What you have to believe to be a Democrat

RealClearPolitics, a Republican website, posted a response to some e-mail I've never heard of criticizing the cognitive dissonance required to be a Conservative these days.

Free Republic posts the article, but then decides not to engage the author. Instead, they post lists and lists of "liberal beliefs." Here are some highlights from RaceBannon (Innocent until proven guilty; The Pendleton 8: We are not going down without a fight)'s mind-boggling 230 part list:

2. If you believe the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding…

Indeed! I'm sure Mr. Bannon wants us to end all federally funded research. America's technical edge in the 60's would have occurred through private corporations! Yes, that's the ticket!

9. If you believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity…

Well, now that you mention it, corporations exist only to satisfy the greed of their stockholders. Hoover's laissez faire philosophy is pretty much discredited these days. So yeah, businesses oppress. And, if you believe Keynes, government spending can creat prosperity.

13. If you believe that the NRA is bad, because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good, because it supports certain parts of the Constitution…

Right back at ya, Freeper! What do you think about the ACLU? And BTW, I agree with the NRA.

36. IF You must practice disinformation and hate under the name of progress. You strive to be an emotional being, devoid of logic and reason. You must not understand the true meaning of compassion.

I see this a lot - the idea that liberalism is all about feelings, and has no rational basis. Cause if Ann Coulter is one thing, it's a rational counterpoint to that emotional mess, Al Gore.

50. If you believe That a man who routinely breaks even the rules of a debate format should be trusted when he assures us that throughout the campaign of 1996, he engaged in no illegal fund raising.

Breaking the Rules of Debate! Will Al Gore stop at nothing to be elected?!

67. If You believe that John Ashcroft is a horrible choice for a federal position because he is a religious man, but Joe LIEberman was a great choice for a federal position because he is a religious man.

Lieberman - totally supported by liberals.

147. Liberals are humourless bores.

He's gone off format by now - and I would say a 230 point list is surely a way to take back humor for Conservatives!

207. If You believe That everyone deserves equal rights, except white males;

Yep, better paid and better educated. Help, help, I'm being oppressed!

229. If You believe That the only reason Socialism has never succeeded is because the Wrong people have been in charge;

See above, America has been socialist since WW-2, by your definition.