This is why I left both the GOP and conservatism. What “they” (the Dems) do should not be used to justify what “we” (Repubs) do.

This has nothing to do with conservativism, though. That’s a philosophy of governance. What it has to do with is the full-body-contact-sport known as politics. And it’s worth mentioning that the way it is today is not as bad as it was in the past; the period from FDR to Bush I was relatively friendly, probably having to do with the double traumas of the Depression and WW2 that so much of the electorate still remembered during that period.

That delegitimizes everything we stood for. At this point there is no GOP or conservatism. It is only Anti-Dem/Liberal. There is no real basis for GOP and conservatism, it is only defined by being the opposite of whatever the Dems/Libs.

Hmmmm. First off, that’s a bit too sweeping; there are indeed certain policies that conservatives “stand for”; but I’d agree that what is “stood for” becomes drown out by the “not them” portion of the discussions.

But, there’s a great deal of bothsiderism on that point, which goes back to my statement about party politics.

And that is exactly how Trump has been administering policy. Whatever “they” have done, we do the opposite. Not because it is good policy, but only because they did it and we don’t like it because they did it.

Again, not entirely true. There are sound reasons for Keystone, the reversal of the Iran policy, and others. Partially true for ACA repeal/reform, but the USA’s Syrian policy and the desire for corporate tax reform stayed the same between administrations. Very true, however, in things like returning the upper income tax rate back to 35%.

It really isn’t because Trump knows how to shape sound policy. He obviously doesn’t.

Trump knows what he knows, which is real estate. There are a lot of good economic lessons in real estate which I’m sure he knows and follows. That said, there are also some BAD economic lessons in real estate, and he’s demonstrated some of those. Other than that, my view is that on matters other than items like the Wall, he lets others craft policy.

I used to believe conservatism and the GOP actually stood for something positive. I don’t believe that any more because of these so called conservatives/GOP. Similar to how I cannot call myself a Christian in light of so called Christians. I don’t think this is a coincidence.

You’re too young to be so cynical. What you’re reacting to is the cold, harsh reality of human nature. :-( It’s not pretty, but the failings of humans to excute on ideals doesn’t mean the ideals have no value.