Grover Norquist who thinks McCain is taxpayer friendly?
That’s a joke.
This is a damnation of conservatism. What’s the conservative problem with freedom? :-(
Bzzzt. Wrong answer.
"That Government is no more than a choice among evils, is acknowledged by the most intelligent among mankind, and has been a standing maxim for ages."
--Patrick Henry , June 7, 1788
Ping for your interest!
Sorry, Mr. 'conservative'. It doesn't work that way.
Awful piece.
If we fought the war on terrorism the way the Americans fought World War II, it would be over by now.
There were a few worthy speakers at CPAC, but most seemed to fit into the “other reality” corner...somewhere between freak show and ridiculous. If the Tea Party movement dissolves into this, we have no one more to blame than our selves. After reading some of the speeches I was apalled that things seemed to be in shambles and disarray. Some people are trying to take over the tea party movement for their own gain. We need to beware that some who join us have designs on our support for their own purposes, and not necessarily things that would help America. They talk out of both sides of their mouths...we all now the types.
This a a very good article (especially the first half), that does a great job explaining the difference between Conservatism and Libertarianism.
I especially like this passage:
“A conservative isn’t a libertarian. A conservative values freedom (individual liberty); a libertarian worships it. A libertarian recognizes no political value other than freedom. A libertarian is a utopian of the right. The left’s utopia is a government that’s all-inclusive. The libertarian’s is a government that’s non-existent — or nearly so. The left believes people are angels corrupted by capitalism. The libertarian believes people are angels corrupted by the state. The conservative believes humanity is flawed — hence, corruptible.”
I think he goes a bit too far on the faith aspect. While I am a devout Christian, I believe an agnostic or atheist can be a conservative, so long as they agree with certain core Christian values. Still, this an excellent article.
He seems on point for the most part, but one thing, one very important thing, I did not see anywhere in his write up, is the mention of Progressives.
We can talk all day long about democrats, republicans, liberals and conservatives. But until one opens their eyes and see’s it’s the Progressives that are ruining this country and call them for what they are, nothing will change. IMO
What an idiotic article...yawn
You want a simpler and more accurate explanation for what happened at CPAC? Well here it is.
CPAC has long been the main stomping ground of conservative college student activists. In recent years it's become even more so, with a full half of the audience or higher being in that 18-25 demographic. College age conservatives tend to have a substantially stronger small-l libertarian streak than the rest of the conservative electorate. For better or for worse:
- They don't really care one way or another about the gay movement, and don't really think of it as a political threat
- They don't see marijuana as marking the downfall of Western Civilization
- They associate most social conservatism with "sunday school," which is that boring thing their parents used to make them go to when they were living at home.
- They aren't too keen on religious conservative crusades against alcohol and other "moral vices" either, seeing as they typically partake in them
- In fact, they probably see those socially conservative "moral vice" policies as evidence of an intrusive big government preventing them from freely partaking in the consumption of alcohol
- Those of them who are gung ho about the war in Iraq have already signed up in the military, and the rest are generally indifferent
- They're generally healthy and at an age where they think they're invincible, so they don't really get riled up about medicare or health insurance either...except when they're asked to pay for somebody else's.
- They are usually new to the working world, have just discovered that they have to pay income taxes
- They've also just discovered that part of their paycheck is confiscated for a social security system that they will never see or benefit from
- And they're generally drawn to idealistic political causes over pragmatist ones
All of those factors combine together to make a candidate like Ron Paul sound very appealing, so they vote for him over a bible thumper like Palin, a stuffy old career politician like McCain, or a slick but empty suit like Romney. Give it a few years and most of them will grow out of it. But a giant Ron Paul conspiracy to take over the GOP it is not.
I thought it was a good article. Has this place been overrun by the Ronulans?
Some very good points in this discussion! Thank you all!