Academic Gets Right Wrong

Accuracy in Academia ^ | November 30, 2016 | Malcolm A. Kline

[Academiadotorg]

In the Chronicle Review, a Stanford historian interviews George Nash, distinguished chronicler of the political right, with the pretty tacit intent of bashing Trump supporters.

"It might be preposterous in this, the year of Trump, to even think about conservatism as an intellectual movement," Jennifer Burns writes. "Trump's unexpected rise seems to lay bare a simple fact -- that conservatism has not only lost the battle of ideas but ceded the terrain of sophisticated thought altogether."

"But a deeper understanding of the intellectual currents that have coursed beneath modern conservatism is essential to explaining why those currents now appear to have dried up." By the way, unlike the last two Republican presidents, the president-elect has actually moved further to the right since winning election to the Oval Office.

In attempting to explain the history of conservatism, which Nash chronicled meticulously, she portrays a philosophy in action that few conservatives would recognize. "Yet today the most obvious political progeny of the movement Nash defined -- nationally known conservatives like Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney, and Jeb Bush -- struggle to remain relevant," Burns writes.

Few conservatives I know, and I know many, would recognize those three as fellow travelers. Nevertheless, arguably her assessment is partially correct: Like academics, they are struggling to remain relevant.

[T-Bird45]

I assert: Trump may fail us; the other 16 would certainly have failed us.

I can't disagree too much. I know it's heresy on FR to have held out any hope for Cruz yet I liked some of his philosophical underpinning. As I said, I think Trump's bias for action holds promise and I await the start of the show.

[spintreebob]

You win the prize. The biggest problem with McConnell, Ryan, etal is not that I disagree with them on a few issues.

Lack of spine, cajones and courage is the problem. Obama wants to go left at 100 mph. McConnell is willing to compromise on going left at 50 mph. Ryan says he’ll go left as long as he doesnt have to shift into 4th gear.

[Rashputin]

Name me one part of traditional America the "nationally known Conservatives" have preserved other than their own perks and wealth.

Conservatives rose up and defeated the ERA and the "nationally known Conservatives" who run the Republican party have bargained away every USSC appointment so that the ERA is in effect without the Amendment. So, nothing social has been preserved, and the same "Conservatives" think it's fine if people in the US live like people in third world countries if that's what it takes to keep corporate and investment profit margins far above what was the norm for most of our history.

If you consider who they look out for, "Conservative" has morphed into "ruling elite".

The Republican party can either become a populist, nationalist, party that stands firmly on America First and returns to the rule of Law rather than the rule of the Nobility or it will be replaced in short order.

JMHo

[Chickensoup]

So true.

and conservatives need to rise up and speak out and keep the special interest murky Republicrats in check.

[N-R-T]

Right again. Good to see you’re still on the case. - Mikel

[No_More_Harkin]

And the democrats and their MSM lackeys cry “OBSTRUCTION!” And the right caves because they don’t want to be labeled anything by the left controlled press.
Trump gave them a yuge middle finger, and conservatives across the country cheered. It’s not that Republicans are obstructionists it’s that they don’t simply stand up and say, I won’t compromise on the implementation of any anti-American policy that hurts the majority of the citizens.