First off, could you please respond to the content of my post instead of batting it away? You object to the term MAGA to respond to people who are doing this. Or are you saying that nobody ever does that here? Or that MAGA is an objectional way to describe this? Trump uses that term in his campaign, he is not insulted by it.GaryK wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 4:09 pmAre you suggesting that you apply the same rules to the political left that you apply to the political right?Bootstrap wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 3:50 pm When I need to refer to the term, I am usually saying precisely this:
This is a call to circle the wagons around political identities, and it doesn't look like it's based on evidence or rules that people want to apply equally to both sides.
Often, it's closely related to Trump's basic sales pitch: I am being indicted for you. If they can indict me when I try to steal an election, they can indict you. I'm the only thing standing between you and jail. I am your vengeance. Only I can really punish the other side. (Implying, I think, "Only I have adequate disregard for laws and rules and ethics, only I am adequately extreme".)
I think that's nonsense. We can enforce election laws without endangering Christians. MAGA supporters don't get locked up if Trump loses his trials. If we want to "stop the steal", then attempts to steal an election should have consequences. Republicans should nominate someone who was not involved in any attempt to steal an election.
What term would you like for me to use for you when you basically say the same things I read and hear on left-leaning media and from Democrats in congress?
Second, I think it does depend on what exactly I am saying. Frequently, I am saying that we should settle things via elections and election boards and trials, and protecting the integrity of elections and the rule of law is important. Or I am saying that the Kingdom of God is not closely related to any particular political faction. Or that truth matters, and it is based on facts, which are discoverable. Sometimes I feel like a broken record on these topics.
Perhaps you could identify a specific belief that I express, and we can discuss appropriate labels for that? Not that I could stop people from all the labels they choose to apply all the time.
To me, there's a big difference between traditional conservatism and MAGA, and a big difference between rule of law folk and AOC, for instance. More precise descriptions are helpful.