Posted on 02/27/2017 5:53:57 AM PST by Kaslin
Among his other accomplishments, Donald Trump, without ever intending to, has fractured conservatism – something that was long overdue.
The American conservative movement has come quite a distance since the middle of the last century, from a small coterie viewed with contempt by the larger culture to the front ranks of a juggernaut that set back the plans of this country’s left-wing collectivists to a degree that its founders would not have considered possible. (Recall William F. Buckley’s statement that the role of conservatism was to “stand athwart history, yelling “stop.” Incredible as it may seem, “history” did stop.) Today, in large part due to its own success, it is on its way back to coterie status.
How has this come about? Here’s a simple outline of the conservative movement as it has consisted up until now: a group of conservative intellectuals, associated either with think tanks or journals, who work out philosophical and political stances, translate them into policy proposals, followed by attempts to put them into effect by the GOP, with the support of the mass of conservatives across the country.
This model has served the conservative cause well for half a century. It is now dead. It began to die long before Trump donned the robes of GOP crusader, when the core conservatives – what in the past I’ve called the Northeast Corridor conservatives – in 2008 turned against vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and in short order against the Tea Party movement that came into being as a response to the Obama regime.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
He mentions Krauthammer. Just last week, apropos of nothing, Sour Kraut decided to make fun of the “syntax” of Sarah Palin. No, she hadn’t been on television recently - just a nasty shot at one of our most talented politicians who he, along with others left and right, were determined to destroy. Everyone thinks Sour Kraut is sooo brilliant - and yet he can’t avoid taking cheap shots at our side for no good reason.
And that is why establishment conservatives lost this election and why they secretly admire and love Clinton. They hate the middle class.
Real, actual American conservatists were overrun by the, shall we call them, “Cadillac Conservatives” as compared to “Limousine Liberals”.....
They didn’t conserve the women’s bathrooms because they probably all have sons who think they are women. I’ve noticed the most educated and affluent people in this country are the ones with the sexually-confused children.
Have you heard that Bill O’Reilly is adding to his current book series. The new book will be titled, “ Killing Obama.”
Since Bush '41 it hasn't even been that unless you mean debating what color of bow to put on the present they're giving the democrat fascist oligarchs.
Did you read “Mad” magazine a child, by any chance? An Al Jaffee fan, perhaps?
Reagan’s tax cuts. Justices Thomas and Scalia and their decisions.
But I’ll grant you, darned little else. Slowed the growth of the Leviathan State ever so slightly.
I’ll call them “BMW Conservatives” because not only do they bitch, moan and whine about all of us they’re all globalists to boot who avoid buying things made in America.
All those thoughtful people never won an election or changed a policy
How nice they published books and small journals and showed up in PBS. Tell me what those “movement” conservatives ever did?
Besides the term movement conservative just brings to mind so many jokes....
The war is now the UniParty globalists vs. Real America
No, Trump is a Nationalist. Look at his slogan, "Make America Great Again".
Trump's primary focus is for the welfare of his nation. He wants prosperity for American citizens. He feels no obligation to be a "citizen of the world", to put the welfare of non-US-citizens ahead of the interests of US citizens.
You have that right.
President Trump’s agenda isn’t 100% conservative - we all knew that going in to the election.
But he will accomplish more of the conservatives’ stated goals than all the elected conservatives and republicans in Washington since Ronald Regan left office.
Most (but not all) Washington conservatives seem content to just spout conservative ideas as a way to get elected.
Because when they get to Washington they forget or ignore their campaign promises.
People don’t know what to make of President Trump because he is actually moving to keep his campaign promises.
The worst offenders.
The writer missed or ignores the critical point. The movement conservatives became globalists and pushed policies that were not in the best interests of most American citizens.
Then a dynamic candidate who wasn’t afraid to say that loudly came along.
I just read a quote by Marine Le Pen, which she stated:
“The divide is no longer between left and right but between patriots and globalists”.
IMO, that pretty well sums it up.
Corporate Country Club conservatives have as their goal reducing their taxes to safeguard their wealth. Christian conservatives have as their goal reducing government’s oppression of their faith and saving the souls of their children. These two have very little in common. The former hire K St. lobbyists to make favorable deals with government officials. The latter pray to God that He would bless and protect America from enemies, both foreign and domestic.
I view the current situation as the rise of movement conservatism, where conservative voters are pushing leaders (such as Trump) to march steadfastly through toward conservative ends.
What the author seems to believe is that the republicans in recent years were focused on moving the ball forward, whereas I view them as having been focused on not being “as bad” as democrats in allowing the ball to be moved against conservative values. Always being on defense is no way to score points in any game.
Exactly! What is the use of a “movement” which never moves the needle?
The conservative movement ended with Read My Lips. Then, Jobs Americans Won’t Do added his brand of compassionate conservatism.
The term and movement have been so bastardized by various factions that they accomplished their mission — making conservatism into a weak force in politics. Same with The TEA Party.
Nearly every Republican presidential candidate since 2000 has claimed to be ‘the’ conservative. But many of them have tried to refine it to their benefit.
GW Bush — compassionate conservative
M Romney — seriously conservative
J Bush — reform conservative
The concept has been so watered down by political factions that it means only what the identifier intends it to mean for him or her.
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.