Neoconned?

Neoconned?
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Ron Smith

The neoconned conservatives are feeling angry these days, not at the neocons for conning them into backing the invasion of Iraq, but at any who point out that the situation over there is not only not what the war enthusiasts promised – cheers and flowers from an enthused Iraqi population thrilled that we removed the tyrant Hussein – but one that is deteriorating more each day.

Rush Limbaugh said yesterday on his program that one couldn’t support our troops while being opposed to our involvement in the war. He said, if I recall correctly, that he would no longer read the New York Times or watch dissident generals on TV as they made public their disagreements with Bush Administration policy.

The popular talk radio host has also famously commented on the prison abuses at Abu Ghraib, saying they were nothing more than some of our young soldiers blowing off steam, “having some fun,” and indulging in nothing more serious than fraternity pranks.

Some Rush wannabes (as liberals like to describe any of us who talk on the radio for a living) go a lot farther in exhorting the faithful. Michael Savage, the hardcore host of a syndicated talk show, is known for his abrasiveness. Lately, as the Iraq torture scandal made headlines, he’s called for the U.S. to kill “thousands” of Iraqi prisoners and “nuke” an Arab capital. He’s still on the air, though it’s hard to imagine he would be if he had called for the slaughter of members of any other racial or ethnic group.

Similarly, a Boston talk show host named Jay Severin suggested that the proper solution to our knotty Middle East problems would be to kill all Muslims. As was the case with Savage, his show continues to be aired.

I get email from listeners who buy into the above-mentioned “solution” to the sticky situation we find ourselves in as a nation. It’s chilling when such messages are sent by people who are otherwise normal, patriotic Americans, no doubt kind to their friends and families, but totally persuaded that the answer to the stalemate in Iraq is a massive slaughter of people who object to our occupation of their land and our rule over their lives.

They refuse to admit that no Weapons of Mass Destruction have been found in Iraq, even though their champions in Washington, the President and his advisers have made no claim to the contrary. When reputable, high-level, officials go public with their reservations about what has been done and why, they heartily agree with the predictable denigration of these apostates.

In my own case, after nearly 20 years of spouting off as a conservative radio host, I have been transformed in the eyes of some longtime listeners into a “liberal,” as though support for this war is a litmus test for conservatism. There is precious little that is “liberal” in my views.

I believe in a Constitutional Republic, in limited government, and in my right to speak my mind on anything at all. I don’t conflate the country I love with any particular administration or set of leaders. I reserve the right to disagree with their decisions. And Political Correctness is abhorrent to me whether leftist nannies or rightist ninnies impose it.

THIS commentary at WBAL

I meant to say shorthand "description," not "label." Sorry, my bad. Perhaps I am have not done a very good job of explaining what I am trying to say. Let me try this again:

I believe that Ron Smith generally has the same set of beliefs as Pat Buchanan and thus often uses Pat's columns and so forth as source material for his own columns and shows. Again, they appear to be on the same sheet of music in terms of domestic policies, trade policy and philosophy regarding the use of military force. I realize that Ron may or may not be a political supporter of Pat Buchanan, but I characterized him as a "Buchananite" based on the shared set of beliefs and/or philosophies.

If that characterization is not accurate, please let me know where there is a significant divergence of opinion between these two gentlemen. I am not trying to be rude or obstinate, just gain better insight. Thanks for your patience.

Deo Vindice!

"Taking this attitude to its logical conclusion would be to ban free speech."

Should Bush lose the White House and if the unthinkable happen and the loyal opposition takes back control of Congress, the neocons can rightfully be accused of driving traditional GOP voters to the Democrats. No one likes to be told to sit down and shut up if they don't agree especially when voters don't have to belong to the GOP. Of course the neocons would never see it that way. They would go to their graves believing they were right and 50+ million Americans were wrong. Many moderates wonder who's the sane person in the insane asylum.

Right, wrong or indifferent, America is by nature a nation of moderates. If the pendulum swings too far left or right it will return to the center. It swung extremely left in the 60's. Its swung extremely right now. The past is prologue.

Whatever happened to the epithets "jingoistic", "Neanderthal", "knuckle-dragger" and "barbarian"? I would have thought the feces throwers would have gotten a lot more mileage out of those before they were retired.

Free speech is alive and well here and elsewhere. "Protected" speech is not; quite frankly opinions never have been protected here, and that's a good thing. Just as I am free to say something idiotic and nonsensical, some other Freeper is free to call me on it.

If someone takes me to task for saying something stupid, my free speech has not been abridged or curtailed in any way. It has just been unmasked for what it is.

Regarding your contention that nobody here is tolerating disagreement with the President and his policies; I beg to differ.

I am of the opinion we should be pulling our troops out of Iraq right now, though for entirely different reasons than others here and elsewhere have postulated. I am disheartened by the lack of support for our troops in Iraq by Iraqis. They don't deserve the democracy we are trying to provide them; they haven't earned it. Why aren't the Iraqis themselves doing more to curb attacks by "insurgents"? Why aren't Iraqis themselves kicking Al-Sadr to the curb when it is he who is desecrating their "holy places"?

There is a reason a person doesn't give pearls to swine, fine crystal to a two-year-old or Dom Perignon to a drunkard. Why waste precious things on someone who will not, nay cannot appreciate them?

"I am disheartened by the lack of support for our troops in Iraq by Iraqis."

Just how in the hell do you know for SURE those people aren't supporting our people?

Having just spoken with a SSGT in the USMCR who recently returned from a tour in Iraq, heard his OWN firsthand account of what's going on over there, how greatly appreciated US troops really are by an overwhelming number of Iraqi citizens.
Hell's bells to tell you the Gospel's truth, even I was surprised hearing that.

Perhaps most revealing of all were this "man's" insights of how the "Prison Abuse Scandle" was a complete JOKE to the troops serving over there!
A joke our troops fully realize is a complete creation of the insideous bastard-quislings INFESTING our lamestream media; yet, most of us here -- safe & snug as bugs in a rug, BTW -- swallowed hook, line & sinker.

Now, we get to feel all *fuzzy* & humanitarian-like as a few of OUR troops will be sacrificed at the alter of political correctness visa vi courts martial.
For what, exactly?
*Feel* better?
You'd better, those kids will be raped by cowardly General grade types who aren't worth the brass they're wearing.

"They don't deserve the democracy we are trying to provide them; they haven't earned it."

I agree with your take to a degree here, though.
The value of anything -- & especially liberty -- is usually proportional to the sacrifices made to acquire [it].

Problem is liberty, unlike material possessions, is a fleeting *concept* to those who've never knew it, too.
Ask any person from Poland -- or any other of the former USSR bloc nations -- what I'm talking about & they'll tell you, because I have.

Those formerly *enslaved* people really needed to be *taught* what liberty is & how it's to be used, maintained.
Humans are not born with such insight & the average Joe Blow Iraqi's no different.

"Why aren't the Iraqis themselves doing more to curb attacks by 'insurgents'? Why aren't Iraqis themselves kicking Al-Sadr to the curb when it is he who is desecrating their 'holy places'"?

Because the "terrorists" are a hellova lot closer to them than they are us, that's why. (I suspect)
The Islamofacist SOBs wouldn't think twice about snuffing a friendly, dontcha know?
Survival instinct's pretty strong in all living things, citizen.

You're seem to be asking for an Iraqi version of George Washington, Thomas Paine & Jefferson et al, for chrissakes.
Do you realize your short sighted folly expecting that in 2004?

Listen carefully: IF the Liberal-Socialist-Communists ever *were* to fully take over right here in the United States of America?
You'd better damned well know they'd secure their power the same way every other totalitarian monster in history did it, via brute force including death meted out right on the spot to anyone deemed not to be fully towing the party line.
Capiche?

So tell me my friend, if that scenario cited above ever became our reality?
What would you do?
Hmmmmm?
That's the exact situation the "average" Iraqi finds themselves, y'know.

I'm continually amazed at people on this forum who rail against the propaganda peddlers -- in ALL forms of media here in the States -- who we ALL know damned well lie, decieve, omit & spin everything we depend on to keep us informed so really no one in their right gord can believe anything they say.
But while they're plying their shameless skills, they're also virtually carpetbombing our precious information highways with their POV, too.
Continually 24/7 never ending, until one day even those who steadfastly professed to be cognizant of the mo are themselves, fainally persuaded.

Proving yet again what one of the more truly twisted SOBs once said?
Paraphrased:

..."Tell a lie often enough & it'll be believed."

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