Conservative Civil War well underway

American Thinker ^ | 10/26/2008 | Rick Moran

[BuckeyeTexan]

We at American Thinker have covered the first shots in the conflict between traditional conservatives and what many are referring to as conservative "elites." Just this week, we've featured several excellent articles on our front page including "Betting Against the Elites on Sarah Palin by J. Robert Smith and "Noonan's Slipped a Peg" by Jan LaRue.

We will continue to follow this ideological struggle closely because we believe it to be the most important story of this young century.

Who is a conservative? Who gets to decide that question? Has conservatism "failed?"

These and other questions will no doubt roil conservative media outlets, think tanks, and conferences for the next several years. I hasten to add that this is a healthy thing for the right - as long as the debates stay away from the personal and concentrate on issues and tactics.

But perhaps, that's too much to ask. Already, as we have seen, there are some influential conservatives who believe that some of the "elites" in Washington and New York have failed to help the movement by their tepid support of McCain and, most importantly, how they view the personality, the politics, and the future of McCain's running mate Sarah Palin.

As this interesting perspective penned by Tim Shippman of the UK Telegraph shows, the fault line in the conservative schism is most evident between those who love Palin and those who don't:

[Kanzan]

RINO Republicans have blown our fortune. They are terrified of the press and the press knows exactly how to push them around.

[goodnesswins]

BLESS YOU and THEM!!!!!

[Disambiguator]

Rick Moran is an asshat.

[mjp]

You are either for

limited government
low taxes
capitalism
natural rights
no egalitarianism
no redistributionism
no government interventionism
anti-abortion
strong defense
pro America when fighting wars

or not.

these values and principles will not become obsolete

[GOPJ]

Moderates tell us how much we need them. Right? Then when we really do need them, they’ve jumped ship and are with Obama - ask Colin Powell.

[Clemenza]

1. Can this "anti-elitist" retardation. Elitism means HAVING STANDARDS and believe that those who are skilled and intelligent should be rewarded according to their abilities. I think many conservatives confuse "snobbery" with elitism.

2. This pseudopopulist schtick was invented by Richard Nixon as part of his "southern strategy." Unfortunately, many conservatives think it is real, rather than a methodical ruse to win elections.

3. Conservatives should run on GOVERNMENT ACCOUTABILITY and COMPETANCE, to say nothing of keeping spending under control. Trying to out-populist the Democrats is a strategy that will make us the permanent minority party.

4. If we don't devise a future-oriented strategy, and sit around whining and bitching about Reagan not rising from the grave, we deserve to lose.