Reply #18: It's a complex question, but also a simple one [View All]

[Armstead]

Personally, my ideal candidate would be Dennis Kucinich's brain inside of Barak Obama.

Since medical science has not advanced to that point yet, we're down to a choice of two.

My short version of the complex answer is that "liberal" and "conservative" are not the only immutable paths through the maze of individuals or society. Instead, we're all a mix of liberal and conservative instincts, and our society is based on the checks and balances of left and right.

But there are also many areas in which people can hold contradictory opinions or impulses that combine their liberal and conservative sides.

For example, I'm probably on the right in terms of gun control. But on many other issues I'm firmly on the left side of the spectrum. I don't care enough about guns to base any vote on that. But if I did, I'd have to weigh whether my liberal instincts on other issues outweigh my libertarianism about guns.

Most people have to weigh these kinds of things constantly.

So it is quite possible that there may be socially conservative Republicans who are more liberal -- or at least moderate -- on economic issues like the minimum wage or trade.