Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A Man on a Mission [What's wrong with Michael Gerson's "heroic conservatism."]
Wall Street Journal ^ | Thursday, November 29, 2007 | JOHN C. HULSMAN

Posted on 11/29/2007 9:13:05 AM PST by RBroadfoot

Michael Gerson, long praised (some would say over-praised) as President Bush's genius speechwriter, is also, it turns out, a would-be moral philosopher and political strategist. In "Heroic Conservatism," he calls for the Republican Party to redefine itself and brighten its future by casting aside its suspicion of big government and pursuing lofty projects of statist do-goodery. Let us hope that Republicans ignore him. ... Mr. Gerson will have none of it. Siding with FDR and Woodrow Wilson, his acknowledged heroes, he assumes that traditional conservatives do not care about American society's problems. He never stops to ponder whether traditional conservatives disagree with his statist prescriptions precisely because they do care.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:
So, GW Bush's former speechwriter has more respect for FDR and Wilson than for Reagan.

This is what the Republican Party has become?

Hulsman expresses "hope that Republicans ignore him." But with the Bush legacy of growing domestic spending and foreign adventures in national greatness and with Romney and Guiliani leading the pack of Republican contenders, it seems that Republicans have already abondoned the conservatism of Taft/Goldwater/Reagan.

1 posted on 11/29/2007 9:13:07 AM PST by RBroadfoot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: RBroadfoot

So it turns out Michael Gerson is an idiot who believes in the efficiency and fairness of Big Government despite all evidence to the contrary. Very depressing.


2 posted on 11/29/2007 9:18:56 AM PST by San Jacinto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RBroadfoot

As usual with these types, good intentions trump everything.

If reality refuses to conform to your noble visions—ignore reality.

Just keep doing the same thing while expecting different results.

At the end of the day you can rest easy saying: “Well, I tried, didn’t I?”


3 posted on 11/29/2007 9:21:00 AM PST by sinanju
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: San Jacinto

W is the idiot who mouths his words.


4 posted on 11/29/2007 9:21:38 AM PST by GovernmentIsTheProblem (The GOP is "Whig"ing out.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: RBroadfoot
So, GW Bush's former speechwriter has more respect for FDR and Wilson than for Reagan.
This is what the Republican Party has become?

At the risk of being called a conspiracy theorist, I'd like to point out that this book and author is featured prominently at the Council on Foreign Relations website - a decidedly pro-government and globalist organization accused of influencing both political parties.
CFR - Heroic Conservatism

5 posted on 11/29/2007 9:46:46 AM PST by underground
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RBroadfoot

President Bush ran on big government and open borders in 2000.

Everyone pretended that he was just saying that stuff to get elected.

We should not make the same mistake this time.


6 posted on 11/29/2007 10:03:23 AM PST by donna (Duncan Hunter: US Army, 1969-1971, with service in Vietnam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RBroadfoot

Sounds like Teddy Roosevelt.


7 posted on 11/29/2007 10:09:25 AM PST by Paradox (Politics: The art of convincing the populace that your delusions are superior to others.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson