's the movie I saw referenced in an article this a.m.- can't remember where- apparently in a recent appearance Foxx played a part of the movie where he he states that he gets to start to murder white people now and the audience erupted in cheers.

Posted by: Timwi at December 09, 2012 01:07 PM (pdhxN)

204 @170 ---- Yes, thanks andyc. My game plan is to keep hammering away with real numbers. No one will care, until those 'real' numbers start showing up in their pay, taxes, etc. The reckoning is coming and I believe we can gain more traction for conservatism by laying out facts and watching as the reality of what the progressive takeover portends. We will win. However, I don't think bleating about what truly matters (ideals) gets us anywhere at this point. It will be hammer upside head numbers that will make the wishy-washy middlers rethink their voting positions.

Posted by: CalyxtheCommoner at December 09, 2012 01:15 PM (iXS5r)

205 Vince Vaughn wore a Gadsden Flag t-shirt in 'The Dilemma'.

Posted by: Flexo at December 09, 2012 01:18 PM (LrvCP)

206

There used to be a strong libtard old (80s) lady down the street from us who used to ask for a ride to church occasionally.  No problem.  When she opined about what a liberal she was, I gave her Rush's frilliant come back:  I could never be a liberal; it's too cruel.  Telling people they're just not good enough or smart enough to make it on their own, forcing them to be dependent on the govt for everything, nope, that's not for me.

 

She of course quit speaking to me and my family.

Posted by: RushBabe at December 09, 2012 01:21 PM (tQHzJ)

207 Nice book choice by Vaughn. I recall that in one of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" movies, Steve Zahn (who plays the dad) is very clearly reading Howard Zinn in a few scenes and it really ticked me off since this was clearly deliberate.

Posted by: Lizzy at December 09, 2012 01:25 PM (kcbsg)

208 I've found that that alpha-approach consisting of "I'm a conservative, I don't care who knows it, and if you don't like it you can eat a dick" works for me.

Posted by: Mister Christopher at December 09, 2012 01:31 PM (DQhAB)

209

>>I think "you guys" is a common enough familiar usage for "all of you" that it's not gender specific but feel free to report me to the HQ's HR department

 

It ain't "guys" that's the issue. It's using "you". It's all of "us" that are going to be hit by Ogabegeddon

Posted by: Albie Damned at December 09, 2012 01:33 PM (Yhu4q)

210 I work for a school district, and I see many, many conservatives. A large number of teachers who self-identify as D's hold many conservative values. Posted by: Zombie John Gotti at December 09, 2012 02:43 PM What is the point of this? As stated in Batman Begins, "It's not what you are inside, it's what you DO that makes a difference". So who the hell cares if people "hold many conservative values" if the idiots are voting Democrats, who who turning this country socialist?! Again, it's not what values ones holds, it's their ACTIONS which matter. And if some idiots who "hold conservative values" are voting Democrat, then their "conservative values" don't mean squat. Their voting habits are what matter.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 09, 2012 01:40 PM (vUK/h)

211

@203 --- I have seen two full-length cable ads for this movie. In another place and time, I might have found it funny/interesting, but here and now? It reeks of full-on 'hate whitey'. I am overwhelmed by the out and open hatred of everything this country was founded on, brought to us primarily by showing how enlightened our society is, by voting for the first/second black man.

@197 --- Kat, come on, don't say that and not tell which state. I am a MS gal and just have to know!

Posted by: CalyxtheCommoner at December 09, 2012 01:41 PM (iXS5r)

212 What we need is more people to not be afraid. We win the arguments, but we have to be willing to make them. Posted by: Carl at December 09, 2012 02:51 PM This really is aggravating to continuously hear/read. Right-of-center blogs like to rip into Republicans for being spineless and not having the courage to stand up to the media and the Democrat Party, and yet, it seems like average conservatives are just as much "cowards" for keeping silent and not expressing their views in their everyday lives. If we don't have the courage of our own convictions, how do we expect anyone else to have it?

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 09, 2012 01:48 PM (vUK/h)

213 It ain't "guys" that's the issue. It's using "you". It's all of "us" that are going to be hit by Ogabegeddon Posted by: Albie Damned at December 09, 2012 05:33 PM ----- andyCANUCK is not going to be hit with U.S. taxes.

Posted by: Y-not at December 09, 2012 01:52 PM (5H6zj)

214 Shibboleths for Morons Moronettes: How's about "we need to create more habitats for the free range hobo in order to make them self-sustaining?" Posted by: Dirty Old Man at December 09, 2012 03:01 PM (UUAFX) Gawd, one Berkeley, CA is enough.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 09, 2012 01:55 PM (Rhie+)

215 My friend's son, a brilliant kid and conservative, goes to Columbia and says it's like being in a cult at every level. It is a challenge to bite his tongue every damned day, in and out of class. Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 09, 2012 02:55 PM Here is another example. Why are we biting our tongues? It really is no wonder that the nation is trending liberal/socialist/communist when conservatives refuse to speak up. I think we can all stop blaming Mitt Romney and the GOP for our election losses and start blaming ourselves for refusing to get out there and be active in the battlefield of ideas. How do we expect to win over converts to conservatism if we never speak of it, because we're afraid of [X]? We sit here and condemn our candidates for not being able to articulate conservatism to the public and yet who among *us* is actually going out in our everyday lives and articulating conservatism? It sounds like many conservatives are simply keeping quiet. Again, it's no wonder the country is trending liberal/socialist/communist when there is no one to stand up for and voice conservatism. Very disheartening.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 09, 2012 01:56 PM (vUK/h)

216 Or you can just slap an NRA sticker on your car and be a goddamned alpha about it. I work in downtown Minneapolis, which is probably not as blue as NYC, but its in the ballpark. Here's the thing, I don't give a fuck if libs like me. I treat them like I do everyone else, but I'm not going to cower to the sons of bitches. I don't try to jam my beliefs down their throats, but I don't let them do likewise. The end result is that we mostly get along fine. Posted by: DanInMN at December 09, 2012 03:14 PM I am in SE Michigan, heart of union central. Though, it is also heart of hunting central. Lots of gun owners in this area. What was great during the last couple months of the campaign was to see many of the union designers in my area put up Romney/Ryan 2012 posters in their cubicles. None of them would push their beliefs on anyone, but they also did not cower. And when asked, they were happy to explain their views and defend conservatism. My own cube-mate (we're engineers) is a hunter and member of the NRA. He received a whole post-it note pad full of "Vote Freedom, Stop Obama" stickers that he handed out to any of us that wanted to put them up in our cubes (he had his entire cube area 'decorated' with them heh). I still remember meeting over at my designer's desk for a job and having a few release engineers stop by for the meeting as well. One of the release engineers whispered to me upon seeing the Romney/Ryan posters "Wow, that's kind of rude to put that up. What if someone has different views than them?" As if that matters? I assumed this guy was a liberal by that statement. I don't recall him making any similar statements when we were down in the labs and the union workers there have Obama stickers and Impeach Bush stickers and anti-Snyder stickers all over their areas. Seems like liberals don't like freedom of speech when it's speech they don't like.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 09, 2012 02:12 PM (vUK/h)

217 He's almost certainly referring to the War of 1812, America's Second War of Independence.

Posted by: wte9 at December 09, 2012 02:15 PM (RCQ1W)

218 I've found that saying something like, "Holy shit, did you read what these idiot progressives are up to now?" works.

That way, when they say, "hey now, I'm a progressive," then I can say, "well then you know what I'm talking about."

Posted by: K~Bob at December 09, 2012 02:27 PM (vBZAE)

219 132 @120:"Stand up and be counted for Christ's sake. If you need a secret knock, we don't need you. You aren't helping anyways. Posted by: bskb at December 09, 2012 03:37 PM Dude, don't be a shithead. Have you ever dealt with vindictive Liberal types who have power over your professional life? This is what the schools are full of. You have to be really cagey or you may get hit with open accusations of racism or worse. Apart from education, I know a guy in his 60's who got let go because he said, "come on, boys, let's go" to a couple of co-workers in their 30's who happened to be black. This is the world we're living in. Posted by: JeremiadBullfrog at December 09, 2012 03:48 PM Agreed, this is the world in which we live. However, I think the point bskb was making is that if conservatives expect to change this situation, we need to stand up and be counted, not cower in fear. This does not mean confronting our superiors and making asses of ourselves, but I think it does mean we shouldn't cower around and feel bad about confidently stating our political views in casual conversation if it comes up.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 09, 2012 02:33 PM (vUK/h)

220 If my experience could be of value to some young conservative thinking of entering the teaching profession, I'll give it. First of all, good for you. You're gonna enter a field that doesn't guarantee a brand new 6,000 sq foot contemporary home on a buncha acres, and some brand new cars in the driveway. But you're okay with that. Good for you. So the areas of concern. First, imagine a Venn diagram with parents as one circle, students as another circle, and the administration as the third. Your objective, if you choose, is to try to overlap all of those circles in some 'sweet spot' of victory. Imagine bitter defeat. You can't possibly overlap them all. The more you try, the less effective you will be. Compromise may guarantee continued employment, but at a cost. So imagine minor compromises to 'tone down' your convictions. Then toning them down even further. You have to engage in subterfuge behind the enemy lines, so hanging black bunting on the American flag on the day that Ronald Reagan died is probably not a good idea. Don't ask me who did that, because I'm not gonna admit it on the internet. But I think I know the guy who did, his last bittersweet year in the classroom. Proudly. Then, imagine a pendulum swinging back and forth between conservatism and liberalism in the administration. Because that is the way it works. I happened to enter the field just as the pendulum swung toward liberalism. Times were kinda okay, and the school (private) was spending money like they had a printing press in the basement. But now that many years have passed and the liberal principal and administration exited, to be replaced (out of economic necessity) by a conservative one, I realize that I maybe could have toned my act down a tad and waited for the inevitable. I choose not to. Maybe it's because I scored a direct overlap between two of the three circles on the Venn diagram. The kids loved me. I was able to bring my topics down to their level and they loved the daily success in learning and being challenged. After being in industry for many decades, I knew how to achieve success. The parents saw their children loving coming to school every day, and loved eagerly dropping them off every morning to do something they loved. They didn't seem to mind paying the money. The liberals in the building and administration, however, did not care for me. I was a threat. I don't know what area of the human brain causes another part to express alarm at success, but in liberals it's like a 130 decibel smoke detector going off. So I caught shit over stuff, really dumb stuff, while I had a classroom packed with kids -- so many I could barely walk around the room. Happy kids, who went home to happy parents, happy to shell out many thousands of dollars every year. Which funded the school, and guaranteed its continued success. One parent actually submitted a story to Readers Digest under 'my most unforgettable character' category about her daughters experience. The story was about me, and the goofy stuff I showed her daughter and classmates about how exciting the world they live in actually is. Years later, after I was gone, the classroom I was in had half as many students. The school was on the brink of being closed. So that's it, in a nutshell. A Dickens novel of the best of times -- showing children how exciting learning about 'things' actually is -- followed by the worst of times -- where the liberal administration conducted a 'whispering campaign' against me after I left -- with the most heinous of crap whispered about me. They do that. You should know. As someone much smarter then me once said, to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Posted by: A regular moron at December 09, 2012 02:36 PM (feFL6)

221 Not saying that the academy isn't overwhelmingly liberal. It is. They can't function in the real world so they stay in the academy. My point is that you need people to stand up for what's right because it spurs others to join you. Conservatives in the academy would never admit to being conservative so long as they're worried about getting tenure. Posted by: Carl at December 09, 2012 04:20 PM Exactly. Strength in numbers. And inspiration of others. How many people were inspired by Andrew Breitbart to be more open and vocal conservatives? I didn't know Andrew Breitbart personally, but I highly doubt he would suggest we all cower in fear of being open conservatives. In fact, I thought his message was quite the opposite. At my own place of work, it's been amazing to stumble across fellow conservatives by accident and then have more and more of them come up to me at later times saying something along the lines of "so, hey, I was talking with (fellow conservative X) and I understand that you are on our team?" This past campaign season, I ended up finding out that a lot of people in the office, both union and non-union, are conservatives and/or Republican-voters. It's been great to know, as now we all know there are plenty of us with whom we can go to about talking politics. What's great also is that none of us are shy about our beliefs. We'll have conversations at our desks and won't care who hears us. Not that we're shouting or anything, but we're also not cowering and whispering and looking over our shoulders in fear. The more we do this, too, the more others stop by and ask us questions about news of the day.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 09, 2012 02:54 PM (vUK/h)

222 I work in the medical field and we have been instructed to not openly engage in political conversation with patients. I made a point not to, and try to deflect the conversation if anyone brings it up. but lately I have thought "fuck that, I'm an American, and I have a right to express my opinion". One of my patients recently thought she was clever and told me a woman voting for Romney was like a turkey voting for Thanksgiving. I told her "That's funny, that's the same thing I would say about a taxpayer voting for Obama". She had no response to that. My new policy is I won't start the conversation, but I'll damn well finish it.

Posted by: Hudson21 at December 09, 2012 02:59 PM (uSuzr)

223 Good luck. It's never worked for me. There's not a single person I've ever talked to who went from being liberal to conservative, mainly because they're convinced that the alternative to liberalism is a ridiculous caricature of conservatism. I believe in being open and honest, but I don't expect it to win. Posted by: JohnJ at December 09, 2012 04:32 PM Same here. That said, what I have experienced is that if you're friends with someone and they respect you and your intelligence in general, they are more prone to not dismiss what you say out of hand, even if it is about conservatism. I have had this happen at work for years. I'm a pretty good people person, make friends with pretty much everyone at work and am on good terms with coworkers, peers and supervisors alike. So when people know me and respect me for my personality and my work ethic, they tend to respect me for my opinions on things. I am in a leadership position which demands that I bring many engineers from different departments together for meetings and get everyone to work together to find a solution for a design issue. In that capacity, I have made good professional friendships with people and earned their respect. Once people see that I show them respect, I earn their respect. This then opens things up for having discussions about any other topic as they see me as a reasonable person. Sure, there are the radicals out there who cannot be reached. With those, I simply learn to not discuss politics, but maintain a cordial professional relationship all the same.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at December 09, 2012 03:05 PM (vUK/h)

224 Exactly. Once I've infiltrated myself into the ranks of the "rational" crowd, then when I throw a few conservative statements into the conversation there is some initial surprise but then acceptance because after all I am One of Them.

Posted by: Hudson21 at December 09, 2012 03:26 PM (uSuzr)

225

Posted by: A regular moron at December 09, 2012 06:36 PM (feFL6)


What happened to you is the result of the Green Eyed Monster: the kids loved you and learned too, and that hit the unsuccessful teachers, who blame the students for their failures, the hardest. Happened to me, too. I think it's because they would see the students hugging me and bringing me gifts at the end of the year and they're jealous.

Posted by: PJ at December 09, 2012 03:42 PM (ZWaLo)

226 I don't know why Ace is so mystified by Vaughn's politics.  He was very open about his conservatism in Wedding Crashers.  Owen Wilson joked often about it on the talk-show route.

One of the shibboleths that work in Hollywood is saying, "My, that person certainly acts entitled.  You know, that whole entitlement thing." 

Posted by: John the Libertarian at December 09, 2012 03:46 PM (oshol)

227 I don't know what he's referring to, but when I went to school in the 80's the War of 1812 was sometimes called the Second War for Independence because the British were actively trying to overthrow our government.

Posted by: digitalbrownshirt at December 09, 2012 04:26 PM (G1aEt)

228 Since I'm an unrepentant shooting sports enthusiast, its pretty easy: 1- Which range do you usually shoot at? 2-Hey, we're hosting a friendly match this weekend. Need a team? 3-How old was your daughter when she won her first tournament/got her first deer? Etc, etc.... you'll get an answer pretty quick!

Posted by: 2nd Amendment Mother at December 09, 2012 04:39 PM (L4CWX)

229 Has anyone seen it do any good when someone stands up for their beliefs and when they get mobbed, ostracized and kicked out by liberals? I have never see it do any good. Rather, everyone learns the lesson that the inquisition is still in full swing, and it's conform or be gone. The most you get is that someone later will stand up and say they are for free speech, though personally their views turn out to be safely on the left. Everybody is for free speech, but their "real" views move left and left, and left till they feel safe - for now.

Posted by: The Lightworker at December 09, 2012 05:32 PM (i0tJO)

230 Uh, could he have been referring to the war of 1812?

Posted by: Sapper331 at December 09, 2012 05:37 PM (Fy6Km)

231 216 Seems like liberals don't like freedom of speech when it's speech they don't like. - It's not free speech when it's hate speech, or racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia etcetera.. That's why "I support free speech" has to be buttressed by "I am personally all for gay marriage" or whatever the issue is. Because otherwise "free speech" talk would decoded as just an excuse for being a h8er.

Posted by: The Lightworker at December 09, 2012 05:42 PM (i0tJO)

232 #220- not a school in Wisconsin was it?

Posted by: Timwi at December 09, 2012 06:53 PM (pdhxN)

233 @132 and anybody else who gets a touch of the vapors: I get pushed around all the time for my political beliefs. I'm an attorney, a sexy, sexy attorney. My profession is full of asshole lefities out to fuck people over for no reason. Do you know what I've learned in that time? Avoiding the confrontation doesn't keep them from bullying me, it just gives them permission. Sure, it may mean a fight, but at least it is a fight. When I say stop being a wuss, I didn't say "it's easy", it's never easy. Given the choice of fighting back of hundleing up and hoping my secret knock will work, I'd rather die with my boots on thank you very much.

Posted by: bskb at December 09, 2012 09:18 PM (HEatA)

234 208 I've found that that alpha-approach consisting of "I'm a conservative, I don't care who knows it, and if you don't like it you can eat a dick" works for me.

Posted by: Mister Christopher at December 09, 2012 05:31 PM (DQhAB)

This just gives them the personal experience they need to reinforce the 'arrogant righties' caricature- It's not helpful, however invigorating it may be.

I live amongst them, and work amongst them, and my tactic is, as someone else mentioned, gain respect first, then you can work in comments that question the orthodoxy, and look for openings to work on people with the ideas, without the party ID baggage, then you have chance.  As it happens, it's also a good way to scan for like minds- they're the ones nodding with you when you question the orthodoxy.


Posted by: MontyWa at December 10, 2012 08:17 AM (onTvA)

235 Why is there an italics button, if it doesn't work?

Posted by: MontyWa at December 10, 2012 08:18 AM (onTvA)

236 "I get pushed around all the time for my political beliefs. I'm an attorney, a sexy, sexy attorney. My profession is full of asshole lefities out to fuck people over for no reason. Do you know what I've learned in that time? Avoiding the confrontation doesn't keep them from bullying me, it just gives them permission. Sure, it may mean a fight, but at least it is a fight.

When I say stop being a wuss, I didn't say "it's easy", it's never easy. Given the choice of fighting back of hundleing up and hoping my secret knock will work, I'd rather die with my boots on thank you very much."
===============

Woah! Hold up!

How sexy, exactly? Be specific.

Posted by: Kensington at December 10, 2012 10:01 AM (H84UO)

237 A reader of ours is a teacher and a conservative, and he suspects that the teacher in the next room is a conservative too. But he doesn’t quite know how to find out without revealing his own conservatism — and that revelation could be bad, professionally.

He wrote me to ask, “Maybe I could tap on the wall? Is there some secret code for ‘I believe that Western civilization is, on the whole, a good thing’?”

Jeez Louise, I thought conservatives were supposed to be tough. Now I have to worry that people I come into daily contact with are lonely right-wingers, dying inside because they can't be open about who they really are. Remind me again why right-wingers hate gays so much -- might it be because deep down, they're kindred spirits?



Posted by: Baron Elmo at December 10, 2012 07:11 PM (TonAk)

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