[Reagan Man]

If you want to believe Goldwater's second wife brainwashed him, okay fine. I find that a first class cope out. So be it.

>>>One last thing should be pointed out as well, I was never of the opinion that Goldwater was "fully" a Conservative in the first place, too much of it seemed Libertarian.

Didn't want to go there, but since you brought it up, I can't say I disagree with you. Libertarians aren't true conservatives.

I suggest we watch out. Possible incoming rounds of blistering rhetorical hogwash.

[tpaine]

"The Conscience of a Conservative advanced the conservative cause in several ways. Building on William F. Buckley's pathbreaking work at National Review, Goldwater adeptly reconciled the differences between traditionalists and libertarians. The expansion of the welfare state, he wrote, was an unfortunate and dangerous development that undermined individual freedom. Suggesting that New Deal liberalism marked the first step on the road to totalitarianism, Goldwater argued that government should be removed from most areas of American life. Yet he was no strict libertarian."

>>>One last thing should be pointed out as well, I was never of the opinion that Goldwater was "fully" a Conservative in the first place, too much of it seemed Libertarian.
-FM-

Didn't want to go there, but since you brought it up, I can't say I disagree with you. Libertarians aren't true conservatives.
-RM-

How droll, -- You've been itching to 'go there', and have, -- since your first day at FR.
Your well known irrational hate for libertarians far outweighs your 'conservative' chops.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"If you want to believe Goldwater's second wife brainwashed him, okay fine. I find that a first class cope out. So be it."

Not to hammer a dead horse, he was already into his 80s, and how many of us can remain particularly sharp or clear-headed at that age, let alone still remain alive ? I don't think there's any male member of my family who has lived to see 80, perhaps save one.

"Libertarians aren't true conservatives."

There are some basic issues with which we share, but a lot of basic differences. Not to paint them all with a broad brushstroke, many are not the lunatic fringe, but many are. I personally have not had a good time with them in onlineland, and participating with them in political Sims was a very harrowing experience. I served as a Republican Senator in one about the time an influx of Libertarians came in and took control of the caucus. I don't particularly appreciate getting called names like "left-wing statist", etc. when I voted practically the equivalent of a 90% ACU rating. They literally forced me to switch to the 'Rat caucus (and you know it's a bad sign when the 'Rats sound more reasonable, even when filled with hard-left Socialists, then the Libertarians).