What is a "neocon"? Why can't anyone agree on that, and why are they so bad?

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | August 13, 2002 | David Harsanyi

[CaptHerpPR]

As war with Iraq becomes an inescapable reality, a "peace-loving" contingent of pundits have momentarily transferred their assault from the phantom Religious Right to a new, more sinister group, calling themselves neoconservatives.

Forget 50 years of neoconservative political, social and economic thought; forget Irving Kristol, Norman Podhoretz and Nathan Glazer; forget Ronald Reagan whose neocon-influenced foreign policy won the Cold War. From now on, just think of them as warmongers. Stereotyping can be a complicated business, but anti-war pundits have mastered its intricacies, distilling intellectual movements into trouble-free critique: neoconservatives are duplicitous right wingers, prodding the United States towards war to a.) advance our colonial gains b.) facilitate the racist Israeli government’s subjugation of defenseless Arabs and c.) wag the dog for oil fetishists George Bush and Richard Cheney.

Joseph Sobran has described neocons as "former liberals, mostly pro-Israel and anti-Communist Jewish intellectuals." Irving Kristol, the "godfather" of neoconservatism, more appropriately described one as "a liberal who has been mugged by reality." But these days, it seems that even temperate support for military action against dictators and terrorists qualifies you a neocon.

[CaptHerpPR]

I got yelled at for posting an article from the Weekly Standard, which one member derided as "neocon fish wrap", and yet I can't find two people who agree on the definition of "neocon". Help me out here.

[Sam Cree]

I like neocons, myself, though I also admit to not being sure of the definition, except that most are former Jewish leftist who have had "second thoughts" and are now conservatives. David Horowitz is my favorite of them, but all are unusually eloquent writers, IMO.

[Sam Cree]

Very ironic, IMO, that the Left, many "Libertarians," and antiSemites of the Right are finding common cause against the "NeoCons."

[HairOfTheDog]

I wish someone would tell me what I am so I can know when I am being bashed!

[Sam Cree]

You are a very attractive young lady from WA who loves the outdoors and is both straightforward and kind.

[HairOfTheDog]

You are so sweet Sam....

Does that mean I am not a neocon? ;~D

[HairOfTheDog]

Or does it mean I *am*?

[Sam Cree]

Closer to am, IMO.

[HairOfTheDog]

OK! - Thanks! - I am never sure of these new fangled definitions.... It's like Metrics.

[ThreePuttinDude]

Let me get this straight, a NeoCon is a bad thing??

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Main Entry: ne-
Variant(s): or neo-
Function: combining form
Etymology: Greek, from neos new -- more at NEW
1 a : new : recent <Neogene> b : new and different period or form of <Neoplatonism> : in a new and different form or manner <Neoplatonic> c : New World <Neotropical> d : new and abnormal <neoplasm>
2 : new chemical compound isomeric with or otherwise related to (such) a compound <neostigmine>
---------------------------------------------------------

Main Entry: ²conservative
Function: noun
Date: 1831
1 a : an adherent or advocate of political conservatism b capitalized : a member or supporter of a conservative political party
2 a : one who adheres to traditional methods or views b : a cautious or discreet person

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I've considered myself a conservative for 30 years,
does that qualify me as a NeoCon? If so, thanks

[CaptHerpPR]

One of your members, J.L.Chamberlain apparently thinks a neocon is bad in his response to my posting an article on this thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/932895/posts?q=1&&page=51

"The Kristol run Weekly Standard is a piece of neocon fish wrap and it bothers me to see FR mentioned so prominently in one of it's trash laden articles."

I was a bit taken aback.

[ThreePuttinDude]

I just ran a check on JLChamberlain, and I don't think he/she is
anyone most of us would invite over for dinner.

JLCham...seems to be more of a lib lashing out here....

[CaptHerpPR]

Ah well, I get those on the Coulter board with regularity. I actually like Horowitz' recent term "NeoCOM" a lot better. At least I can figure out what he means by that. I know what "neo" meant, and I swear I can't find any group of people that have an idea on how to agree on the definition of "neocon".

Oh well, in any case, the Weekly Standard works for me!

[gcruse]

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Who is a Neoconservative, Anyway?
          This protean word is slippery as boiled okra, a feature necessitated by the less-than-admirable motives of its wielders. Here, then, is Lazy Fair's conceptualization of neoconservatism.
          Anti-semitic leaning right wingers (see Pat Buchanan, Joe Sobran), ride to the sound of the guns on a philosophical motor cycle with a sidecar. In the sidecar, they keep scapegoats who resist appeasing Arafat, who support Israel's right to exist, and believe in the condign efficacy of American military power. The anti-semitic leaning right wingers keep the scapegoats close by at all times, hauling them out to beat about the head and shoulders as the Bush juggernaut rewrites the Middle East. The scapegoats are neoconservatives.

[Dr. Frank fan]

I can't find two people who agree on the definition of "neocon"

Join the club.

In fact, it has become clear to me that "neocon" as it is most often used today has a floating definition which varies from person to person; it more or less coincides with "someone the person using the word 'neocon' disagrees with". I hope that helps. ;-)

[CaptHerpPR]

LOL Dr. Frank! I think you have a point. They do the same thing by calling conservatives "fascists", even though they don't seem to know what THAT means either. Thanks for the response!