Posted on 09/27/2024 1:05:53 PM PDT by TBP
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.
How Do We Go About This in Concrete Terms?
Step 1: Rebuilding the Intellectual Foundation
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.
Step 2: Identifying and Supporting New Leadership
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.
Step 3: Broadening the Conservative Coalition
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.
Step 4: Revitalizing Grassroots Activism
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.
Step 5: Playing the Long Game
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.
“ Why you overlooked 99% of profoundly good Catholic Charities that are truely Catholic to draw attention to the 1% (funneling invaders in, etc) that are catholic-ish truely saddens me.”
Tony. Show me the amount of money Catholic charities gets from the government for Ilegal alien support and migrant support, and then show me where they get 99 times that amount for all the other good work. The largest part of their business is illegal aliens and leftist social activism.
Catholic social charity is a corrupt organization and it works against America with all it’s might.
I remember all the “intellectual conservatives” that would sit around pontificating the doom and gloom of Reagan’s economic policies.
They were so Keynsian. Argued the Phillips Curve was fact.
No I’m not doing that. Catholic Charities is well known around here for usurping the name of Catholic
They are a front
Get with it
I remember something Tony Snow (RIP) said on FR many years ago (yeah, he used to mix it up here and didn't hide who he was)--that DC operatives used to test out what bulls**t they were planning to pull on sites like FR, and gave the forum kudos for not letting much 'get by'.
Well, I agree with him that we don’t need a demagogue. At one time I thought we needed Oliver Cromell. Now it begins to look too late for Cromwell and that we need Vlad Dracul.
But since those two guys don’t return phones calls, I guess I will have to stick with Trump. The writer will be fortunate that I can’t have either of my first two choices; he will fare better under Trump.
Sure-
BUT... Trump is the only person in the last few years which has come along, independently wealthy (can’t easily be controlled), intellectually honest and thick headed enough to actually push for changes.
If it were not for Trump, the Republican party would be DEFINED by the likes Bush, Romney, McCain, Graham, McConnel...
“We do need to rebuild the philosophical and activist elements of our movement.”
wow! sounds like the resurrection of the “true conservatism” bunch, like the Bush family, Karl Rove, Bill Krystal, and the cesspool at National Review ...
“philosophy”, “activism”, and “principles” brought us the Bushes and Romney, Haley and the whole rotten lying traitorous bunch of “true conservatives” that rotted and hollowed out the GOP ever since Reagan left office ...
THANK GOD that’s all over with, and THANK GOD we have a PRACTICAL LEADER, namely Donald J. Trump, who elucidates and implements ACTUAL solutions to stave off the collapse of our Republic deliberately fostered by the leftist fascist socialist who have been in charge ever since obama was elected ...
“philosophy”, “activism”, and “principles” never paid a penny on a single mortgage, never filled a single gas tank, never paid for a single dozen of eggs ... “philosophy”, “activism”, and “principles” do NOTHING!
TOUGH leaders who are willing and able to stand up to the slings and arrows [and actual bullets] of the corrupt media, the Deep State, Congress, the fascist leftist Democrat party and the heads of states of ALL of our enemies and erstwhile allies, and continues to thrive and function are who we need ...
only cowardly and traitorous RINOs whine about the need for “philosophy”, “activism”, and “principles”, and THANK GOD Donald J. Trump has relegated those worthless, corrupt, lying pieces of excrement to the dustbin of history ...
‘Croaky Caiman’ is Adam Kinzinger’s new husband.
As bad as things are right now, it will get much much worse if that corrupt idiot is allowed to gain power in this nation.
The guy that wrote this is an idiot. Now is not the time to be navel gazing, we are in a f***ing war, and wishing things were different is just detrimental to our survival.
This is *NOT* the conversation we need to be having right now. This is the conversation we need to be having after January 21st. It is idiocy to talk about this stuff *NOW*.
Yes he does. He smells like a "never Trumper", and rather than listen to him, he needs to be told "Shut Up!" You had your chance to bitch about philosophy and ideals, but now we are committed, so pull the wagon and stop trying to steer it!
Exactly right. Some on our side are too, but even the worst of us are more rational than the left.
TL;DR.
“tried fruitlessly for years to convince liberals of the error of their ways via facts and logic.”
Amen! I’d cite data and they would respond, “I feel...” My Australian Shepherd dog could think circles around them. All emotion, vanity and ego. And anger. LOTS of anger. Because the world doesn’t work out for them...
What is the meaning of ‘Muh ?
Why don’t we rebuild it in a way that results in 1.4% inflation...$1.99 a gallon gas...$1.99 a gallon milk...a southern border sealed tight...Iran’s nuclear program shut down...North Korea not firing missiles toward Guam...Russia not invading smaller neighbors....
“Get with it” - You were gritting your teeth, weren’t you...
Step back, breath deep, focus on the good.
That was something I realize a few years ago.
A group of conservative intellectuals were defining conservatism by saying "We are against what the left wants".
Sort of true as the left wishes to control every aspect of our lives down the smallest detail and I at least am not inclined to be controls. But it left a great deal out.
Focus on the good?
Tell us one good thing Catholic Charities has done or quit attacking me with your loyal defense of them
Their heads are filled with nothing more than bumper sticker slogans. When they “debate”, they just spew undefined, meaningless platitudes, but they can’t provide even the simplest logical defense for any of them. Challenge them to define the terms they so casually toss around, or to provide an objective defense for their argument, and they simply can’t do it because they have nothing rattling around in their heads but the slogan itself. That’s why they’ve now concocted a convoluted defense mechanism that deems any beliefs contrary to their own, and certainly any attempt to debate their beliefs, as “hate” or “violence.” It’s a shield designed to protect them from ever having to defend their absurd worldview. And it’s childish, the adult equivalent of putting their fingers in their ears and yelling “blah…blah…blah…can’t hear you!”
What makes it even worse is that they’ve been pumped up all their lives on phony “self esteem”, so not only are they stupid, but they actually believe they’re brilliant. That gives them another mental crutch they can lean on, because if a conservative starts asking too many challenging questions they can just deem that person “unenlightened” and therefore unworthy of further discussion.
It’s incredible the extent to which they are so cock-sure about their positions, but can’t explain why they believe those things. They’re just human parrots, repeating phrases that others have planted in their brains, with no comprehension of the meaning of the squawks and chirps they utter.
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