So, what is a 'neocon'?

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Saturday, May 29, 2004 | Bill Steigerwald

[Willie Green]

What's the difference between "conservative" and "neoconservative"? Who are the "neocons," anyway? And were they, as some charge, an unduly influential cabal of intellectuals who talked President Bush into going to war in Iraq after 9/11 as part of their long-planned crusade to plant democracy in the Middle East?

To seek enlightenment on things neoconservative, I rang up four of the biggest names in the punditry business and asked them the same questions. Rich Lowry is editor of National Review. Paul Weyrich is chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation. Paul Gigot is editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page. And George Will is the famous syndicated columnist:

[CWOJackson]

These "neo-con" threads are popping up all over...kind of like weeds.

[X-FID]

A liberal media attempt to divide conservatives, I have never heard the term until recently. Perhaps we should start the 'neo lib' and 'paleo lib' offensive, or something similar.

[meenie]

Neocons=liberal Republicans masquerading as conservatives.

[CWOJackson]

Naw...Neo-con is the mating call of neutered fringe types.

[Delphinium]

I find these labels counterproductive

I still haven't figured out what one is.

This thread has confused me more.

I guess it is just a label that could mean about anything?

[CWOJackson]

The term neo-con is most often used by some of the more radical third party types, and in particular the ones who opposed the war in Iraq; mostly people associated with the libertarian or constitution parties.

People who use this term often use other terms, such as "true conservative" to identify themselves.

[familyop]

"Perhaps we should start the 'neo lib' and 'paleo lib' offensive, or something similar."

That is a most excellent idea. I think "something similar" would be the best way to go. Don't let 'em see it coming.

[dufekin]

A neo-conservative is a new conservative. In other words, a recovering Democrat, even perhaps a liberal to moderate on domestic policies, who after the terrorist attacks on his country, believes in America. Neoconservatives, although once Democrats, have not forgotten their neighbors whose lives the terrorists terminated prematurely, and they want to defend the country against enemies foreign and domestic.

Of course, these people will assimilate largely into the entirety of the conservative movement by association with fellow conservatives. With time, "neoconservative" will take on a new meaning, as surely as each new round of liberal buffoonery initiates mass defections from Democratic ranks.

[King Prout]

interesting - this has been a source of some minor confusion for me.

[Tamzee]

The anti-Bush people I have seen on FR are not liberals ... they are think Bush is not conservative enough.

If I wanted to sow chaos and division among the voting left I would not try to do so as a conservative. I would hit their boards as a left-winger who insisted that the Democrats weren't liberal enough, they betray their "base", they are just "DINO's", etc...

[MindFire]

I think 'smonk' hit it on the head. neo-cons are liberals who like perpertual wars, who have hijacked the GOP, and planned the war in iraq and other middle eastern countries in the 1990s via PNAC. All they needed, according to their own writings, was a "Perle Harbor type event" in order to justify their wars.


Read Congressman Ron Pauls' speech "We've been Neo-Conned'.


Coexerj145, I would be interested to know what you think a RINO is! is it someone who doesnt care about pesky moral issues such as abortion, stem cell research, homo marriage, etc? Because if so, (in case you weren't aware) this is exactly what neo-cons believe. They couldn't care less about traditional values or morality in govt. Specter, Hatch, Canon, Flake, etc. are the sodomite loving, abortionist, open border advocates. The wonderful RINO neo-cons. You support them?


To me a neo-con is a democrat inspired by Trotsky who pretends to be conservative and runs under the 'R' ticket so that the mesmerized party loyalist simpletons will embrace and elect them.


Of course, as I have said before.. the decline of morality in today's society and the socialistic public schools have dumbed down the populace so much, that these RINOS can get away with it. people don't even have a grasp of what conservatism is. They think it just has to do with financial matters and wars.

[CWOJackson]

Yes, Ron Paul does share the same views as Jim McDermott on the war.

[MindFire]

You said: "Please tell me how a vote that's not for Bush is automatically a vote for Kerry, since I'm voting for neither of the two socialists."

LOL!! Bingo! Please add me to your ping list. ;-}

[MindFire]

Hello CWO. Hows the Reconquista movement going? have any rallies lately cheering illegals? ;-)

[CWOJackson]

LOL! Naw, I went to a Memorial Day Service...you know, where we honor the sacrifice of our military people not trash it.

[festus]

Thats about it. Ask 5 people and get 10 descriptions.

Its a lot like "Chicago Pizza". Everyone knows what it is unless you ask more than 1 of them and suddenly a debate breaks out........

[Tarantulas]

NeoCon: A word used by a socialist seeking to divide the Conservative Movement.

Good definition. When I hear anyone using the term, I automatically tune it out as so much noise. It adds nothing to any discussion and only tends to be divisive.

[Delphinium]

I guess I am not a neoon but some might think I am. I am a true conservative who likes much about the Libertarian and Constitution parties.

I am for the war in Iraq, but fear they are not putting enough force behind it, including on our borders.

I love the Jews, and believe we should stand by them. I disassociate with those who constantly blame the Zionists for all our problems.

I love Ron Paul , can’t stand Arlen Specter and criticize opening the RINOs in the party..

I care much about the moral issues such as abortion, stem cell research, homo marriage, etc.

I like George Bush, and especially like John Ashcroft even though I am down on the Patriot Act.

What am I?

[CWOJackson]

What am I?

Just a normal person that doesn't need to be defined by labels.

[epigone73]

Dead-on. any group identified by al-jazeera, Moveon.org, and lyndon larouche as the enemy can be nothing more than a psychological bug-bear, cooked up to stir fears of a smal group of egg-heads plottinge evil and destruction.

Leo Strauss rules!