[jstone78]

I think neo-conservatives should more appropriately be referred to as pseudo-conservatives.

[finnman69]

I think the "NEO" label has been done to death and is pointless.

[GovernmentShrinker]

"Religious right" conservatives, who try to impose their religious beliefs on people who don't share them, by means of government force, are hard-core pseudo-conservative.

[GalvestonBeachcomber]

Neither 41 nor 43 are conservatives.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Hyphens suck.

[GSWarrior]

The only thing I disagree with is the "restoration of school prayer." Anyone, at any time, can pray in school. And it need not be a big production.

[Dog Gone]

There are no liberals in your world. Just conservatives and neo-conservatives.

[inkling]

I think we should define "neo-conservative." If memory serves, the first person labeled as a "neo-con" was William F. Buckley.

In the 2000 Presidential campaign, liberals in the press started calling McCain and William Kristol neo-cons.

Now, Chris Matthews calls everyone in the Bush administration (except Colin Powell) neo-cons, and means it as a horrible insult.

I've been called a neo-con both as a compliment and a slur, but what the heck does the term even mean?

[sinkspur]

Paleo-conservatives are divisive, often hateful, and arrogant in the extreme.

[freeeee]

Neo-conservative litmus tests:

1. Do you agree with FDR's New Deal interpretation of the commerce clause, and all subsequent government powers/court rulings that have sprung from it?

2. There is a hypothetical election with no Democratic or third party candidates. The person who wins the Republican nomination wins the election. The candidates for nomination are Ron Paul and George Bush. Who do you vote for?

3. Would you approve of a law that forced Congress to cite a specifically enumerated constitutional power before it can pass a law? Also, apply this to every law already on the books.

Failing any one of these is a sure sign of a neo-con.

[Democrap]

So Neo-cons= Republacrats?

Unfortunately there is no fine line. Bush can be found all over the map on this as could many other good Repubs. It’s called politics and it’s a sickos game to start off with.

[maxwell]

I always thought the difference between neocons and cons was, the former would be more likely to smoke a joint with ya...

What's your distinction between Old and New Rightists?

[4CJ]

Excellent post. Run for office!

[ex-snook]

Well done, thanks,

If you want to see magazine contrasts - For Conservatism read The American Conservative that Buchanan launched at the National Press Club Wednesday. For Neo-Con read Kristol's Weekly Standard.

[Cable225]

I think neo-conservatives should more appropriately be referred to as pseudo-conservatives.

I think jstone78 should referred to as an idiot.

[meadsjn]

This is one area needing lots and lots more discussion -- November 6, 2002 would be the perfect time to revisit this topic. Right now, we need to focus on removing as many Democrats as possible in this upcoming election.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Well, this attitude should really help you "real conservatives" put together the electoral margins needed for victory - yessirree, Bob.

I note you have Reagan on your list - but unlike you, I remember the '80s, and how you and the rest of the bluenosed crowd treated him - and it was shabby.

[f.Christian]

Recent thread on conservatism---interesting... post!

[marron]

Ok, I'm risking a shelacking here, but hey, I'm among friends, I hope...

We got into trouble when we lost control of "liberal". As in, John Locke liberal.

Most of what we call Conservative, in the US, is classic liberal. Limited Government, individual liberty, private property. If you believe in that, you are a classic liberal. But since the socialists stole our name (our id was in our wallet when they stole that too...) we have been forced to make do with the Conservative name.

Certainly many of us are also "conservative", in US terms, since we are conserving the constitution, which is a classic liberal document. But the original meaning of conservative doesn't necessarily apply to most US conservatives. We are not tradition bound. Conservatives are where its happening, intellectually, right now. Certainly the left is intellectually moribund, and conformist to the point of uniformity.

US conservatives are at home with change, they are agents of change, their ideas are the only new ones on the scene, and as they become more confident they are almost revolutionary. So the "traditionalist" meaning of the word "conservative" clearly doesn't apply.

[The Grammarian]

You don't happen to play "America's Army" occasionally, do you? I think I was playing with someone with that name a day or two ago under the name "Laerithil."

Just a random comment.

[marron]

To continue my thought, William F Buckley is certainly a conservative, in the traditionalist Russel Kirk sense, with whom he is closely linked, but he is also a classic liberal. Limited government, individual liberty, private property.

He is also in favor of legalizing marijuana. So is he a libertarian?