Conservatives define themselves in terms of what they oppose.
Interpretation
Conservatives often identify their beliefs by stating what they are against rather than what they stand for.
This quote by George Will highlights the tendency of conservatives to define their political identity and beliefs in opposition to certain ideologies or policies rather than expressing a coherent vision of what they advocate. It suggests that a negative definition can limit the scope of one's beliefs and hinder constructive political dialogue.
In practice
In a political debate, one might use this quote to illustrate how some parties lack a positive vision.
The problem with intelligent-design theory, is not that it is false but that it is not falsifiable. Not being susceptible to contradicting evidence, it is not a testable hypothesis. Hence it is not a scientific but a creedal tenet - a matter of faith, unsuited to a public school's science curriculum.
The cultivation - even celebration - of victimhood by intellectuals, tort lawyers, politicians and the media is both cause and effect of today's culture of complaint.
Correct thinkers think that 'baseball trivia' is an oxymoron: nothing about baseball is trivial.
Constitutional arguments that seem as dry as dust can have momentous consequences.
The civil forfeiture law - if something so devoid of due process can be dignified as law - is an incentive for perverse behavior: Predatory government agencies get to pocket the proceeds from property they seize from Americans without even charging them with, let alone convicting them of, crimes. Criminals are treated better than this because they lose the fruits of their criminality only after being convicted.
Actually, there is only one first question of government, and it is How should we live? or What kind of people do we want our citizens to be?
I am making a collection of the things my opponents have found me to be and, when this election is over, I am going to open a museum and put them on display.
This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility.
If we can deter the Soviet Union, if we can deter North Korea, why on earth can't we deter Iran?
If you look at satellite photographs of the Far East by night, you'll see a large splotch curiously lacking in light. This area of darkness is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
A statesman is an easy man, he tells his lies by rote._x000D_ _x000D_ A journalist invents his lies, and rams them down your throat._x000D_ _x000D_ So stay at home and drink your beer and let the neighbors vote.
Government isn't there just to administer life support to failing markets. Without the government, many of those markets would not even exist.
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