Talk:Conservative of the Year 2017

Jeff Sessions?

Should Sessions be added or left out? On one hand, he has made numerous changes at the DOJ, undoing Obama/Holder-era policies and practices, and he seems to care about securing the U.S. border with Mexico, but on the other hand, he has been weak in choosing not to prosecute or even investigate Hillary Clinton and Lois Lerner, and catch-and-release is still being practiced along the border (which I'm not sure is something the DOJ plays a role in). Does the good outweigh the bad enough to add Sessions as a runner-up, or should he be left out entirely? --1990'sguy (talk) 23:48, 22 November 2017 (EST)

Trump has been reluctant to go after Hillary. Sessions is probably doing as his boss wishes, but at the same time, he may agree with Trump.Wikignome72 (talk) 00:57, 23 November 2017 (EST)

Fox News??

Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham both hurt Roy Moore early on, when it counted most. Don't think the final nomination of Fox News is worthy for the list.--Andy Schlafly (talk) 00:30, 14 December 2017 (EST)

Good point. I agree. --1990'sguy (talk) 14:38, 14 December 2017 (EST)

However, I noticed that you removed any mention at all of Tucker Carlson. --1990'sguy (talk) 15:04, 27 December 2017 (EST)

Andrew Turner

I've added Andrew turner to this list by request of User:GraceDalrymple. I don't know anything about him except what the Internet just told me on a quick web search, so I have not stated a reason in the nomination. I also don't know if he can/will be considered since he is in the UK. --David B ^(TALK) 09:47, 15 December 2017 (EST)

Would you please ask her what her reasoning is? If there's no rationale, I'm going to delete the entry -- I don't know anything about this person, but we can't just list every conservative, or even necessarily every conservative we like. There's got to be a reason for why and why in 2017. --1990'sguy (talk) 21:39, 15 December 2017 (EST)

"He was a British MP forced to resign just for saying homosexuality is wrong and harms society. It happened summer this year"

I can ask for further information if you wish, or you could ask directly. She is checking her talk page, just not posting there. --David B ^(TALK) 23:48, 15 December 2017 (EST)

I haven't done much research, so perhaps I should not voice an opinion. However, while this is admirable, it seems to me that perhaps more should be expected of someone labeled "Conservative of the Year 2017." However, there may well be more I don't know. --David B ^(TALK) 23:52, 15 December 2017 (EST)

I'm not impressed by her explanation. He was forced to resign? Why didn't he stay strong and refuse to resign? Was he afraid of the consequences of refusing to bow to leftist pressure to "honorably" resign? Bowing to left-wing pressure does not qualify someone to be on this list. --1990'sguy (talk) 21:27, 16 December 2017 (EST)

I'm not sure. I'm giving here the link to here, so she can discuss it. --David B ^(TALK) 08:40, 18 December 2017 (EST)

Hallo. Grace here. Yes Andrew Turner was the Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight in southern England. He had done a good job in every respect. He was invited to speak to a class of 16-17-year-old teenagers who have been intensively indoctrinated in school to follow the LGBT agenda. The extent of this indoctrination is bizarre and scary. He was asked by a schoolgirl, who has links to the Labour party, whether he would be attending the annual Gay Pride march. According to her, he replied no, because it was "wrong, and harms society". She then reported this on her Facebook page, which was enough to cause an outbreak of online abuse and bullying. http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/Anger-over-alleged-Andrew-Turner-homosexuality-comments-314956.aspx http://www.islandecho.co.uk/andrew-turner-resigns-mp/ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/28/tory-mp-steps-down-after-telling-pupils-homosexuality-is-wrong When the articles refer to "outrage" etc what they mean is the mass hysteria of one vociferous minority in society who get training, funding and media encouragement to shout down all alternative views. Turner had been an MP for 16 years - as long as the lifetime of the girl who thought she knew better than him. To say he "resigned" was a euphemism for being pushed out - de-selected by his party, This is a major issue for UK democracy, because the electorate is completely deprived of the right to have our views represented. All the political parties have now capitulated to Stonewall and LGBT control. If the mere disapproval of that sector of society is enough to get an elected representative dismissed from any party, Britain is a one-party state. For that reason, this issue is much bigger than one man, one MP or one incident. I really believe that nominating Andrew Turner would be a small sign of protest against the un-free, illiberal dictatorship of a handful of people whose agenda undoubtedly does "harm society". Even just listing him would send a small protest signal. I hope you will see the point. Thank you. GraceDalrymple (talk)Grace D.

If he was pushed out, why didn't he just stay strong and force them to officially push him out? He could have shown how undemocratic the system is (as well as done the just thing) by refusing to step down. I'm not totally opposed to including him, but he bowed down to party pressure so that he officially resigned rather than forcing the party to simply kick him out. For example, I refer you to Kim Davis and Roy Moore for American examples of what I think best applies -- those people refused to give in to outside pressure, getting themselves into a lot of trouble (though it was 100% worth it). How is Turner still a good nominee with these things considered? --1990'sguy (talk) 17:04, 18 December 2017 (EST)

Hallo again. I see your point. I agree that it is a distinction, however I have not seen any resignation letter and don't know whether "resigned" is a euphemism for being kicked out. To me, the real issue is not whether he was a hero, or a martyr, but whether we the voters in UK can get an MP to represent our views, or whether we have to live under the tyranny of Stonewall and co. The nomination would be a gesture of support for (a) his views, and (b) his right to express them. Thanks. GraceDalrymple (talk)

While I am open to possibly re-adding Turner, and while I agree that the issues you raised are important, I have another question: is this the right way to show support for Turner's views and freedom of expression? Would it be better to create/expand Turner's CP article and mention him in other CP articles related to freedom of speech, religious liberty, etc., etc.? For the record, when I said "official," I did not imply that he signed any letter, but rather that he, the Conservative Party, and the media consider this a resignation rather than a firing. --1990'sguy (talk) 19:55, 18 December 2017 (EST)

Yes I see your angle on this. There is the same problem in the case of Brendan Eich. His enemies still say he resigned rather than he was pushed out. I think that when a person is suddenly subjected to huge hostility, anger and bullying, they may well choose to resign in what appears a dignified way rather than wait to be sacked. Or maybe the party just said he resigned, to cut the matter short. It is a shame but I still respect Andrew Turner and think that some recognition for him would be a valuable protest against the bullying culture that prevails in UK politics.

Jack Phillips

I have a suggestion, but one probably many people have never heard of: Jack Phillips. Jack owns a designer cake shop, and like many others, has been targeted by "LGBTQI...." activists. He politely refused to design a cake for a queer couple, and suggested another shop which might be good for them. Rather than taking his advice, they went on the attack (as was probably their intention from the beginning). His business and even freedom have been put at stake, but he is refusing to back down. With the support of Alliance Defending Freedom, he has worked his way through the court system, and was just recently heard by the supreme court. He is not only fighting for his own business and livelihood, but for the right of every American to decide whether or not they have the right to hurt their own business by declining customers. Jack could have easily caved, but is remaining steadfast in his beliefs, against these bullies.
I have not added him to the list (at least yet) since I don't know how many people even know of him. His story has been drowned out by so many other things, many related to Trump, that he really hasn't made the news. I don't know if he deserves the "of the year" designation, but I would like to see him get some recognition. I think this is especially notable since he is not a politician or an activist--just a moral citizen trying to make a living while doing the right thing. He didn't want this, but he has risen to the challenge anyway, and put everything on the line. --David B ^(TALK) 14:59, 27 December 2017 (EST)

Here is a ADF's most recent post about him. Also, would someone want to write a page on him, and this legal battle? --David B ^(TALK) 15:00, 27 December 2017 (EST)

After further consideration and no other feedback, I have decided to nominate him. The decision of his case will cause an impact for decades to come. However, this is also a story of an average, moral citizen choosing to stand up for what is right. He didn't ask for or want this, but he is being an example by sticking to his faith and putting everything at risk. Even if he doesn't win (though I hope he does), he still deserves recognition. --David B ^(TALK) 21:59, 27 December 2017 (EST)

Time to Pick

Time to pick Donald Trump as the winner of Conservative of the year 2017? He appears to be the clear winner.--Andy Schlafly (talk) 19:35, 31 December 2017 (EST)

I agree. The bigger question is who should be the runner-up. I see that Steve King is currently listed as #2, but I disagree with naming him the runner-up -- although I really like him and his conservative positions, he seems to have taken a much lower profile this year compared to other strong conservatives. --1990'sguy (talk) 19:54, 31 December 2017 (EST)

Please adjust the ranking as you think best. I'll post Trump as the winner now.--Andy Schlafly (talk) 20:11, 31 December 2017 (EST)

Sounds good. I'm conflicted on whether to choose Roy Moore or The New American as the runner-up. Since it might be better (or at least less awkward) to choose individuals, I'm leaving Moore at #2. --1990'sguy (talk) 20:24, 31 December 2017 (EST)

But I'm also very tempted to choose Steve Bannon as the first runner-up since he has been the most visible defender of conservatism this year, and because Moore unfortunately lost (though I don't think it was his fault). I also like Viktor Orbán, but he's not an American (probably best to choose Americans), and I want to see what he does this coming year. --1990'sguy (talk) 20:13, 1 January 2018 (EST)

A strong field this year! I think people should have priority over publications.--Andy Schlafly (talk) 22:25, 1 January 2018 (EST)

I decided to choose Bannon as the runner-up. He has been a vocal and active voice for conservative policies this year, and he has also been in a position of influence. I also moved The New American to third, as I have read its reporting this year, particularly on topics related to globalism and the deep state, and TNA does not compromise or water down its conservative beliefs in that area. It recognizes that Trump's 2016 victory did not end the war, as well as the fact that the deep state is much bigger and more entrenched than people think. Since it's a publication, I left it out of the runner-up position. --1990'sguy (talk) 23:21, 1 January 2018 (EST)