James Wolfer commented on a previous speak that not all Republicans are of the neocon ilk. Infidel1743 also has a post up now regarding that same subject.
Being well know for my fairness and balance, I acknowledge the points made by these two outstanding bloggers and will endeavor to be clearer that my enmity is aimed toward chicken hawk, wealthy serving, deluded NEOCON fools, and not those who consider themselves Republicans because they actually believe and want to practice things like responsible fiscal policy and keeping America out of expensive and useless foreign wars.
My thanks to Infidel1743 and James Wolfer for their integrity and pointing this out.
16 comments:
i found a Republican that isn't a neocon!
I read Infidel's post on Charles Johnson, it was a good one. I join you in acknowledging good points made.
And you only had to go back to 1960 to find him GD! Good thing you didn't have to go back to Teddy Roosevelt dude. They didn't have You-Tube back then.
Truth,
I'm not so sure there are a lot of Republican neo-conservatives. I've let go of party labels and went to being a conservative. Emphasis on small government. I'm not so sure I even know what a neo-conservative really is.
If it is emphasis on intervention in foreign countries to bring about a favorable result to America, I think in some circumstances that's necessary.
We are fast approaching a situation in which an intervention is on the horizon. Israel is going to do something in Iran because their survival depends upon it. What should America do? The president is about to feel the heat.
Good day sir.
LAOT,
Read anything by Irving Kristol as he prided himself for being a neoconservative.
Neoconservatives have been around along time and they developed because most traditional conservatives did not believe that our foreign intervention or follies were in our best long term interests.
Lets take your example of Iran...
So you believe Israel is going to act in its best interests? Lets look at it; heard anything from Hezaballah lately? When was the last suicide bombing? It actually appears that Iran has its hands full with its own domestic issues and if Israel attacks now that would then force the Iranians to ban together and allievate the dissent that is tearing that country apart.
How would Americans benefit if we were to jump in on the side of Israel? Yes, we would be protecting an ally but we would immediately face increased threats of terrorists attacks in our own country and on our interests around the world and lets not forget oil would go through the roof and stay there.
In the condition we find ourselves in today a war in the middle east between Israel and Iran would push us over the edge economically and then what good would we be to freedom and democracy around the world?
Just as Islam was hijacked by those who use it for despicable purposes. Just as communism was used as an instrument to chieve totalitarianism, so have the republican party and the word "conservative" been hijacked and used to achieve government largesse for the super wealthy and corporations that benefit from said government largesse. This could include contracts. Favored tax policies or deregulation.
Neoconservatives are warmongers. I think there are reasonable Republican voters, the problem is they don't realize most Repubican politicos aren't. None of the previous Republican Presidential canidates except for Ron Paul took an anti-war stance. I don't think they like him being on stage with them during the debates.
Representative Anh "Joseph" Cao of Louisiana seems like a reasonable Republican. His constituents need affordable health care, so he voted for the health care bill. Almost all the Republicans, and sadly a number of Democrats, are representing their campaign donors from the health care insurance industry instead of their constituents.
BTW I've put up a Veteran's Day post on my blog. I enjoyed Truth's last post, as well as the comments people left after reading it.
Truth101 said... Just as Islam was hijacked by those who use it for despicable purposes. ... so has the republican party and the word "conservative" been hijacked and used to achieve government largesse for the super wealthy and corporations...
I agree completely. This was the subject of my 11/1/2009 post, Faking Fiscal Conservatism.
TAO,
So let me get this straight. When and I mean when, Iran strikes Israel with its nuclear weapons, we should err on the side of oil and say, sorry Israel about that nuke strike, but we need low priced oil.
I'm glad you have connected Hezbollah and Iran, because that's a fact. When is it reasonable to abandon an ally for your own gain, or better yet, your own ideology?
Iran is a threat to all the Middle East and by extension the whole oil comsuming world, most notably the US.
So Israel, sink because it's not in our interest to protect the only democracy in the Middle East. Sorry.
Thanks for the reference.
My point wasn't that we should expect rational conservatives to agree with liberals about everything or even about most things -- if they did, they wouldn't be conservatives. But there's a distinction between having an opposing opinion and being crazy.
Taxes, the proper size and role of the state in the economy, what to do about health care, whether the Iranian threat is best addressed by diplomacy or a military strike, and so forth, are the kind of legitimate policy questions that a multi-party system is supposed to be able to address by allowing opposing views to compete for votes. You can disagree with what conservatives say about those things, but it's not crazy.
Creationism, global-warming denialism, the claims that Obama was born in Kenya (or is a Muslim Communist Nazi etc.) are different -- those things are symptomatic of a total disconnect from reality. Having a major party pander to such "ideas" is profoundly disturbing. I'd put the drive for anti-abortion laws in the same category since it's an inherently totalitarian stance and springs from the same religious-fundamentalist take-over which is driving the whole "nuttyization" of conservatism. Charles Johnson (the subject of my post) recognizes this.
Oh, and by the way, it's Infidel753. Infidel1743 lives ten blocks away in a much crummier neighborhood:-)
LAOT,
If "democracy" was our one and only over riding interest inregards to foreign policy then....
We would have nothing to do with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Yemen, Abu Dhabi, oh heck....the whole middle east.
There would be no way we would be such dear friends of China...
On one hand we want to believe that our foreign policy is dictated by higher principles of democracy and freedom and on the other hand we are using the intelligence services of countries like Eqypt, Syria, and Pakistan to handle our dirty work of torture and extracting information from those we claim are terrorists.
Oh, we love to believe that somehow we always take the highground and have the moral superior position whenever it comes to disputes with others...
But look at the issue of bringing those five GITMO folks to NYC for trail.
We have had lots of opportunities in the past to support democracy...Praque, Hungary, and Burma are some immediate examples but we were not willing to stand up to Russia or China and we allowed our own self interests, our own economic interests override our talk of higher moral purpose...
Cheap oil will win in the battle of principles everytime...thank god Israel knows that...
Sorry Infidel1753. It was just my way of supporting bussing and integration.
Pragmatism has much to do with whom we associate also TAO. I compare some of these states to a soiled ass. No matter who you are, you still have to wipe.
Republican leaders generally fall into at least one of three categories: Neocons want to take over the world. Theocons want to install their piety codes as law. Plutocons are the socialism for the rich folks. They goose-step in lock step to support each other's agendas.
There is a fourth category. Old line conservatives that try to govern without goose-stepping. They are virtually extinct. But general statements about the other three do not apply to them.
Thanks Tomcat...
Now I now why I feel so alone...my kind is extinct...
I didn't even make the endangered species list...
Well, then I shall PARTY ON with Truth101....
My Dear and Gentle please continue your Righteous and Holy Mission of calling out and ridiculing the deluded and hypocritical Republicans, your extra kindness and willingness to turn the cheek when subjected to the continuous barrage of insults, slanders, lies and downright nastiness show you to be an awe-inspiring icon to us all!
Just between us Gene, I got alot more traffic when I swore at them like you do Brother.
Nonetheless, I am both honored and humbled that you appreciate my suffering in the name of Truth.
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