[goldstategop]

I am a descendant of the neoconservative school and am very much a mainstream conservative. I am not unduly troubled at the existence of the welfare state and furthermore I champion the "hard Wilsonian" school of thought in international relations which holds American ideals must be spread abroad by persuasion where possible and defended by force of arms when necessary. America is the greatest country on earth and is an example to the rest of the world on how to create and sustain a country built upon individual initiative, maximum freedom and which the tendency to absolute power is checked by the robust application of the rule of law. Along with an admiration for the wonders of the free market and a respect for the virtues and values that define the republican virtue tradition, mainstream conservatives believe this captures what is special about America and will make the forthcoming century a uniquely American one as the previous ones have been. In short far from America's best days being behind her, we have yet to see the end of possibilities for this country. God Bless America.

[Stavka2]

You obviously missed the Patriot Act, McArthism and Microsoft getting off scott free while Eron and Anderson pillaged away.

[hchutch]

I've found myself more or less feeling comfortable with the neo-conservatives. A big reason is the post you made. The fact is, the free market WORKS quite well.

Quite frankly, the pessimism of a Buchanan is a turn-off. Paleoconservatives also strike me as trying to cook up a grievance industry of their own, and I don't like that from anyone.