I used to be able to talk to "conservatives"

[Cary]

It was never productive, but I could talk to them.

Now I have three or four pat answers when I encounter them on Twitter. I have no use for them and I have yet to see anyone do any better with them than I do.

[elleng]

1. There are few if any real 'conservatives' around, these days,

there are many manipulated fools.

[Cary]

4. Except real conservatives morphed into what we have now

So can you really make the distinction? Their pathology has always existed. Now that pathology has subsumed whatever functional characteristics that they may have once had and I believe that was inevitable.

Fascism is subversive.

I don't see how.conservatism ever recovers, and those advocating for recovery never tell us what to do with their rabid base. Poof, they can suddenly produce 75 real conservatives? Or do they have some spell that they can cast on us to make us true believers in "limited government?"

Conservatism failed. Conservatism is irrelevant.

[unblock]

2. actual conservatives are now independent or democrats. today's republicans are fascist nutjobs

but i agree that one could have a thoughtful discussion once upon a time with republicans/conservatives. they even back in the 70s, they were still denying or refusing to take some things into account, but they used to have a "logical" framework for understanding the world and basing their political views on, which sometimes led them to reasonable conclusions.

today's republicans will insist the sun rises in the north if dear leader tells them that's the lie of the day. they cannot be reasoned with.

[multigraincracker]

3. There is a tRump supported that owns a store down the street.

Every time I go in I tell him a tRump joke and he laughs at them.
Last week he took me aside to tell me his business problem with a rich guy trying to steal his business. I told him, a rich, greedy real estate investor trying steal his property, sounds like a republican to me. He said "you got me".

[abqtommy]

5. Yesterday's "Conservative" is today's "reTHUG Fascist Insurrectionist Cultist" and I like

the approach the FBI and DOJ is taking to arrest and lock them up. I refuse to engage
these people online or face-to-face, but if you must choose to do so I wish you success.

[Cary]

6. I understand

I have zero evidence of anything good coming from them, but something in me still says we need to engage them.

They are of us.

[Martin68]

7. Trumpists aren't conservatives.

[Tree Lady]

8. I can sort of talk to my republican neighbors but we

Keep conversation very safe, gardens, grandkids, weather, smoke (live near mountains), smack talking the young neighbor guy who leaves trash can out all week every week. One week while he was gone I moved them up to his fence for him, really for me....he is making me think I have OCD not being able to handle it. I would talk to him but he and my hubby had words over something else. I am pretty sure that neighbor has had words with just about everyone so not my hubby.

And of course that young guy ran for city council as republican, thankfully got few votes. He stayed home with toddler while wife worked, we all saw the young 18 yr old girl that came to visit him daily until wife found out packed her bags took kid and left. That happened right after he lost election maybe stroking his ego?

[Paladin]

9. It's just not worth the effort, anymore. (nt)

[Cary]

10. 74 million Americans don't believe in democracy

They don't believe in facts.

We can't talk to them. Now what?