WSJ William F. Buckley Quote Regarding Iraq:

[thefloyd]

"This last is a glancing way of referring to the U.S. enterprise in Iraq, which Mr. Buckley calls "anything but conservative." "Conservatism," he says, "except when it is expressed as pure idealism, takes into account reality, and the reality of the situation is that missions abroad to effect regime change in countries without a bill of rights or democratic tradition are terribly arduous. This isn't to say that the war is wrong, or that history will judge it to be wrong. But it is absolutely to say that conservatism implies a certain submission to reality; and this war has an unrealistic frank and is being conscripted by events.""

I certainly agree Mr. Buckley. Neocons are not Conservative in the traditional sense....Matter of fact I would argue not sane.

[Mr_Spock]

1. I agree with him as well, neocons are neither conservative or frank

These neocons have decided a path without a script. Letting leaders "wing it" at the expense of the future of our nation is a failure we all must live with. Why did we allow this to happen?

[thefloyd]

4. Running the risk of sounding elitist

Fear, Lazy electorate, Bush hid behind the cross.


I'm 27, People my age lived in a stable world, booming economy, no threats after soviet union fell. Honestly, I am not sure people my age even understood the implications of Communism so Our lives had been sureal in a sense. However, my family constantly pounded me with reality throughout my life so I really understood not only I had a good life but also THE WORLD IS A DANGEROUS PLACE. After 9/11 I of course lost my sense of security however I think others my age did as well but never quite regained it and thought war was the answer....Especially after nuclear weapons were mentioned. People my age also did not believe the government especially a "Christian" would allow such lies about WMD and when Bush spoke he spoke with a moral authority because he spoke to god. I constantly told my friends "Nixon was Christian as well". None of them would listen. My friends kept watching fox news and just drank the kool aid. Not because my friends lack intelligence but simply up until 9/11 none of them paid any attention to politics. So, Fox news hits the air waves and these new pols simply took Fox at face value. Well here we are.

[Mr_Spock]

5. "these new pols simply took Fox at face value" - I'm going to throw up now

Apparently every generation has to learn lessons for themselves. This is why history keeps repeating itself over and over again. And why people 40+ years old like myself are left scratching our heads... :(

[unkachuck]

2. nah...

neocons, conservatives, repugs....they're all the same thing to me....tie 'em all together with a pretty yellow ribbon and flush....

....Buckley wants it both ways....and I ain't going to give it to him....

[Mr_Spock]

3. Well, I've been listening to Buckley since the 70's

He at least gets an ear from me since he's been (mostly laughably) trying to be intellectually honest about the conservative movement. His arguements are well thought out but always wrong. I always liked his way of showing how conservativism really cannot be properly intellectualized, even by someone as self-serving (and seemingly intelligent) as Buckley.

[DBoon]

6. WFB style "conservatives" are as relevant to today's right

as anarcho-syndicalists are to what little of the left still exists.