John from Ft Collins pretty much nails it. Compared to the assholes(R) now in charge, who deny science, while kissing Dotard’s ass and swallowing The Big Lie, the old time GOP was a pretty good group.

And you wonder WHY I can’t stand’em?

 I’ll take a GOP with actual conservatives, please 

Re: “Conservatives feel blamed, shamed and ostracized,” April 17 commentary Conservative values include respect for democratic institutions, laws, morality and norms. It includes supporting our capitalistic system, including free trade and fiscal responsibility. It includes a strong American presence on the world stage.

Modern “conservatives” distrust and impugn law enforcement, intelligence agencies and sometimes the military. They claim to support police, but they fail to acknowledge what the Jan. 6 insurrectionists did to the Capitol Police.

The “America First” agenda opposes America’s traditional role as a leader and beacon of democracy to the rest of the world. They routinely thumb their noses at laws, rules and norms as they don’t feel those apply to them (refusing legal subpoenas, releasing candidates’ tax returns), even though those exist to bind together a trustful civil society.

Modern conservatives decide what’s true based on what’s best to keep their “tribe” in power — putting party over country and dividing the country over false flag cultural grievances. Falsehoods and conspiracies (calling their opponents enablers of child sexual abuse) are routinely spread with no accountability.

Calling these folks “conservatives” is a huge misnomer, and their actions are antithetical to a democracy.

Perhaps this is why these folks are blamed, shamed and ostracized. Please give us back GOP classic.

John W. Thomas, Fort Collins