I see...

Okay, maybe "idealism" and "pragmatism" would be better word choices than "emotion" and "fact."  Please don't think I am saying that it is better to be heartless than to be stupid.  And please don't think I use "emotion" as a put-down against liberals.  Emotion is a good thing, and Republicans need all they can get.

As far as conservatism being rooted in "common sense," well, supporting that would require me to make a defense of the entire body of conservative thought, something I'm not inclined to do right now.

And I don't see civil liberties as having anything to do with this discussion.  I have a libertarian streak, as do most thoughtful conservatives.  Fear is not the kind of emotion I'm talking about; you can be heartless and still very afraid.  If you say American liberalism is all about the protection of rights, I would have to disagree; that's what most people call "libertarianism."

(By the way, I was using "brains" in its colloquial sense as a singular noun in that instance, a synonym for "intelligence; common sense; know-how.")

"Seriously, the current administration isn't pissing all over sacred American political documents for no reason, its for fear"

Ok pal, what documents is this Bush administration "p******" on? I don't think the Bush administration uses fear to push its will. On the contrary, the Bush administration has restored a confidence and hope in the future of America using Patriotism, not fear.

Man, I hate to do this, but I'm deleting your post and reposting it with the language edited out (there are younger people reading my Xanga).  Please don't take this the wrong way, I appreciate your opinions...

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More from the really long post guy:

Read some John Rawls and realize that economic redistribution can be based on something other than emotion. There are many logical reasons to be a liberal as well as a conservative. Statements like "Liberalism involves a lot of emotion; conservatism is mostly hard-nosed fact." are stupid and ---- me off. Also, denying Americans civil liberties (in opposition to the Constituion) is far from "hard-nosed facts". Conversely, I would consider fear an emotion, which was the primary reason many people support President Bush and his War on Terrorism. Seriously, the current administration isn't ------- all over sacred American political documents for no reason, its for fear.

Also, statemnts like " It's more like real-life experience and common sense." which are COMPLETELY UNFOUNDED ---- me off. Ground your arguments, somehow, please.

Technical quibbles:

"the "brains" I'm talking about is" -- Subject/verb disagreement
"Liberalism" as you call it isn't the American Liberal mindset you are talking about. Liberalism is actualy a term about an ideology concerned with rights protection. Similar to American liberals, but not the same thing.