What's going on? I've been truly surprised by the anti-Keyes animus on FR tonight - mainly from folk in the "neo-con" orbit. And now a flagship of that movement - the Weekly Standard - slams Keyes. What did he do to get on these folks bad side? Staying in the primaries - in a low-level way - can't have angered folks that much, can it? Is this revealing that a lot of the neo-cons - by which I mean ex-Democrats who switched over for national defense reasons -- really aren't conservative spending, taxing and cultural issues? That's what it's starting to look like to me.
I think your observation hits the head on the nail, though to be fair to some Freepers, many of those who have been at odds with Keyes on here are also Bush die-hards - that is, they are truly conservative even by many Keyesters' standards, but would often rather try it Bush's way or get upset at anything they perceive could split the party against Bush.
Hey, I found one of your old posts on an old Keyes thread tonight:
Spot on observation my friend. The people playing the "carpetbagger" flute are hypocrites...especially the carpetbagger conservatives who have compromised principles for electability and putting any RINO they can into office. Thats how you get a Jeffords or a McCain "representing" the party, much less representing conservatives. If anyone's a carpetbagger, its the former liberals who now vote (R), many of which crossed over after having some "coming to Jesus" moment politically. They are the one's destroying the party and conservatism to the point where someone like Keyes, Ron Paul, or Tancredo is considered "extremeist". You can only compromise so far. Call a spade a spade...and a former liberal a liberal...they still don't get it.
I think it can only be explained in terms of overall worldview. Keyes is an unabashed religious (Roman Catholic) conservative. There are quite a few folks who may think of themselves as conservative, chiefly on taxes and economic issues, but they are to varying degrees liberal on core ideas concerning right and wrong, which is reflected in positions regarding abortion, the homosexual agenda, racial preferences, multiculturalism, and illegal immigration, and so forth.
The so-called moderates (actually liberals - not leftists like the Democrats are - but liberals nonetheless) have been running the Republican party since 1988, and sided with the Democrats to put out the brushfire rebellion that erupted in 1994. They have steadily moved the party to the left, to the point where we have a "conservative" president who signed a bill establishing a new government entitlement, vastly expanded the government (and deficits), signed Soros-sponsored "Campaign Finance Reform" which guts the 1st amendment, worked to permanently enshrine racial preferences, and insists on open-borders in a time of war.
While some on the Paleo-right (Buchanan & Co.) view the Iraq war as an imperial adventure for Israel's benefit (a ridiculous argument on Buchanan's part), or for the benefit of globalist corporations, Keyes supports the war as being a necessary component in the war we're in against Islamic jihadis. Keyes is also a strong supporter of Israel who argued his support on the basis of the shared moral culture of Israel and the US. Neo-cons (an element of the liberal Republicans) should have no issue with either position. But on the social issues, they abhor him.
There also seems to be an element of extreme partisanship which has arisen within Republican ranks. These folks will relentlessly attack anyone who dares to question or criticize statements, policies or decisions made by George W. Bush or the Republican hierarchy, often using leftist-style smears of "racist", or "extremist" against the dissenters. Because Keyes failed to fall in line behind Bush fast enough, he' s a pariah. Because Keyes is a religious conservative who views believes that policies, including economic policies, are subject to moral principles, he's an extremist - a religious fanatic like Osama Bin Laden.
That's why we were treated to the sight, here in Illinois, of various "movers and shakers" among the Country Club Repubs attending a barbecue to shake hands with Barack Obama after Jack Ryan's self-immolation, a guy who supports the slaughter of infants born alive after a failed abortion. I guess they think he's a "moderate" - not a religious fanatic at all - Thank God.
Well if you consider this a smart move, then consider it is made by the same people who told Ditka to run and play with his football!