Llewelyn Rockwell, the leading intellectual influence of the paleo-libertarian right........

View from the Right ^ | Lawrence Auster at March 08, 2003 | Lawrence Auster at March 08, 2003

[dennisw]

Llewelyn Rockwell, the leading intellectual influence of the paleo-libertarian right, was interviewed last night by Bill Moyers on PBS, and if any doubts had remained about the character of Rockwell and movement he leads, they were settled by this program. Asked his principles of when war is justified, he gave as an example of an unjustifiable war the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, which he said was carried out for no other reason than to strike out at somebody, anybody. Asked if he thought Saddam Hussein was evil, Rockwell said, of course he’s evil, he’s a politician. Asked if he feared nuclear weapons in the hands of Hussein, Rockwell pertly replied that he also feared nuclear weapons in the hands of George W. Bush. Asked what he would advise President Bush to do about Iraq, Rockwell answered: “Read a book.”

[Grand Old Partisan]

What Bill Moyers and every single Confederate -- from Jefferson Davis down to the lowliest rebel sniper -- have in common is being DEMOCRATS.

[u-89]

Not wanting to turn this into a Civil War agruement thread as there are enough of those already on FR but I do not think it very controversial to say that in those days people thought of themselves as a citizen of their State, not The United States, like Lee turned down a Federal commission to defend his homeland of Virginia.

Today of course there is no such thing as a soveriegn state and most people no longer have the attachemnt to their State as folks did in days of old but that does not mean that these things were not legitimate in the begining or that today that understanding of how things once were or the desire to return to that understanding is beyond the pale.

Since perfection in human endeavors has not existed since Eden there is no perfect society to point to and fully embrace. That does not mean that high ideals of certain societies should not be championed and emulated. The bad points need not be returned to - it is not take it all or nothing. Such an arguement is leftist - they try to discredit limited government and the free market because some of the founders owned slaves. They also discredit the idea of state's sovereignty because of old time racial injustice. It seems odd to me that conservatives say they want to conserve all that was good of the old republic on one hand and on the other adopt leftist tactics to discredit their own dear traditions.

[u-89]

After reviewing your comments I believe that you do not understand what it is the libertarians are saying in regards for national defense. I do not speak for the party or for Rockwell but having read a fair amount of their stuff they do believe in a strong national defense and they do believe in retaliation against the perps of 9/11. They do not however agree with the idea of the US being the world's policeman, global hegemony or projecting power as these things are a recipe for only more war, higher taxes and bigger government. It seems that conservatives were all against a global government when the UN was thought to be in charge but think it is just great if we are told the US will be in charge - the question is do conservatives want global government or not? If yes then how does that square with the constitution and if one says "but things are different today" then admit that the constitution is out dated just as the liberals have been claiming all along and scrap it and write a new one.

[u-89]

I caught the end of this show and heard Moyer's say he disagreed with Rockwell but he learns more from listening to those he disagrees with than from those he does. I'm not a Moyer fan but I respect that statement as it is the sign of thoughtful deliberation and a desire for further education. Personally I have had to think through my own positions carefully when they have been challenged and have often been confronted with different angles of thought not previously considered. Debate is healthy.Listening to cheer leaders is mind numbing.

[willyboyishere]

Politics has always made strange bedfellows, and it's fitting to see Moyers take full advantage of the "value-free" ahistorical ravings of this representative of the crackpot fringe of Libertarianism. It's another avenue the Left has found to legitimize their anti-Bush project.

[Justin Raimondo]

Dinesh D'Souza, in his book _The End of Racism_, had this to say about Lawrence Auster's sicko views:

Lawrence Auster, author of The Path to National Suicide, argued at the 1994 American Renaissance conference that the "large and enduring differences in average intelligence between blacks and whites" ensure that "blacks on their own can never be expected to maintain a modern, democratic, civilized society," or "achieve collective economic equality and other kinds of parity with whites."

So the chief honcho of Nazis for War doesn't like Lew. Oh, boo hoo hoo.

[Capriole]

You're obsessed, you know that?

[Grand Old Partisan]

It's the Democrats, of the 1860s and now, who are obsessed with harming our country.

[gcruse]

If the legislature of your state voted to secede, would you shoot U.S. soldiers who tried to prevent it?

Wow.  I've never seen that question before.  What does a 'yes' answer say about me?

[gcruse]

P.S. I'm a Texan. Does that change anything?

[x]

The US tried "state sovereignty" under the Articles of Confederation. It did not work well. We had trouble paying for our own defense and our other debts.

It also looks like Lee had little trouble thinking of himself as an American citizen first and a Virginian second, until Virginia joined the rebellion. His was a tragic choice, but it's the sort of choice made by those in all countries facing civil war, not the basis of a political philosophy.

I'll certainly grant that the country could have pursued another, more decentralized course that might have had benefits. It could also have had serious problems. But putting in a good word for Jefferson or the Anti-Federalists, or contemplating the tragic choices of the 1860s is not the same as a full-fledged embrace of the CSA and a hatred of those who fought to preserve the union.

Asked if he thought Saddam Hussein was evil, Rockwell said, of course he’s evil, he’s a politician. Asked if he feared nuclear weapons in the hands of Hussein, Rockwell pertly replied that he also feared nuclear weapons in the hands of George W. Bush.

Rockwell hardly a "leading intellectual influence." He's more like an adolescent idiot. Thomas Fleming and his Confederamania did a lot to kill off paleconservatism. "Paleolibertarianism" was never much of anything serious. Basically it was an attempt to overcome some flaws in libertarianism without addressing other, equally serious drawbacks.

[johniegrad]

"Shoes for industry, shoes for the dead"......Don't get this crap started again.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Sam Houston was ousted from the governorship of Texas in 1861 for opposing secession and supporting the United States government. The Confederates hanged hundreds of Texans for loyalty to the United States government. In the 1860s, there were loyal Texans and traitorous Texans, just like now.

[johniegrad]

What's a paleo-libertarian? Does that mean he wears high heels?

If he did, it wouldn't hurt anyone and is nobody's business, you Jack Booted High Heel Thug!! Hands off my porn, Statist!!

[johniegrad]

Concerning your remarks on the Libertarian position on national defense, all you need to do with the FR libertarians is ask them at what point intervention is necessary to provide for the common defense. If you make them stick to the point, you will find out why they will never gain more than 1% of the vote.

Apart from that, the Ls have many good points that I wish the GOP could ascribe to especially in the area of limited government. I'm a W supporter and a supporter of the WOT but I have to admit fearing the extent of the power now vested in the executive branch.

[gcruse]

I think part of the agreement that brought the Texas Republic in the Union was the right to secede. So, yes, I would fight for my state. The Tenth Amendment is a burned out black hole now, but it was a good idea.

[strela]

"He walks again by night ..." ;)

[Kevin Curry]

Llewelyn Rockwell, the leading intellectual influence . . .

Leading intellectual flatulence maybe.

[wardaddy]

Quit crossthreading you self righteous Yankee bastard and take your usual vitirol back to the South bashing threads you and your ilk swarm daily.

Arsewipe!


You and Rockwell.....different sides of the same coin.

[EternalVigilance]

...or efluence, perhaps?