The era of American politics that has been dying before our eyes was born in 1966. That January, a twenty-seven-year-old editorial writer for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat named Patrick Buchanan went to work for Richard Nixon, who was just beginning the most improbable political comeback in American history.
Having served as Vice-President in the Eisenhower Administration, Nixon had lost the Presidency by a whisker to John F. Kennedy, in 1960, and had been humiliated in a 1962 bid for the California governorship. But he saw that he could propel himself back to power on the strength of a new feeling among Americans who, appalled by the chaos of the cities, the moral heedlessness of the young, and the insults to national pride in Vietnam, were ready to blame it all on the liberalism of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Right-wing populism was bubbling up from below; it needed to be guided by a leader who understood its resentments because he felt them, too.
While I agree that
While I agree that Conservatism is on it’s death bed, it isn’t, nor will be, completely destroyed. Although I am a strong Democrat, I believe it is good for Democracy to look to other ideologies for suggestions, as the Conservative movement has uncovered some acceptable policy options.
However, I must note my displeasure with the current supply-side doctrine and financial irresopnsiblity bourne by these “Companionate Conservatives”. There efforts has done an incredible about of damage to the middle class in only eight years.
Far more damage has been
Far more damage has been done by environmental extremists who, at the behest/pay of middle-eastern oil interests, have made it impossible to drill more wells, build refineries, add more nuclear reactors to solve the energy shortage.
Worse, there are a vast horde morons who believe in global-freezing/warming, and related propaganda, unable to see the vast financial benefits being accumulated by those who tell endless lies to keep their energy monopoly.
They simply lack the intellectual skills to comprehend the magnitude of the lies they are told.
Damage
Who do you think will capitalize on those new oil wells and refineries. The same corporations that today have the monopoly. More nuclear reactors, oil wells and refineries are not the answer. More only leads to more consupmtion, higher demand and higher prices. Your views are short-sighted and show your lack of the intellectual skills needed to comprehend the big picture.
odd, these claims
I dare say that I see a great many wells being drilled for natural gas, and much speculation by companies who purchase those rights – only to cap the wells against future profits. Likewise, the industry has spent most of its efforts in the past two decades closing refineries instead of building, to artificially inflate the price of the final product. Please check your facts before making such claims.
More, more more
More is never the answer. Americans need to learn to consume less. Refineries are costly to build and maintain because they are tremendeous polluters. Over consumption and limited oil supply is what inflates prices, not the lack of refineries. You see, there has to be a sufficient supply of oil to justify the cost of building a refinery. Oil companies are for-profit enterprises and therfore expect to make profits on their investments. Crude oil, as you may know, is a limited resource and will one day run out. You may want to check your facts.
the future of conservatism
Yes, but a new era of thoughtful conservatism may well be starting, witness the ideas of David Frum, David Brooks, etc.—or take a quick trip to my own campaign website.
Mike Livingston
Candidate for Congress
2nd District Pa.
www.livingstonforcongress.com
thoughtful conservatism
Can you briefly explain this new “thoughtful conservatism”; specifically, how does it differ from “compasionate conservatism”?
I’m not being a smart-ass… honestly looking forward to your reply.
I guess it means....
...that the old school conservatism was totally thoughtless, which, judging by the results which have accrued to the common man, seems about right.
And I AM being a smart ass!
Any attempt to “re-brand” conservatism is just an effort to try to make us forget about what has been a disastrous policy.
Pilt
Well, Speaking As A Conservative...
I’ll try not to write a treatise on the supposed “decline” of conservatism. Yes, the Republican Party has taken some big hits lately (and will probably sustain more come November). However, let’s be sure to distinguish between the ideology (conservatism) and it’s vehicle (the Republican Party). A few quick points:
1) It seems conservatism’s biggest enemies aren’t Democrats: Over the past few decades, nobody has done more to undermine conservative principles than Republicans. After capturing control of Congress in 1994, too many Republicans in Washington promptly began behaving like Democrats. As Mike Huckabee quipped, “Drunken sailors behaved more responsibly”. Too many Republicans listened to their consultants, who apparently recommended that the best way to get the voters to like you would be to throw their money around at random. There were other causes of the Republican meltdown (which I’ll cover in a bit), but it began (and ended) in the most fundamental of places: the pocketbook.
2) Bush. ‘Nuff said.
3) Just as Bill Clinton did a remarkable job of masquerading as a Republican after the ’94 takeover, Democrat congressional candidates are put in an Oscar-worthy encore in 2006 (and some have already done so again this year). Rahm Emanuel, shrewd as they come, finally figured out how to beat Republicans – basically, run some of your own! The Dem party elders swallowed hard and recruited socially conservative Dems to neutralize weak GOP incumbents and capture open seats in 2006 and repeated the same process again in the special elections this year. Unless there is a complete GOP wash-out at every spot on the ballot this year, some of those seats will revert back in November, but some may not. The traditional “liberal” tag doesn’t work with the Heath Shulers and Brad Ellsworths of the world. The GOP will have to fight just to recapture seats that should be a given for the party.
4) Pure conservative principles (untainted by electoral Republicanism) still enjoy majority support across the country. Yes, Democrats enjoy majorities on generic polling questions (i.e., party preference, “Who do you trust”...etc.), but when the American people are asked specifics on solutions to issues (i.e., tax increases, school choice, individual vs. government-run health care, spending, etc.), the more conservative position often comes out on top. In short, Americans like the message but don’t care much for the messengers.
That will be the challenge for John McCain this year. Can he be an effective messenger for a party that Americans have, for the most part, stopped listening to? He also has to overcome an extremely talented and capable messenger for the Democrats, one that many Americans enjoy hearing. However, have they REALLY started listening to his message?
thoughtful conservatism
I think a lot of this involves alternate solutions to problems rather than denying problems exist. For example, I would define a denial that there is such a thing as global warming to be rather old-fashioned conservatism (if it is conservatism, at all). A thoughtful conservative response might involve looking to new technologies/private sector solutions rather than Government-imposed limits on emissions as the sole solution. Similarly, an old-fashioned conservative might take the position that health care should be left to private markets as much as possible with a limited Government role. A more thoughtful response might involve tax credits, incremental additions to coverage by State and local Governments, and similar solutions that took the problem seriously while trying to avoid or minimize centralized Government power in responding to it. The same is true in education and other areas. David Frum, David Brooks, and others have discussed this is in much more detail; this is just a sampler. The difference is there are real ideas here while compassionate conservatism appears to have become largely a slogan.
Michael A. Livingston
Candidate for Congress
Second District Pa.
www.livingstonforcongress.com
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