Is Conservatism Brain-Dead?

[Crabtownboy]

I did not always agree with Buckley, but I always knew he was intelligent. I cannot say that for the current talking heads ................ in fact I doubt they would have understood Buckley. He did use big words ............

During the glory days of the conservative movement, from its ascent in the 1960s and '70s to its success in Ronald Reagan's era, there was a balance between the intellectuals, such as Buckley and Milton Friedman, and the activists, such as Phyllis Schlafly and Paul Weyrich, the leader of the New Right. The conservative political movement, for all its infighting, has always drawn deeply from the conservative intellectual movement, and this mix of populism and elitism troubled neither side.
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Today, however, the conservative movement has been thrown off balance, with the populists dominating and the intellectuals retreating and struggling to come up with new ideas. The leading conservative figures of our time are now drawn from mass media, from talk radio and cable news. We've traded in Buckley for Beck, Kristol for Coulter, and conservatism has been reduced to sound bites.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy.../10/01/AR2009100103889.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

 

[KenH]

The neocons have taken over the conservative movement in America.

 

[targus]

I did not always agree with Buckley, but I always knew he was intelligent. I cannot say that for the current talking heads ................ in fact I doubt they would have understood Buckley. He did use big words ............

When speaking of the "current talking heads" in this regard no doubt you are including the liberals too- are you not?

 

[rbell]

When speaking of the "current talking heads" in this regard no doubt you are including the liberals too- are you not?

Oh nooooo....they are intellectuals.

Pelosi, Frank, Reid, Obama et al...

Again:

 

[preachinjesus]

The irony of the conservative movement is that it has believed it needs media time to have legitimacy. As a result (and as Ken mentioned well) there is nary a true conservative to be found in prolific discussions about our country. Its all a bunch of tv grubbing fools who have given over the precious ideological ground.

Of course conservatives haven't done themselves much favor. Does anyone seriously think Sarah Palin is a legitimate candidate for dog-catcher much less the highest office in the land. Where are the true conservatives talking about how she is deeply dangerous and absolutely not what we need for the country?

Imho, conservative (true conservativism) is a profoundly robust intellectual position...but no one is taking it on seriously. Maybe there are a couple of handfuls in Congress, but not enough to mount a serious campaign for legitimacy.

And the RNC has no desire to hear their voices.

We need a third party that represents the true conservatives in this nation. We need to talk about why reading F.A. Hayek is important, why Reagan was the greatest President of last (and this) century, why we need to reduce, drastically the size of the federal government, why states rights is the way of the Founders, etc.

I think Buckley is dead on. Right now too much of what represents conservativism is brain-dead. We need a rebirth of this ideology and push the debate back to where it belongs.

 

[Nonsequitur]

I did not always agree with Buckley, but I always knew he was intelligent. I cannot say that for the current talking heads ................ in fact I doubt they would have understood Buckley. He did use big words ............

Hahahaha. Stop it please, you're killing me commie.
"Big words." Hahahaha

Since no one else here has shown you what an American is, allow me to try.

An American works hard.
An American has a dream.
An American starts his/her own company with his/her own money. (Not the governments.)
An American hires other Americans, (and LEGAL immigrants), thus creating jobs.
An American profits by making a product/service that other Americans, (or world-wide), other people in other countries want.
An American makes a profit, not only benefiting his/her own family, but all of the peoples families that he employs.
An American then tries to keep the government/liberals (who only understand small words)/ and other leeches from draining the business he/she made with undue taxes that hinder and in general, procecute the idea that money made from hard work and the sweat of the brow, so that they may make a decent, legal way of life.
An American then tries to stop commies/liberals/and other leeches from the taking of force of their hard earned dollars to give to others that do not/won't work
An American gives freely to those that need a hand up. Not to anyone that wants a hand-out.
Thanks for playing. (Re-start?, Load?, Quit?)

 

[Twizzler]

Shouldn't this be in the politics forum? Seems like someone just posted it here to get a bit larger audience to me. Could a moderator please move it?

 

[Nonsequitur]

I did not always agree with Buckley, but I always knew he was intelligent. I cannot say that for the current talking heads ................ in fact I doubt they would have understood Buckley. He did use big words ............

That's funny.
Liberalism- a belief that others beliefs should be at least listened to, with an open mind.
Liberalism in real life- a mind so open that the brains slip out and all rational thought escapes.:laugh:

 

[Revmitchell]

not[/B] what we need for the country?

So tell us why is she so dangerous?

 

[just-want-peace]

So tell us why is she so dangerous?

This is a concept that has been bandied around much lately, but I have yet to see any concrete reasons for it; lots of opinions and snide remarks, but nothing concrete.

I too would like to hear the rationale - who knows, maybe you can convince me. I think a lot of this gal, but, as of now anyway, I don't see her as the R candidate in '12.

Apparently the liberals do though, cause they are vilifying her as if she already has the nomination - I do believe they are far more scared of her than they are willing to admit.

 

[Revmitchell]

This is a concept that has been bandied around much lately, but I have yet to see any concrete reasons for it; lots of opinions and snide remarks, but nothing concrete.

I too would like to hear the rationale - who knows, maybe you can convince me. I think a lot of this gal, but, as of now anyway, I don't see her as the R candidate in '12.

Apparently the liberals do though, cause they are vilifying her as if she already has the nomination - I do believe they are far more scared of her than they are willing to admit.

Libbies say it about every conservative. You would think it would get old and they would look fro a new retarded adhominem.

 

[Revmitchell]

This is a concept that has been bandied around much lately, but I have yet to see any concrete reasons for it; lots of opinions and snide remarks, but nothing concrete.

I too would like to hear the rationale - who knows, maybe you can convince me. I think a lot of this gal, but, as of now anyway, I don't see her as the R candidate in '12.

Apparently the liberals do though, cause they are vilifying her as if she already has the nomination - I do believe they are far more scared of her than they are willing to admit.

Probably watched to much SNL

 

[Johnv]

I concur with preachinjesus' earlier comment. True conservativism is by nature an intellectual position, but it is not taken seriously. The lack of neoconservatism to successfully handle the issues of the country has led many to align themselves with moderate to hard core liberalism. The blame for concervatism's failure to be taken seriously lies with conservativsm itself. If conservatism wants to be taken seriously, it needs to return to its core intellectual roots, which was last evident in the Reagan era.

 

[NiteShift]

Its all a bunch of tv grubbing fools who have given over the precious ideological ground.

You could be describing Olbermann, Maddow, Bill Maher et al.

Does anyone seriously think Sarah Palin is a legitimate candidate for dog-catcher much less the highest office in the land.

In what way was Barack Obama more qualified? Oh that's right, I forgot the superior temperament thing.

 

[Nonsequitur]

The irony of the conservative movement is that it has believed it needs media time to have legitimacy. (As oppossed to the liberal doctrine that children should be able to go across state lines to get an abortion without their parents knowing.)As a result(proof please?) (and as Ken mentioned well[kissing his but will not help you here]) there is nary a true conservative to be found in prolific discussions about our country.(Again, proof?) Its all a bunch of tv grubbing fools (Yeah...ABC, NBC,CBS, and their respective cable channels)who have given over the precious ideological ground.
Of course conservatives haven't done themselves much favor.(Oh, no. Resisting abortion on command, lax penalties for felons, demanding that law-abiding citizens have the right to defend themselves.) Does anyone seriously think Sarah Palin is a legitimate candidate for dog-catcher much less the highest office in the land.(Don't see why not, she could catch you and all your anti-american buddies.) Where are the true conservatives talking about how she is deeply dangerous and absolutely not what we need for the country?(In your dreams?)

Imho, conservative (true conservativism) is a profoundly robust intellectual position(No...but thanks for playing. Maybe when you repeat the 5th grade you will know what freedom is)...but no one is taking it on seriously. Maybe there are a couple of handfuls in Congress, but not enough to mount a serious campaign for legitimacy.(Thank God there are enough to combat your lunacy.)

And the RNC has no desire to hear their voices.(After you talk this bad about the republicans and conservatives, you weep for their hearing?)

We need a third party that represents the true conservatives in this nation.(Yeah, well.....we'll follow you when you show some intelligence.) We need to talk about why reading F.A. Hayek (Hey...leave her alone....Salma is HOT.)is important, why Reagan was the greatest President of last (and this) century, why we need to reduce, drastically the size of the federal government, why states rights is the way of the Founders, etc.(What? Nothing about Bert living in sin with Ernie?)

I think Buckley is dead on. Right now too much of what represents conservativism is brain-dead. We need a rebirth of this ideology and push the debate back to where it belongs.

Push the debate back to where it belongs.
Uhuh.