Stop Drilling Holes In The Ships Hull: Why Conservatism Needs a Course Correction

There’s an odd and unsettling strain of fatalism sweeping through the ranks of erstwhile conservative thinkers these days, as though they've been put into a form of collective hypnosis and conditioned into believing that the only way to stave off disaster is for all of us to throw ourselves headlong into another Trump campaign—ironically, more than Trump himself is willing to throw himself into it. It’s the kind of logic that says, “If the Titanic is sinking, you should try to put out the fire in the engine room by drilling more holes in the hull.” We are told in no uncertain terms that the stakes "this time" are too high and that a Kamala Harris presidency would be nothing short of the Four Horsemen galloping into Washington on horses with the heads of Stalin, Lenin, Mao, and Marx. It’s all very dramatic and a bit overly theatrical. The problem is not that we’re presented with a false choice—it’s that we’re capitulating to it without so much as a whimper. It’s like watching a horror movie where the characters keep walking into the haunted house despite all the signs telling them not to. Rather than resigning ourselves to this sad spectacle, let’s lay out a real plan—a conservative one, rooted in principle rather than in the fevered fantasies of a demagogue’s apologists.

So what do we conservatives do instead of capitulating to this dreary false choice between Trump and the cataclysmic visions of a Kamala Harris presidency? The answer is, quite frankly, deceptively simple and yet profoundly demanding: we restore conservatism to its principled roots, reinvigorate its intellectual core, and build a movement that stands for something more enduring than the fevered whims of one man and the mob of the present. And no, this isn’t some pie-in-the-sky idealism; it’s a pragmatic strategy rooted in history, philosophy, and a deep-seated belief that the American electorate deserves better than what’s being offered. We, as Americans, deserve better not just from our political leaders but from our thought leaders.

The first order of business for any movement is to have an intellectual foundation upon which it hangs its hat. The main issue with the current MAGA movement, if you can call it that, is that it has no actual driving issues that aren't specifically about whatever Trump is currently railing about and shifts just as easily when he changes his mind on an issue, or worse, sees a politically expedient alternative. Clearly, the first order of business for conservatives is to reestablish conservatism as an intellectual force. We must reclaim the philosophical high ground that has been ceded to bumper sticker sloganeering, inane catechisms, and reactionary theatrics. This means a return to the rigorous analysis and discourse that once defined the movement—think Russell Kirk, not Marjorie Taylor Greene.

We start by fostering serious debate around policy and principle, not personalities. When addressing concerns of conservatives, liberals, Marxists, or what have you, we must focus on what our opinions and policy ideas are based on. This requires knowing the subject before forming concrete opinions. It demands not only work and research but also creating platforms. Using platforms like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Rumble—whether through think tanks, publications, or even local discussion groups—allows ideas to be explored and debated with the gravity they deserve. Imagine a modern-day salon where the question of what conservatism means in the 21st century is taken seriously, where economic policies are evaluated not by how effectively they “own the libs” but by their alignment with conservative values of personal responsibility, free markets, and the preservation of civil society.

One of the fatal flaws in modern conservative discourse is the notion that "people are stupid" and must therefore be fed information in simple terms rather than nurturing their natural inclination for curiosity. For individuals to learn, we have to meet them where they are; it doesn't mean that we just feed them red meat and cliché terminology for our own benefit. We have to confront a reality that has been largely ignored except when made as an attack on conservatism: conservatism, as a coherent philosophy, has been on life support for some time now. We’ve spent the past several years bellowing about “winning” —while losing— without bothering to articulate why we deserve to win in the first place. To reclaim our intellectual heritage, we have to go back to the basics—yes, dusty old things like first principles.

Conservatism is about preserving the best of what has come before while being prudent about what is yet to come and establishing stability in society. It is about ordered liberty, tradition with innovation, and faith for those who have it, with reason. This may sound like a “masturbatory fantasy” of a utopian conservative renaissance, as some defeatists might deride it, but it is a recognition that the absence of ideas and a focus on emotional engagement is what has led us to our current predicament. We need think tanks and policy platforms not filled with careerists parroting talking points, but with genuine intellectuals who are willing to challenge orthodoxies, even if those orthodoxies happen to be popular at the moment. After all, a conservative movement without ideas is like a tea party without tea—it’s just a loud, somewhat awkward gathering that everyone’s embarrassed to admit they attended, like a Turning Point USA event.

The next step, which can occur concurrently, is to identify leaders who embody both competence and integrity. This sounds simple, but in the current climate, it’s like searching for a unicorn in a field of rhinos. We need to stop looking for the loudest voices and start looking for the compelling ones. A true conservative leader doesn’t simply posture about the evils of socialism while secretly admiring its ability to energize the base; a true leader understands and articulates why socialism, and indeed any form of authoritarianism, is antithetical to human dignity and why human dignity is a cornerstone of any conservative ideal. We’ve become too accustomed to mistaking celebrity for leadership, and it has cost us both at the ballot box and in the culture. A slick Twitter account and a knack for owning the libs do not a statesman or intellectual make. It requires work, and we should all be excited about getting into it. We must cultivate and support those who are willing to speak to the whole country, not just to the angriest corners of it. If that means enduring sneers and jeers from those who think “principle” is just a fancy word for “loser,” so be it. We are not here to win popularity contests; we are here to advance a philosophy that, when properly articulated, is capable of winning hearts and minds—and, yes, elections too.

Now, onto the matter of expanding our coalition. There’s been way too much talk about "the base," as if the entirety of the American electorate can be reduced to a few million fervent, red-hatted disciples. MAGA is not the base; conservatives are the base. The issue we face is that many have conflated the two. After this election, those lines will become clearer as they already have when we see a complete lack of principle in one and adherence to it in the other. To win sustainably, we have to build a broader tent. This means appealing not just to traditional Republicans but to disaffected centrists, independents, and even Democrats who find themselves increasingly alienated by their party’s lurch toward the radical left. It should say a lot that we know these people exist, but they feel more comfortable throwing their lot in with a San Francisco liberal over a New York Democrat turned Republican. They see in the current party disorder and general chaos and no cohesive message because the man leading it embodies those criticisms. Building a new coalition requires more than just adopting centrist positions here and there in hopes of making some utilitarian tradeoff to gain votes. It requires a comprehensive approach to governance that addresses the concerns of ordinary Americans without resorting to populist demagoguery. It means offering real solutions on issues like healthcare, education, and economic opportunity—solutions grounded in conservative principles but crafted in a way that makes them accessible and appealing to a diverse array of voters. This doesn't require ceding principle or engaging in transactional politics; it means meeting people where they are and enlightening them to the alternatives and addressing rather than dismissing their concerns. In other words, we must be both principled and pragmatic, showing that conservatism is not just a relic of the past but a viable path forward.

There is zero substitute for real, on-the-ground activism. The Tea Party movement, whatever its faults, demonstrated the power of grassroots organization and the use of a populist engine, an engine needed in all political movements. In recent years, we’ve let that energy dissipate, content to leave the heavy lifting to a cadre of professional pundits and consultants while feeding the worst elements with grievance. It’s time to get back to basics: door-knocking, town halls, Twitter Spaces, Zoom calls, and general community engagement.

We need to invest in training a new generation of activists who are not only passionate about conservatism but also intellectually equipped with the tools and knowledge to advocate effectively. This could mean creating networks of support and mentorship, providing resources for local organizing, and, most importantly, fostering a culture of civic engagement that is not merely reactive but proactive. Our activism has been reduced to little more than shouting into the void of social media. Those of us who participated in the primaries, both online and offline, know where the rubber meets the road, and that journey has only just begun. Real change happens when real people get involved in their communities—running for school boards, organizing at the local level, and making their voices heard in a way that cannot be ignored. If we’re serious about shaping the future of conservatism, we must be willing to put in the work where it counts. If you don't think your participation in this matters—you’re wrong. If you think you can't provide content or meaningful effort to the movement—you’re wrong. We have all the tools at our disposal every day; it's only within our grasp to start affecting change where it matters.

Lastly, we have to remember that conservatism is about more than just this or the next election cycle. It is a philosophy that transcends the petty squabbles of the moment, the essence of Americanism. It focuses instead on the enduring principles that have guided us for centuries. If that means enduring short-term losses for the sake of long-term gains, then so be it, because we can't allow it to slip away. We are not playing for 2024, 2026, or even 2028; we are playing for the future of the nation. This requires a level of patience and fortitude that has been sorely lacking in recent years. It means resisting the urge for instant gratification, whether it comes in the form of a viral tweet or a fleeting bump in the polls. It means staying true to our principles even when they are unpopular, understanding that the true measure of success is not in the headlines we generate today but in the legacy we leave for future generations.

So what do we do instead of succumbing to the hysteria of the moment? We rebuild, we recruit, and we re-engage. We revive, retake, and restore our Republic. We refuse to be cowed by those who tell us that the only way to save conservatism is to abandon it. We choose, instead, to conserve—our principles, our integrity, and our commitment to a future that is worthy of the name of this philosophy. And if that means enduring the scorn of those who think politics is nothing more than a game of tactical maneuvers and rhetorical flourishes, so be it. They've been wrong before; otherwise, we wouldn't be at this juncture. We have never been afraid of standing alone. In the end, conservatism is not about finding the easiest path to power; it’s about charting the right course, even when it’s the hardest one. That’s the path we choose. It’s not glamorous, it’s not easy, and it’s certainly not always popular. But it’s the path that leads to real, lasting change—the kind that doesn’t just win elections but wins the future.

A conservative movement without ideas is like a church without a creed—it may still have followers, but they won’t know why they’re there.

Message from NEOCON's to MAGA

1. Abandon your stance on all social and fiscal issues

2. Keep providing us with your tax dollars, and your children as cannon fodder for the military industrial complex/new world order.

Message to NEOCON traitors

Go ____ a duck.

It’s as if he doesn’t even know what happened during Trump’s administration.

The whole essay is essentially a petulant whine of "C'mon, you guys, can't we go back to 2015? Pretty please?"

The author thinks like the Democratic leaders are the other side in a college debate. They are not. They are a vicious enemy that wants to destroy America. You don’t defeat them with “intellectual conservatism” in the “long game.” You fight them now with insults, confrontation, and the courts. You fight them with bombastic in-your-face leaders like Trump.
I didn't see anything in there suggesting that it was possible to convince leftists of anything. For the most part, they are a lost cause.

But what does have to be done is convincing swing voters, and new voters, that conservativism is better than leftism. I'm not sure how you do that if you don't have some kind of thought-out message.

It's the pareto principle, stupid. 80% of people get through life by imitation and memorization. You can't persuade them with enlightened intellectualiism. They need something, or someone, to inspire them. As much as I disagree with Trump on a lot of things he can inspire people.

This gasbag had a chance to nominate his guy DeSantis and couldn’t do it. Now he writes vile trash calling Trump a demagogue and saying he can’t wait to move on from him. He downplays the abuses the liberals have inflicted and refuses to join his own supposed people, insulting their candidate instead.

This guy is as toxic as the Democrats. A lout. A loser. A scumbag...He could write all this in February but would rather take his dump during the campaign to do maximum damage.

Bla bla bla bla bla

Name one just one good thing Catholic Charites does

I am sure I won’t hear back from you

But no one needs man-splainingijng about this organization especially from someone who did zeeero research

"Who is ‘Croaky Caiman’ and why should anyone care what he or she has to say?"

Answer: A Trump-hating coward hiding behind a silly pseudonym who would be all too glad to pontificate on his/her Lincoln Project brand of "conservatism" even as the cattle car he/she was stuffed into rolled up to the Marxist/Globalist-run gulag of the near future.

And I'll take a not-so-wild guess that he/she has an FR account and is a loyal Zeeper too.

All "principled" Conservative Inc. types are in dire need of a never-ending, barbed wire enema at this point. What a snobby, self-impressed, narcissistic group of treacherous scumbags they are.

Isn’t it peculiar, not a single mention of God, Christ, or even religion? Good luck with that, eh.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Isn’t it peculiar, not a single mention of God, Christ, or even religion? Good luck with that, eh.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a screwed up article. It most assuredly is not a false choice between Trump or Kamala. That is the actual choice. And end it’s filled with the plaintive entreaties of the GOPe that we must work hard to appease them.
It was utterly sickening to hear him say Maga house no central principles, no issues. He falls into that same stupid Democrat mentality that acts like everybody is blindly following Trump like an ersatz Hitler figure.

Maga is absolutely about protecting the interest of the middle class, America first over globalism, ending the endless wars that have absolutely nothing to offer normal Americans, reducing the centralization of power and the tyranny coming out of DC in the last decades, and stopping the all out assault on our families and children. Who the hell does this guy think he is to say Maga has no issues or principles. No wonder he wouldn’t put his real name on it.

Exactly correct. He keeps talking about the long game, and three elections out? If the Democrats gain control of the house and senate by a single seat, and install Canada Kamala, we will get a 15 Member supreme Court, we will get full legalized censorship, massive gun control, illegal aliens voting, all 20 million of the new ones. Central bank digital currency, etc. No conservative inc coffee clatch is going to overcome that in some future elections. At that point you’re looking at a one party government in DC that will likely exist for seven or eight decades if history is any guide.

The only use for this article is to explain to us what has gone wrong with our government. People we call conservatives are actually enthralled with anything but.

What makes Trump successful in attracting supporters, is that he does not bore working class people with empty intellectual rhetoric.

Here’s my position:

I care more about my fellow American citizens MUCH more than I care about the rest of the world.

I want my kids and grandchildren to live in a safe and prosperous environment.

I do not wish to be replaced by hordes of invaders.

I will support securing the borders by whatever means necessary.

....to identify leaders who embody both competence and integrity....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yeah, let’s hear some names of leaders this guy likes. You know it would be a bunch of GOPe and TDS losers.

Catholic “charities” - plural, small ‘c”
There are 1000’s worldwide.

Take a stepback and reflect on your doubling down on division.

You could have said, “You have a point that there are good ones...” but in the heat of the moment, you may be too invested in “winning” and reacted.
May God continue to Bless You and I hope that you concentrate on unity.

“..conditioned into believing that the only way to stave off disaster is for all of us to throw ourselves headlong into another Trump campaign—ironically, more than Trump himself is willing to throw himself into it“

Stupidest thing I’ve ever effing heard. He’s been shot once, a second attempt failed, and he has a rally or a major event almost every single day, many of them in state for Republicans never go like New York and California. He’s working his ass off.

I like his Step 3”. “Step 3: Broadening the Conservative Coalition”

Right now, roughly half the country backs Trump; well more than half of the *productive* sector of the voting population backs Trump; and I suspect the vast majority of those Trump backers identify as MAGA.

So this jerkweed thinks the way you “broaden” the coalition on the Right is by disparaging the everyday people who make the country work? What a tool.

Yeah there are dangers in runaway populism, but the way you handle that is not by abandoning the populist element (which has numerous totally legitimate concerns) but by finding common ground with those populists, and doing one’s best to keep those folks from going extreme. But the best way to push populism to extremes is to join with the privilged elites to tear Trump down by making him into some kind of neo-Fascist wanna-be dictator. We’ve seen four years of Trump - sorry, it was only scary if you’re part of the DC in-crowd.

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.