But it is worse. Conservatives are fighting each other on the front pages of their own magazines. National Review writer David Frum made the argument public with a banner denunciation of any conservative with reservations about the invasion of Iraq. Those conservative intellectuals and activists opposed or even those critical of it before the fighting or even those who mentioned that protecting Israel's interests could complicate matters were all labeled paleo-conservatives and pushed off to the nutty fringe. The only good guys remaining on the right were neo-conservatives. Frum named names, some of who differed on principle, but most simply saw the facts differently. He was so obsessed with his own righteousness in anathematizing heretics he was heedless of how the split would further weaken the forces of the right.Anyone who thinks this battle was begun with Frum's piece is either being a bit disingenuous, or wasn't really paying attention. The name calling has gone on for years now, with certain factions eagerly trying to expand the fissure.
Just last night, in the current issue of NR, I read an excerpt from Frank Meyer's VERY cutting review of Kirk's The Conservative Mind.
I don't recall the year, but suffice to say it was long ago.