William F. Buckley’s ‘Conservative Movement’ Still-Born, Dead-On-Arrival, Because it Was Godless...

The American View ^ | 3/3/2008 | John Lofton ("recovering Republican, recovering conservative")

[Jim Robinson]

Reposted from here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1979514/posts?page=5#5

Interesting viewpoint.

[Squidpup]

Agreed

[jammer]

I don't know how much more "religious" NR could have been. In fact, it was extremely religious, unless the author objects to Roman Catholicism.

My statement to the author would be, "You are criticizing, but offering nothing concrete, just sand castles in the sky."

My question would be, "Just how would conservatism have been built along the lines you prescribe? What do you want?"

[wideawake]

In other words, Buckley's view of government was of Washington's America, while Lofton's is Calvin's Geneva.

I prefer the former.

[ari-freedom]

[wideawake]

unless the author objects to Roman Catholicism

Ding ding ding. We have a winner.

[steve-b]

My question would be, "Just how would conservatism have been built along the lines you prescribe? What do you want?"

Let's cut through the code language.

The author wants the Mackerel-Snapping Papists thrown out.

[Tennessee Nana]

BTTT

[I still care]

One of the most interesting and educational documents I’ve ever read was the Virginia Declaration, 1776.

Here are sections 15 and 16.

SEC. 15. That no free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

SEC. 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.

[Larry Lucido]

Thanks, Lofton. Now kindly STFU.

[Petronski]

A simple case of the Calvinist trashing the Catholic.

It happens every day.

[OriginalIntent]

We forgot God.

Some have not just forgotten God but have sided with the fanatics in America who have declared war against God.

[Clemenza]

Or England under Oliver’s Army.

[Pyro7480]

Several of the key players at NR in the early days were Catholic or were converts to Catholicism. They included Wilmoore Kendall, Russell Kirk, L. Brent Bozell, Jr., and Frank Meyer (converted on his death bed).

[MeanWestTexan]

Not only fish-eating papists, but JEWS, like that Goldberg fella. Probably supported flouridation.

(yes, sarcasm).

[tacticalogic]

"Render unto God what is God's. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's".

The repblic, and our civic duty, is Caesar's, and our principle of "separation of church and state" is there because politics corrupts religion.

[Binghamton_native]

Did you see Lofton's use of the word rapture? I bet he is not a Calvinist.

[Petronski]

[who_would_fardels_bear]

The aerospace industry, the interstate highway system, the internet, etc. are at least as "Godless" as Conservatism if not moreso.

None of these is a complete failure. None of these is still-born. None of these is in danger of collapsing.

So in what way is the conservative movement different that it should be DOA while these other major movements/institutions are still ongoing?