How Neo are the Neocons?

Los Angeles Times ^ | April 22, 2008 | Jonah Goldberg

[moderatewolverine]

From our earliest days, Americans have supported the promotion of democracy around the world, often by force and without undue heed to international institutions. William Henry Seward, a founder of the Republican Party and Lincoln's secretary of State, argued that it was America's mission to lead the way "to the universal restoration of power to the governed." A generation earlier, statesman Henry Clay championed the idea that America had the "duty to share with the rest of mankind this most precious gift" of liberty. Both world wars, Korea and Vietnam would be inconceivable without accounting for America's dedication to the promotion and defense of democracy.

Kagan traces such sentiments to the dawn of the republic. The founders, he writes, saw the U.S. as a " 'Hercules in a cradle' ... because its beliefs, which liberated human potential and made possible a transcendent greatness, would capture the imagination and the following of all humanity."

Even amid the 15-month riot of Bush-bashing during the Democratic Party's fratricidal primaries, both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama conceded the core neoconservative principle of the Bush doctrine. "There's absolutely a connection between a democratic regime and heightened security for the United States," Clinton said, responding to events in Pakistan. And Obama would not only unilaterally attack Al Qaeda in Pakistan without Pakistan's permission if necessary, but he also argues that anti-Americanism in the Middle East is a direct consequence of the lack of democracy.

[moderatewolverine]

It's incredible that some people shudder at this dirty word, yet have no clue what the hell it really means.

[Ratblaster]

They're more con than neo.

[Neville Chamberlain]

To learn about the first great Jewish leadership transformation of the NeoCons and how they helped build the Reagan Coalition, watch this great video from the New Centurion Program:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vSEx623os8

[YoungHickey]

The only other time I have heard “neo” used in a sentence it was followed by “Nazi” and since everyone knows conservatives are Nazi’s then it makes sense.

[eleni121]

the neo cons have been conned and have conned us. Democracy games do not work with Islamics. That includes Turkey and Kosovo. All have been disasters and coming disasters.

[moderatewolverine]

I don’t buy that. Democracy can work for all mankind, they just have to give it a shot. And by the way, it takes a while.

[eleni121]

the neo cons have been conned and have conned us. Democracy games do not work with Islamics. That includes Turkey and Kosovo. All have been disasters and coming disasters.

[Wallace T.]

Bill Kristol is stretching a point when he cites William Henry Seward and Henry Clay as advocates of intervention to promote democracy. Neither man, nor Lincoln for that matter, were advocates of pure democracy. For instance, Lincoln and Seward opposed the popular sovereignty notions of Northern Democrats like Douglas or Buchanan such as allowing the territories to decide whether slavery would be permitted. As President, Lincoln fervently opposed the will of the people toward neutrality in the Civil War or outright secession in border states like Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland.

Furthermore, the context of the remarks would more likely imply leadership by example. Neither Clay nor Lincoln supported our involvement in the Mexican American War, with the former favoring annexation of Texas only if war with Mexico could be avoided. The absence of intervention in foreign wars, other than temporary expeditions such as the one against the Barbary pirates, until the Spanish-American War, speaks volumes as to the general attitude toward foreign intervention. It was the Federalists, later the Whigs, and last the Republicans, who were more opposed to foreign intervention, while the Democrats were inclined more to belligerence.

Circumstances change, and America is no longer a thinly populated frontier country effectively protected by two oceans. Our involvement overseas is an inevitable result of our size and power. Nonetheless, Kristol is guilty of misinterpreting the positions of important American historical figures.

[rightinthemiddle]

I’m an old fashioned conservative.

I don’t worry about my neighbor...until my neighbor come on my turf or causes problems for me. Then they’ve made their business my business.

9/11, and more, made the Middle East our business.

[eleni121]

The basic ideology of islam - like communism - cannot support or abide by democratic system of government. It will always seek to destroy it.

[xp38]

I know what you mean

[jmc813]

It's incredible that some people shudder at this dirty word

It's not a dirty word, it just means domestically liberal while not being a wuss at foreign policy.

[moderatewolverine]

I know this, but libs associate it with all sorts of nonsense...

that was a great way of putting it by the way, nice and concise.