[Cincinatus]

Neo-conservatives see nothing wrong with big, centralized government, as long as they, the neo-conservatives, are in charge instead of liberal Democrats.

Ronald Reagan was a "neo-conservative" -- he started out as a New Deal Democrat and became a Republican when the Harry Hopkins branch of the party essentially went communist.

Reagan recognized that we needed a "big government" to fight world communism. He also recognized that there were some things big government did well -- like fight a highly technological war. And he realized that having government engineering social policy was idiotic.

And Ronald Reagan was a better "conservative" than any paleocon nitwit that ever lived.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Ronald Reagan was no different as president than Jimmy Carter. And he was no better than what Walter Mondale would have been. :]

[ninenot]

Your definition of the terms bolsters your argument--but the definition is faulty.

EVERY paleo-con understands that the Gummint has TWO minimum functions: defend the shores and deliver the mail.

The fact that Reagan understood the first of these makes him a paleo (at least in that regard.)

Let's re-do your logic with that understanding.

[sauropod]

Better check your history.

[wardaddy]

Amen.....a big part of the Neo label is an aggressive support for Israel. It's a jacket I don't mind wearing.

[PuNcH]

Reagan recognized that we needed a "big government" to fight world communism. He also recognized that there were some things big government did well -- like fight a highly technological war. And he realized that having government engineering social policy was idiotic.

Reagan recognized that a cold war is a war and dealt with it as a conservative would.

[afuturegovernor]

Ronald Reagan was a "neo-conservative"...And Ronald Reagan was a better "conservative" than any paleocon nitwit that ever lived

Agreed, Reagan wasn't some paleo-Herbert Hoover-style conservative. Some are angry that no paleo-Warren Harding/Herbert Hoover conservatives could get elected today, but I have no problem with Reagan style neo-conservatives.

BTW, the left has the same debate, the liberal base in this country are angry at the "new Democrats" and the "Third Way" politics. They think they have been sold out and want Paul Wellstone or Ralph Nader to be president - everybody else knows it will never happen.