The American Conservative: GOP Must Go

[liberalhistorian]

http://www.amconmag.com/2006/2006_11_20/feature.html





November 20, 2006 Issue
Copyright © 2006 The American Conservative
GOP Must Go
. . .
The meaning of this election will be interpreted in one of two ways: the American people endorsed the Bush presidency or they did what they could to repudiate it. Such an interpretation will be simplistic, even unfairly so. Nevertheless, the fact that will matter is the raw number of Republicans and Democrats elected to the House and Senate.
It should surprise few readers that we think a vote that is seen—in America and the world at large—as a decisive “No” vote on the Bush presidency is the best outcome. We need not dwell on George W. Bush’s failed effort to jam a poorly disguised amnesty for illegal aliens through Congress or the assaults on the Constitution carried out under the pretext of fighting terrorism or his administration’s endorsement of torture. Faced on Sept. 11, 2001 with a great challenge, President Bush made little effort to understand who had attacked us and why—thus ignoring the prerequisite for crafting an effective response. He seemingly did not want to find out, and he had staffed his national-security team with people who either did not want to know or were committed to a prefabricated answer.
As a consequence, he rushed America into a war against Iraq, a war we are now losing and cannot win, one that has done far more to strengthen Islamist terrorists than anything they could possibly have done for themselves. Bush’s decision to seize Iraq will almost surely leave behind a broken state divided into warring ethnic enclaves, with hundreds of thousands killed and maimed and thousands more thirsting for revenge against the country that crossed the ocean to attack them. The invasion failed at every level: if securing Israel was part of the administration’s calculation—as the record suggests it was for several of his top aides—the result is also clear: the strengthening of Iran’s hand in the Persian Gulf, with a reach up to Israel’s northern border, and the elimination of the most powerful Arab state that might stem Iranian regional hegemony.
. . . .
There may be little Americans can do to atone for this presidency, which will stain our country’s reputation for a long time. But the process of recovering our good name must begin somewhere, and the logical place is in the voting booth this Nov. 7. If we are fortunate, we can produce a result that is seen—in Washington, in Peoria, and in world capitals from Prague to Kuala Lumpur—as a repudiation of George W. Bush and the war of aggression he launched against Iraq.
. . .

[LynnTheDem]

1. "a war we are now losing and cannot win" & "done far more to strengthen Islamist terrorists

than anything they could possibly have done for themselves."

Well DAMN the librul commie pinko media! Oh...American CONSERVATIVE magazine...

[aquart]

3. We told them so.

Slow sons of bitches.

[Ganja Ninja]

24. Why do they hate America?

:banghead:

[Scriptor Ignotus]

29. i think it kills some of these conservatives

that the things Liberals were yelling about years ago have all come to pass.

[truthisfreedom]

2. jeepers!

who woulda thunk it possible?

[stevietheman]

4. My jaw is hanging open... "war of aggression"? Wowzers! n/t

n/t

[w4rma]

5. Very accurate analysis. I usually don't see accuracy from conservatives. (nt)

[JHB]

25. They specialize in sloooooowwwwww accuracy...

...otherwise known as 20/20 hindsight.

But then, it's in the nature of conservatism to look back, not forward.

[jannyk]

6. Thanksgiving at the Buchanan household should be interesting

last I heard Bay (at the moon) was still claiming Bush's farts didn't stink.

There's an 'email to a friend' link on the mags editorial page - use it often!!!

:applause:

[civildisoBDence]

30. Pat hates DUHbya's guts at least as much as we do...

In fact, any real conservative with half a brain knows they've been sold out by Bush.

The only question is, who hates the pretzledent more, true liberals, or true conservatives?

Most. Hated. President. EVER!

Newsprism

[FernBell]

7. good read. too bad it's all so true.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

8. The rats are fleeing ship

Full speed ahead! Damn the torpedoes! Stay the course!

[blondeatlast]

9. When true conservatives feel they are forced to join hands with those who lean left,

we know our beloved nation is at high risk.

W isn't a conservative anyway; he's Neo/TheoCon--and they are a danger to free-thinking people on both sides of the fence. Once they are done with us, they'll go after their enemies closer to home.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. As I've Said...

e.g., http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2587929&mesg_id=2588174 (pats self on back)

Real Conservatives have a consistant philosophy that I disagree with, but at least I can respect - heck, I used to be a Conservative, until I started studying history, and results, in depth.

Other than a few in the Northeast, today's "Republicans" have almost nothing in common with actual Conservatives - those "Conservatives" are simply stupid scummy crooks with a side order of crazy.

[TornadoTN]

11. You said it!

As a former Conservative (I leaned conservative but was very liberal socially), I can tell you that this current breed of "Conservatism" has nothing at all in common with the traditional conservative. In fact, the true conservatives of today have much more in common with our liberal ideology than most people want to acknowledge.

When we see true conservatives and progressives joining forces and agreeing on many key issues (who here isn't for cutting down on wasteful government spending?), then we need to take note and unite our forces for the common good of our nation. It's ominous in that we are at the breaking point that this should occur, but it is also encouraging in that we are uniting together to save our Democracy in its most dire times.

[Jade Fox]

17. You said it!

I have come to agree more and more with this philosophy as you have described it, and I have never been a Conservative. True Conservatives and True Progressives have much in common, simply because both groups have the genuine best interests of our country and it's people at heart (not to mention the best interests of the rest of the world). The Neoclowns are motivated by their own greed and/or Corporate interests.

[MsMagnificent]

12. WOW

Just Wow!

[madrchsod]

13. i remember conservatives with principles

in my state of illinois we have elected some of the finest republican politicians through out the years and they would be appalled by the people who now run their party and nation.
i`m old enough and wise enough to respect those republicans who have principles whether i agree with them on an issue or not.ever since newt took over the party there has been a "civil war" between the democrats and the republicans and we are seeing the end result of his ideology.

[liberal N proud]

14. But ignorant voters will cast their vote to them at any cost.

[keith the dem]

15. We have one thing very much in common with real conservatives

WE LOVE THIS COUNTRY. The pretend conservatives who are now in power only love themselves. They have used their power to enrich themselves and to get more power. They have looted and nearly destroyed our country.

I have a friend who is an honest conservative, not a name-calling rah rah for our side idiot. I find that we agree on 90% of the issues.

Over liberal or Conservative, I think there are two other political sides, Those who want what is good for our country, and those who only want to use the government to enrich themselves.

The Democratic party had lost favor with many because we had the "what can government do for me" types on our side also. (even though some were only urban myths, like the welfare cadillac queen)

An honest respect for differences of opinion and compromise between those opinions is what can make this country great again. A healthy dose of honesty and truth is also much needed.

[neilepi]

16. Eventually...

...things reach a point where sanity simply has to prevail. Now is that time, this is that point.

The new, unique, 2007 Anti-Bush Graffiti Calendar and related items

[cyclezealot]

18. dont think this a positive for Dems.

They want to get rid of this weight about their necks, so they can go back to being corporate shills attacking progressives. Then they can blame this mess on Democrats. They are not our friends.

[stilpist]

26. Liars as usual!!

When conservatives (inevitably) fail at governing, other conservatives always claim that it was because they didn't do it right. But next time...

In fact conservatives never do it right.

See for a better argument than I could make.

- stil

[not_a_robot]

28. stilpist I read your link

It's a good read but it takes a so long to get to the point. The point of the conservative is to be opposition with little else considered. They can only complain not implement their desires in a constructive manner (because constructive implementation is contradictory to their ideals of domination and destruction). They are the anti-social, anti-civility, anti-equality element of the population and because of this should be the last to ever find power.

Unfortunately in a consumerist society where a large percentage of the population lives in a 'hyper-reality' created by people only interested in excessive wealth, the trend will continue to get worse. If you want it to stop, you have to reverse (not just stop) that trend.

[IWantAChange]

19. Anyone else having problems with the link?

[otohara]

20. Me

won't load.

[Divine Discontent]

21. it loaded last night, but yes, you're right, it's not now! n/t

[Vadem]

22. Wont load for me, either. Every Dem in USA printing it out and

emailing around the world has overloaded their server, probably--or, it has been hacked by the those who don't want this article to get out!

[progressivebydesign]

23. A pig just flew by my window on his way to winter in Hell.

Wow.. that was a great read. they get it. wow.

[liberalhistorian]

31. What an image you've conjured up,

LOL! I can't wait to hear the usual "this is just a liberal publication in disguise" spin from those who just can't handle the fact that a lot of conservatives are no longer lockstep grovelling Bushbots. The same ones who are trying to defuse the damage of the Army Times editorial calling for Rumsfeld's resignation by painting it as a "liberal" publication with a hidden political agenda. Schadenfreude: it's not just for Republicans anymore!

[TwoHandedLayup]

27. AMCON site is down I think

nothing will load. Must of crushed their spirits and servers too!

[radiofreesrini]

32. FORWARD THIS TO EVERY CONSERVATIVE YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW !!!!!!!!

i hope and pray this page stays up permanently :

http://www.amconmag.com/2006/2006_11_20/feature.html

i have it cached on my hard drive just in case.

i go to business school with some very nice people. some of them have admitted to being "conservative", but never republican. "republican" actually has a very negative brand association among pro-business intellectuals. and if you think about it the word 'conservative' is not without its appeal - especially, as this article argues, in the sense of curbing this absurd appetite for empire that the bush-rove-rice-rumsfeld axis of evil has promoted.

there is nothing "conservative" about the bush mafia. this article is the proof we have been needing. if we are going to take over this country, it is by taking the mantle of "conservatism" and owning it. the word "liberal" doesn't even MEAN anything anymore - but "conservative"? how about:

- i want to find who REALLY put together 9-11 and punish them into the ground
- i want to see thriving and real issue-focused debate
- vote fraud and robocalling is utterly repulsive
- pretensions to empire are bullshit
- nuclear proliferation can best be halted by actually talking to potential proliferators
- end the IRAQI HORROR PICTURE SHOW
- business can actually be reconfigured to do GOOD and not evil - in fact it's a more powerful tool than most political pathways for focused and long-term activism
- taxes suck the life out of the middle class - but the VERY RICH know how to get away without paying ANY so they have some catching up to do
- put the school system back in the hands of the actual teachers

so does all of the above sound "conservative" or "liberal"? only REPUGNICANS say that "liberal = taxes". have i ever heard howard dean say that ??? john edwards ??? "ooh i want to tax you harder" - that is a REPUGNICAN BOGEYMAN.

so this article - with its glorious "THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE" logo atop the page, driving home the point - lets people like me and you point our FRIENDS who just happen to have been brainwashed towards an honest, soulseeking point of view that they can relate to. WE NEEDED THIS ARTICLE A MONTH AGO, BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE IT, WE MUST USE IT USE IT USE IT. Because THIS ARTICLE WILL CHANGE THEIR MINDS - that is why it was put in our hands. THANK YOU FOR FINDING THIS !!!!

ok i gotta sleep. pre-election jitters. good luck to all democrats !!!! !!!! !!!!

- rfs



-----------------------------
print custom stickers !!!
http://www.stickernation.com

[MGD]

33. It's a trick. get an axe. nt

[Selatius]

36. Hahaha, nice line! I know it well. ;) n/t

[reggie the dog]

34. just a question

IF AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE MAGAZINE is agaainst W., then who in the hell are these people being polled that still say they will vote W.????

seriously if you lose the conservatives who do you have left?

[Gerardo]

35. In theory I agree...

...but in practice I'm sick to death of hearing people say "I voted for Bush twice but now I can't stand him." these people are STILL PART OF THE PROBLEM.

Or maybe I'm just bitter.