groups

Actually what Tripp said was " The Conservative Party can never survive in the naturally evolving society of America ( if it sticks to its’ principles.)

He did not say that There were more conservatives than liberals. And the gallup poll speaks of those who's thinking leans more toward conservatism. Not the party they favor.
There is a total disconnect between the Republican party of today and conservatism. The past administration and the Republican party did not ( by definition ) act as a Conservative party.

Conservatism:
": disposition in politics to preserve what is established b: a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change ; specifically : such a philosophy calling for lower taxes, limited government regulation of business and investing, a strong national defense, and individual financial responsibility for personal needs (as retirement income or health-care coverage)"

What I believe Tripp is referring to is the fact that far right activist like Rush Limbaugh have redefined the conservative ideology of the Republican party. And it is that new ideology that cannot stand in an evolving society.

If peop;le speak as if th eextremes are the reality of either part nothing can make sense.

I believe that most Americans fall towards the middle of the political spectrum as with any Bell curve. There are small numbers of people who make up the extremes of both parties but plain old, every day Americans are mostly somewhere in the middle. It's hard for me to imagine Ma and Pa Middle America killing an abortion doctor or blowing up a University building.

well said Yichel

The basis of conservative politics is to uphold tradition. That won't work in America simply because we are creating a new society not based on religious tradition.

It used to be jokingly said that many white people were fond of saying, "My best friend is Black". As our society changes conservatism looses its' grip in the politics of our society as far as conservative politics is involved in the matters of our society.

Now we can all say, "My best friend is gay" or "My best friend chose to have an abortion".

Conservative thinking politically is a natural thing but conservative social norms are dying the natural deaths they should in a free country.

Now we can all say, "My best friend is gay" or "My best friend chose to have an abortion". Please define how this is said in a new society
I have a friend My closest friend lost?"

If you guys are really interested in answering that question, you must study the history of Barry Goldwater Conservatism at the same time as you study the history of the William F Buckley Conservatism. Friends but untrusting competitors; one left and one right of Conservative center.

Maybe in your new world order Trippin you might find yourself saying "my best friend is a conservative" As for your statement "conservative social norms are dying the natural deaths they should in a free country." I'm not exactly sure what you mean but I do think the conservative movement is in transition and is far from dying. Give the extreme liberal agenda time and they will come back to conservatism.

I have said nothing about a 'new world order', my friend. I am speaking about social changes in America. There is no turning back that clock, Cod. Once people make advancement as to their civil liberties here in America our society evolves. Saying someone is either conservative or liberal without allowing that folks are both is just silly. People may be more conservative than liberal or more liberal than conservative but we are all both conservative as well as liberal. It just depends on the object of discussion don't you think?

In a great speech heard around the world our president correctly pointed out that America is not a Christian nation. The truth of this is evident and rightly encourages the evolution of a freer society in America. I don’t believe for a minute that you don’t understand what I mean by conservative social norms. It seems impossible you do not know what the agenda of the ‘moral majority’ has been and, for some, still is today. This movement is and always has been embraced by the GOP.
view link

How, Cod, is the conservative movement in transition? Your statement that you are aware of a transition within the conservative movement signifies you see a need for change in the movement.

I see a movement that is losing their fight to make America a nation of people ruled socially by laws set forth by a god. We are a liberal democracy by all accounts so the conservative movement has always been in a constant state of change.

Social norms do change over time and it's a good thing. An example would be the expectation of the use of seat belts or car seats for children. When I was young (okay, it wasn't THAT long ago) both seat belts and car seats were unheard of and it was not socially relevant that parents drove around in cars with unsecured kids. Now, when someone is caught driving with an unsecured child in the car it makes waves and if the parent also happens to be a celebrity it causes headlines.

The same thing has happened with homosexuality and, to a lesser extent, the decision to choose a different religion or no religion at all. Fifty years ago, even people who never darkened the door of a church claimed to be Christian because it was a social expectation. Now you find many more people who claim their lack of interest in organized religion or who openly admit to being atheists or pagans.

My work place is peppered with men and women who are openly gay and who see no reason to hide that fact from either their employers or their fellow workers. This is a huge change from even a few years ago when most gays lived the entire lives closeted and worried about the truth of their existence getting out.