Posted on 06/26/2011 11:16:48 AM PDT by Publius804
My father suggested to me recently that it might be helpful to better explain what the term “neoconservative” means. “A lot of people don’t know,” he said. As usual, Dad was right. Though decades old, the mainstream use of the word neoconservative is relatively new. I mentally filed away my father’s suggestion agreeing that a layman’s explanation of “neoconservative” might be helpful when the time was right. The time is right—as the American intervention in Libya has drawn a clearer line between neoconservatives and conventional Republicans than any event in recent memory.
The “neocons” believe American greatness is measured by our willingness to be a great power—through vast and virtually unlimited global military involvement. Other nations’ problems invariably become our own because history and fate have designated America the world’s top authority.
Critics say the US cannot afford to be the world’s policeman. Neoconservatives not only say that we can but we must—and that we will cease to be America if we don’t. Writes Boston Globe neoconservative columnist Jeff Jacoby: “Our world needs a policeman. And whether most Americans like it or not, only their indispensable nation is fit for the job.” Neocon intellectual Max Boot says explicitly that the US should be the world’s policeman because we are the best policeman.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) heartily champions the neoconservative view. While virtually every other recognizably Tea Party congressman or senator opposes the Libyan intervention, Rubio believes the world’s top cop should be flashing its Sherriff’s badge more forcefully in Libya—and everywhere else. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat explains:
“Rubio is the great neoconservative hope, the champion of a foreign policy that boldly goes abroad in search of monsters to destroy.
(Excerpt) Read more at southernavenger.com ...
It means absolutely nothing, the same as “homophobe” and “religious right.” Merely terms of contempt invented by the left for normal people.
IMHO the United States of America should use our superpower status to promote democracy around the globe. However, the greatest means of accomplishing this is through diplomacy, not direct military intervention, except for where our national interests and security are directly at risk. That’s my 2 cents.
And occasionally used by the right to deride their fellow conservatives with whom they might disagree with on a single issue. See also: RINO.
The greatest means of accomplishing this is to kick the marxists out of government at home.
Excellent point. But I did say the "Left."
Everyone who isn’t a conservative is a liberal. Everyone who isn’t a liberal is a neocon.
According to my buddy on the left.
Isn’t a neoconservative a conservative without brass?
A Neoconservative is a cross-dressing liberal.
Neoconservative (aka “Neocon”): sotto voce code word for “The Joooos”
That would be a great starting point.
It didn't take long for Democrats to begin referring to all Jews who were not Democrats as "Neocons".
I don’t believe that is how the word neoconservative first originated.
Neo means new. There were some conservative Democrats who parted with the Democratic Party in the late ‘60s and in the ‘70s. They liked the Democrats’ social programs, but did not like the way the Democrats refused to stand up to communist agressors.
They became Republicans because of people like Reagan, who wanted America to be proud of its heritage and liberty and to stand up to the Soviet Union. But they brought with them into the Republican Party a sympathetic view of socialist programs such as welfare and medicare. They were like Rockefeller Republicans on the domestic side, but like hard line conservatives on the international side. It’s part of the reason the Republican Party is so confused today.
A term used by Libertarians against conservatives because conservatives don’t share the far-left’s embrace of isolationism.
Democrats who joined the Republican party between the Reagan era and 9/11. Most are liberal Jews who strongly support IsraeL high taxes big spending and big government.
I don't know about that. It can have a great deal of meaning.
I like to think of my Dad, who passed away just recently, as a paleoconservative. He was of the old cave man persuasion in just about every aspect of his life. He was also libertarian conservative.
I, on the other hand, am much smarter than my Dad ever was. I was a liberal for ninety-six minutes when I was a senior in high school. In that ninety-six minutes I had a discussion on philosophy with my Dad when I told him what a paleomaroon he was.
The first thing I did when I left high school was get a job. That, of course, changed everything. I became a conservative. I've always liked to think of myself as a mesoconservative. I also share a great deal of my Dad's libertarianism.
Now, I'm pretty haughty. When the old man ever wanted to bring me down a peg or two he reminded me of my liberal ninety-six minutes. Paleoconservatives never forget anything, and they can be an unforgiving mob. Now that he is up there laughing at our foibles, I can refer to that ninety-six minutes as my paleoliberal phase.
Steve M.
P.S. I just don't have any time at all for neoconservatives. They need to vote for conservatives. That's why God made them. Otherwise they need to sit in their basements and talk to Cuban insurgents on short wave radios and leave the rest of us real conservatives alone.
The greatest means of accomplishing this is to kick the marxists out of the government at home.
A neo con is a big government Republican who thinks America should always be at war while putting Israel first.
A neo con is a big government Republican who thinks America should always be at war while putting Israel first.
Thomas Jefferson was the first NeoCon.
Trerm is used to try and smear any conservative that’s not a hate America socialist.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.