Posted on 12/10/2003 8:59:00 PM PST by BobbyK
Enough With The Neocon And Paleocon
CarpingI'll Stand With George W. Bush In 2004
Like most Toogood Reports readers, I observed this year's battles within the conservative ranks with profound discomfort. In my mind, there are far too many real enemies out there to waste time and print fighting one another.
It seems that the world of conservatism has been split up between the "conservatives" and the "paleo-conservatives" or between the "conservatives" and the "neo-conservatives." Both sides present themselves as the bona fide article and the other side as the one in need of a prefix.
Personally, I just want to spit up this strife the same way the bleachers of Wrigley Field do the opposition´s home run balls. This qualifies as a "which side are you on boys" issue. It is my goal to conserve America's wonderful, non-living Constitution, and to forever preserve the personal and economic freedoms that embody our way of life. If you agree with me about these basic propositions, then you're on my side and the rest of your views are of secondary concern. Simply revering the spirit of the Founding Fathers puts you in the top 50 percent of the population on the Chap-o-meter.
Not only is an inter-journalist, inter-intellectual, conservative civil war fruitless, it is also detrimental to the nation as a whole. The country needs all of our efforts just to have a chance of mitigating the damage the culture war has wrought.
Our daily resistance may be the biggest obstacle to the federal pacman swallowing up fifty percent of the economy. We cannot afford to bicker amongst ourselves. The odds are too great. Obsessing over who said what about Taki, Buchanan, Frum, Lowry or any of the other public figures who make up the American right is counter-productive.
The neocon/paleocon debate is as bewildering as it is petty and misguided. Sadly, some conservatives now feel more comfortable with leftists than they do their own kind [I know of one who astonished me by saying that he regards the American Enterprise Institute as "The Death Star"]. Certainly, internal disagreements are to be expected, but they are trivial in comparison to accepting the positions advocated by the other side of the political spectrum. Socialism, cultural Marxism, white guilt, and radical feminism are eternal obstacles to advancing society. Other conflicts pale in importance when compared to them.
I propose that we abandon slurs like paleo-con and neo-con. Instead we should all evolve into "Logicons." The Logicon refuses to slash at the brethren who march alongside him because maintaining some level of public harmony is the only logical way in which we will succeed. Logicons realize that our fighting strength should not be diluted by internecine combat.
Much of the controversy currently centers around President Bush and whether or not one approves of his job performance. I've written here and elsewhere how much I personally admire him, but I also acknowledge that certain criticisms have been valid. Those who label him a big spender are correct in their assessments. He has not used his veto to curb the size of government and has developed a habit of hugging Ted Kennedy's voluminous appropriations.
While this is unfortunate, to pretend that Bush is not the best bet for advancing the country's interests is shortsighted. There are many conservatives out there who could do a better job of slashing outlays, but it is highly unlikely that any of them could get elected by our emotive and squishy electorate. On our side, George W. Bush "feels their pain" better than anyone. He brings in moderate voters the way my old Erie Dearie lures used to bag walleyes .
The problem is one of perspective. We can spend time complaining about steel tariffs or the administration´s pathetic capitulation on affirmative action last summer. Yes, I would have been greatly pleased if he disseminated a Michigan Law brief of his own after the decision entitled O´Connor a Known Fruitcake, but the fact is that he didn't and there´s nothing we can do about it. However, we must keep our outlook global by remembering what the alternatives are.
What would Al Gore do with affirmative action? How about Howard Dean, the neurotic would-be-king, with Al Qaeda? Makes you shudder doesn´t it? After the election, Al Sharpton would take his standup around the world as our Secretary of State and we´d hear Patricia Ireland lambasting patriarchal textbooks in her role as Secretary of Education.
In actuality, my examples really aren´t all that farfetched. The radical left has been carrying the Democrat Party since 2001 and, now, if the Democrats win, bills will need to be paid.
Rather than fantasize about an ideal future, conservatives need to think about how things can, and will, get devastatingly worse, should Bush lose. Be it Dean or Kerry or whatever burrito they decide to roll out of the Taqueria next summer, the fate of the country will be in jeopardy. By this time in 2006, there will be a foreign policy coward in every pot and a benefit check in the hands of every college drop out. Think France, think Germany, and then be grateful we have a president who doesn't spit after saying "tax cuts."
Besides, the Bush Presidency has produced many hidden benefits. His appointees may well be our salvation even though he backs obese budgets. In the latest issue of The New Criterion, we see that his appointments to the National Endowment of the Arts have had a wonderful effect. Under Dana Gioia, the agency is sponsoring Macbeth for military bases and has resurrected traditional Shakespeare at the national level [Shakespearean plays are now staged as in the days of old which means brothels and bath house scenes are no longer mandatory].
I don´t care if you insult him or trade in Karl Rove conspiracy theories, but, in November of 2004, this particular rightist is going to stand by George W. Bush just as the bumper sticker on my car promises. Our hopes for a better tomorrow rest in the White House on his bed. We must support him because heady days await and also because his reelection keeps the Democrat Party headless. Let´s proudly stand by our man as he loudly subsumes the popular positions of the left while promoting many of ours in the shadows though his judges, appointees, and minions.
Get over it~!
This point cannot be overstated. If Bill Clinton had tried to push through the level of increased governmental spending that Bush has championed (and not just on defense, which has been increased to a lesser degree than social spending), the people here would have been up in arms.
But because Bush wears the magic "R", and is "their guy", he is given carte blanche to run wild.
I'm not, am I?
You actually believe that, don't you?
Can I get you to read post 208 and give me a reply? I can't seem to get np or P-F to belly up to the bar.
Well that's it then. You are so persuasive. We simply must have 435 new Democrat Reps, 100 new Democrat Senators, and 2 new Democrats (Dean/Clinton) in the WH in 2004 ... or even sooner.
Go on, Jane. Show us how important it is that we get 4 more years of Hillary in the WH.
I actually know it. Go shill for Dean somewhere else.
You all exaggerate the magnitude of this law but mostly you create division amongst ourselves.
The leftist scum over at DU are lurking-in on these threads and are cheering over what they see as a great victory for their cause. Does that make you proud?
You are correct. After 8 long years of BillnHill I am in awe of how stupid, absolutely stupid some people are to think they can shill for the Democrats and get the same response Perot got in 1992.
Are you of the opinion that this is what happened to his father in '92?
And as was shown in '94, what the media thinks or says matters very little when the GOP runs on a strong, conservative platform. I don't recall any of the leftist media being in favor of the Contract With America. Quite the opposite, in fact. And yet there was a sweeping victory for the GOP based in large part (I would say a very large part) on the ideals laid out therein.
But the follow-up has to be there or you end up with more and more people like me who are willing to walk away for an election cycle or two until they clean up their act. The onus HAS to be on the elected officials to carry out that which they were tasked with. If they fail, then they need to be replaced. If you demonstrate to them that you will hold your nose and vote them back into office simply to avoid the Democrat, then what influence do you think you can possibly hold over them?
Grow up. Next I expect you'll whine to your momma.
I don't give a hoot what a DU'er thinks, but you seem to. So who is being naive now?
I don't exaggerate anything, I read the LAW as it's WRITTEN. Maybe you should try that. Or are you afraid the Du'ers will call you bad names?
I'm not supporting or voting for Dean, or any other Democrat.
And you've already surrendered. You'll vote Republican no matter what, and they know it. You are neutered politically, and the sad part is that you can't recognize it. They could vote a 50% tax hike and you'd pull the lever out of fear that the Dem's might go 60%.
What a sad state of affairs this nation is in.
Does that sound like "preserving, protecting, and defending" to you?
THAT is my validation. I defy you to refute it.
If your standard is that you will only support a President that doesn't violate the Constitution in any way, shape or form, I sure hope you're not holding your breath. You may be in for a bit of a wait.
I'm not saying that its right. I'm just saying that either Bad Candidate or Worse Candidate is going to win, and by either action or inaction, you're going to help one of them. Any other way you care to dress it up is illusion.
As far as the issues of Constitutionality, the candidates don't care any more than society does. If it's a low priority issue to society, there's no hope that the candidate will care. It's easier to blame the guy in office then 300 million strangers, but that's the deal.
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.