3 ms·

> nor 'conservative' like Paxton is supposed to be - no idea if he really is but that is besides the point. This is (intentionally or unintentionally) comedy.

> nor 'conservative' like Paxton is supposed to be - no idea if he really is but that is besides the point. This is (intentionally or unintentionally) comedy. (If intentional, the subtlety is magnificent.) > Paxton rose to power as an ally of the Tea Party movement[3] and has been described as an ultraconservative[2][3][4][5] or far-right[6][7][8][9] politician. As attorney general, Paxton has appointed prominent opponents of LGBT rights to leading positions within his department. In June 2022, Paxton said he would defend state laws prohibiting consensual same-sex relationships if the Supreme Court precedent invalidating such laws, the Lawrence v. Texas decision, was overturned.[10] He has sued president Joe Biden's administration nearly 50 times.[6][9] There's just no way to know!

hagbard_c 3y ago
I'm not from the USA, not conservative and have not made a study of whether Paxton is conservative or not nor do I know whether the 'tea party movement' can be called 'conservative', from what I gather they are/were more of a populist movement? I also do not equate opposition of 'LGBT rights' with conservatism since in my eyes conservatism does not have much if anything to say about such things. Here's what Britannica says about conservatism [1]: conservatism, political doctrine that emphasizes the value of traditional institutions and practices. Conservatism is a preference for the historically inherited rather than the abstract and ideal. This preference has traditionally rested on an organic conception of society—that is, on the belief that society is not merely a loose collection of individuals but a living organism comprising closely connected, interdependent members. Conservatives thus favour institutions and practices that have evolved gradually and are manifestations of continuity and stability. Government’s responsibility is to be the servant, not the master, of existing ways of life, and politicians must therefore resist the temptation to transform society and politics. In a society where 'LGBT rights' have evolved gradually - e.g. the Netherlands (where I'm from, originally) - there is no friction between supporting such and being 'conservative'. I guess the same is true for parts of the USA - California comes to mind - but less so for others - Texas being an example of such. [1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/conservatism https://www.britannica.com/topic/conservatism
- giraffe_lady 3y ago
  If this is what you think conservative means to an american politician (or journalist) you are frankly not informed enough about the context to have a useful opinion on this subject.
  - DonHopkins 3y ago
    He's informed enough about the American conservative rhetorical techniques to claim he's being canceled and cast himself as the victim. Isn't it ironic? https://web.archive.org/web/20240415235814/https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=hagbard_c https://web.archive.org/web/20240415235814/https://news.ycom...
    - giraffe_lady 3y ago
      lmao good shit
    - hagbard_c 3y ago
      I practice what I preach, i.e. I document what happens. I you want to label this as 'casting myself as a victim' that's on you.
      - DonHopkins 3y ago
        Don't blame me for what YOU wrote in YOUR OWN profile. Now are you trying to cast yourself as the victim of me forcing you to write what you did? I didn't hold a gun to your head, or break into to your account. Maybe you should stop practicing and preaching bullshit.
- rsynnott 3y ago
  Paxton, er, very much doesn’t meet the Encyclopaedia Britannica’s definition of conservatism. (For that matter, nor does the modern British Conservative Party). “Conservative”, in US politics, is a term of art, and is often used to describe quite radical right-wing politicians, like Paxton.
- 3y ago

hagbard_c 3y ago

I'm not from the USA, not conservative and have not made a study of whether Paxton is conservative or not nor do I know whether the 'tea party movement' can be called 'conservative', from what I gather they are/were more of a populist movement? I also do not equate opposition of 'LGBT rights' with conservatism since in my eyes conservatism does not have much if anything to say about such things. Here's what Britannica says about conservatism [1]: conservatism, political doctrine that emphasizes the value of traditional institutions and practices. Conservatism is a preference for the historically inherited rather than the abstract and ideal. This preference has traditionally rested on an organic conception of society—that is, on the belief that society is not merely a loose collection of individuals but a living organism comprising closely connected, interdependent members. Conservatives thus favour institutions and practices that have evolved gradually and are manifestations of continuity and stability. Government’s responsibility is to be the servant, not the master, of existing ways of life, and politicians must therefore resist the temptation to transform society and politics. In a society where 'LGBT rights' have evolved gradually - e.g. the Netherlands (where I'm from, originally) - there is no friction between supporting such and being 'conservative'. I guess the same is true for parts of the USA - California comes to mind - but less so for others - Texas being an example of such. [1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/conservatism https://www.britannica.com/topic/conservatism

giraffe_lady 3y ago
If this is what you think conservative means to an american politician (or journalist) you are frankly not informed enough about the context to have a useful opinion on this subject.
- DonHopkins 3y ago
  He's informed enough about the American conservative rhetorical techniques to claim he's being canceled and cast himself as the victim. Isn't it ironic? https://web.archive.org/web/20240415235814/https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=hagbard_c https://web.archive.org/web/20240415235814/https://news.ycom...
  - giraffe_lady 3y ago
    lmao good shit
  - hagbard_c 3y ago
    I practice what I preach, i.e. I document what happens. I you want to label this as 'casting myself as a victim' that's on you.
    - DonHopkins 3y ago
      Don't blame me for what YOU wrote in YOUR OWN profile. Now are you trying to cast yourself as the victim of me forcing you to write what you did? I didn't hold a gun to your head, or break into to your account. Maybe you should stop practicing and preaching bullshit.
rsynnott 3y ago
Paxton, er, very much doesn’t meet the Encyclopaedia Britannica’s definition of conservatism. (For that matter, nor does the modern British Conservative Party). “Conservative”, in US politics, is a term of art, and is often used to describe quite radical right-wing politicians, like Paxton.
3y ago