Unpatriotic Conservatives

National Review Online ^ | 4/7/03 (advance) | David Frum

[Chancellor Palpatine]

"I respect and admire the French, who have been a far greater nation than we shall ever be, that is, if greatness means anything loftier than money and bombs."
— THOMAS FLEMING, "HARD RIGHT," MARCH 13, 2003

rom the very beginning of the War on Terror, there has been dissent, and as the war has proceeded to Iraq, the dissent has grown more radical and more vociferous. Perhaps that was to be expected. But here is what never could have been: Some of the leading figures in this antiwar movement call themselves "conservatives."

These conservatives are relatively few in number, but their ambitions are large. They aspire to reinvent conservative ideology: to junk the 50-year-old conservative commitment to defend American interests and values throughout the world — the commitment that inspired the founding of this magazine — in favor of a fearful policy of ignoring threats and appeasing enemies.

And they are exerting influence. When Richard Perle appeared on Meet the Press on February 23 of this year, Tim Russert asked him, "Can you assure American viewers . . . that we're in this situation against Saddam Hussein and his removal for American security interests? And what would be the link in terms of Israel?" Perle rebutted the allegation. But what a grand victory for the antiwar conservatives that Russert felt he had to air it.

[hchutch]

There is, in my opinion, a difference between opposing affirmative action, illegal immigration, and bilingual education and using them as an excuse to engage in race-baiting, which, in my opinion, VDARE and the paleo-cons often do.

I think these issues can be handled without race-baiting. Unfortunately, others seem to think that because Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson get a pass for their race-baiting it is okay. We get angry whan Al Sharpton engages in race-baiting. Why should VDARE and the paleo-cons get a pass for it?

[NeoCaveman]

You guys need to get with the program!

And for the love of everything decent and holy please stock up on TIN FOIL.

[dirtboy]

Uh oh, this article includes a reference to the sinister VDare.com, which opposes affirmative action, illegal immigration, and bilingual education. Doesn't reference to VDare violate Free Republic posting policies? Somebody tell Jim!

If Sam Francis stopped there, it wouldn't be a problem. However, he makes the mistake of revealing his true stripes from time to time, as the article mentions:

"The civilization that we as whites created in Europe and America could not have developed apart from the genetic endowments of the creating people." — SAMUEL FRANCIS, SPEECH AT THE AMERICAN RENAISSANCE CONFERENCE, MAY 1994

Nice company you keep, Vdare fan...

[discostu]

What we have here is a person who has been cornered by facts he can't refute but knows he can always hurl insults. Of course that style is why we laugh at Pat, and you. Deal with the facts Kid.

[dirtboy]

What we have here is a bunch of UNINFORMED neo-con foot soldiers.

Oh, we're quite informed. From the article, it seems that some of the paleos are the ones who need to allow reality to interested with their views on a much more regular basis.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

You misplaced the Sharon memo? Please report to the punishment section of HQ for application of the alligator clips. They've gotten their problems with the voltage regulator worked out - there will be no more scorching.

[sinkspur]

Given the fact that there are many who now believe that it's not elected people in DC that are pulling the strings, as much as the global corporations, who, I might add are very good a hiding assets...

Shame on Frum!

How could he have left the John Birch Society and THE NEW AMERICAN out of the list of paleo-con scripture?

[NeoCaveman]

They've gotten their problems with the voltage regulator worked out - there will be no more scorching.

That is a relief, nearly burnt my genitals off last time.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

You just don't know the good stuff to get your "facts" from. LOL

[iranger]

"As Pat is one of the few honest public figures out there with the backbone to bring attention to the epic invasion of millions of illegals,"

Savage does it better because he understands that illegal immigrants and the islamists represent a clear and present danger to our national security.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

ROTFL

[hchutch]

Oh, it's the old pattern:
Scream you're abused. Shout you're oppressed. The world's wrong, you're right. And whatever bad is going on is NOT your fault - someone else is to blame - be it Jews, immigrants, corporations, whoever the boogeyman of the week is.

[Joe Hadenuf]

You bet, Savage cuts through the BS, no doubt. The problem with Buchanan is that he has always put America first, which makes him a prime target for beltway konservatives.....

[Chancellor Palpatine]

And lord knows these people have been effective at forming electoral majorities, LOL.

[sinkspur]

The problem with Buchanan is that he has always put America first, which makes him a prime target for beltway konservatives.....

No, Joe. The problem with Buchanan is his inability to utter more than two sentences without mentioning "Jews" or "Israel." And the mentions are never positive.

You tell me what that is.

[hchutch]

Agreed.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Anyone who thinks that policies of isolation and containment will protect us from Islamo-facists is a MORON.

Anyone who thinks that policies of open immigration, open borders, and the willful invasion of millions into our country will protect us from Islamo-facist is a MORON.

This is so fun....

[Cacique]

ping

[u-89]

Nothing wrong with my comprehension, reading or otherwise. As stated in my previous post anyone who has followed the paleo-neo fight knows fully that the latest trick is to deny the legitimacy of the the term "neonconservate" saying it is a fabrication of the paleos and is a code word. This is not past tense but is on going and is amazingly bold as they identify themselves with the term while simultaneously deny its legitimacy when used by others. Clearly Frum alludes to this in the quote I pulled from the article and though this is an abbreviated form of that argument this column does picture the old right as racists.

I do not have time today to do a search and have not bookmark or saved the articles by Goldberg and others using neocon=anti-semite line of attack but they exist and some have been posted on this site.

As someone interested in honest debate I hate to see tactics ala Jackson, Sharpton et al employed and legitimized. This ideological debate could be enjoyable if it weren't for the slanderous invective. Indeed this is a debate that needs to take place though honestly I concede the battle is decided from a power standpoint - the neocons thoughts on policy are now policy in action, still questioning them is a good thing.

cordially,