as Heritage Foundation President Edwin J. Feulner put it in a recently updated foreword to "The Conscience of a Conservative," the classic 1960 treatise of Barry Goldwater (ghostwritten by L. Brent Bozell):
Conservatism is "a vision of the nation and the world as it should be, not a compromise with the world as it" is.
Yet, and save for defense, that's exactly what conservatism largely has become in the early 21st century. Conservatives haven't led, they've acquiesced. Witness the deal-cutting on filibusters. Witness how they lost control of John Bolton's nomination to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Social Security reform? Oh, there's been lots of talk. But there won't be a vote this year. One has to wonder if conservatives ever can bring it to a vote. Chances are if they do, in this climate, it will be an expensive joke. Conservatives haven't enforced the rule of law to crack down on illegal aliens, they've aided and abetted illegals by proposing amnesty. Conservatives haven't defended free speech, they've restricted it through campaign finance "reform." The Internet appears to be next on the hit-list. Conservatives haven't shrunk the size of the federal government and spending, they've enlarged it and increased it.
"'Conservatives haven't led, they've acquiesced. Witness the deal-cutting on filibusters""
hmmm.. i didnt know conservative deal the filibuster deal.
""Conservatives haven't defended free speech, they've restricted it through campaign finance "reform""
most conservative rightly oppossed it.
""Conservatives haven't enforced the rule of law to crack down on illegal aliens, they've aided and abetted illegals by proposing amnesty.""
again most House conservative oppose it.
The author is confused by what he sees as conservative caving with the fact that there arent enough conservatives in congress. Conservatives did none of what he accuses them of doing unless McCain, Collins, Snowe are conservatives.