Conscience of a Conservative

[applegrove]

https://politicalwire.com/2017/07/30/conscience-of-a-conservative/

"SNIP..........


Out this week: Conscience of a Conservative by Sen. Jeff Flake.

“The Republican party used to play to a broader audience, one that demanded that we accomplish something. But in this era of dysfunction, our primary accomplishment has been constructing the argument that we’re not to blame. We have decided that it is better to build and maintain a majority by using the levers of power rather than the art of persuasion and the battle of ideas. We’ve decided that putting party over country is okay.”

............SNIP"

[CatMor]

1. I'm surprised

there is a Conservative with a conscience.

[Cosmocat]

2. Wait, what?

Flake actually said this?

[BigmanPigman]

3. Will the conscience of a conservative be contagious?

Let's hope so.

I like alliteration.

[hatrack]

4. Hooves of a Unicorn; Wings of a Pixie; Offspring of a Mule; Benefits of AIDS

I can play this shit all day, Senator.

[longship]

5. How did you vote on McConnell's last ACA repeal bill, Senator?

And you dare lecture your party about Conscience?

That would be unbridled hubris, Senator Flake.

Resign your Senate seat, NOW!

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. oxymoron

[Best_man23]

7. Oxymoran

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. Bingo!

[GulfCoast66]

10. OxyContin...

It is what powers many of their supporters.

[CousinIT]

9. Didn't realize they had any. n/t

[DFW]

11. A "Conservative" with a conscience is like a squid with a spine

That is: there ain't no such animal.

First off, since there is nothing "conservative" about today's Republicans--not as the word is defined by Webster, anyway--even equating the two is already erroneous. And if Flake had any kind of conscience he would have voted SOMEWHERE along the line against Trump. ALL of his votes, from Gorsuch to all of the votes this past week, have been lockstep with Trump.

Flake does NOT get exoneration from the bad image just because he can paraphrase McCain's Senate speech and try to apply it to himself. Republicans DO put Party over Country, Flake is correct about that. But what is all this crap about him suddenly discovering something wrong with the concept? If it's true, then he voted with the wrong "McC." Instead of voting with McCain, he voted with McConnell.

Flake reminds me of the sort of man who administers lethal injections to the condemned at prisons, and then goes home to prepare for an anti-abortion-rights rally because he's "pro-life." That's not "conscience." It's hypocrisy.

[cynatnite]

12. Conservatives Without Conscience by John Dean

This is an awesome book that I think would be especially relevant today.