Neoconservatism in a New Era

[bonito]

Keeping your eye on the ball so to speak among the distractions.

Low on political prowess and out of ideological fashion, neoconservatives would appear to have little to be merry about as 2008 ends.

Soon after 9/11, neoconservative foreign policy—geared toward retaining America’s global preeminence and pushing Mideast policies in line with the Israeli right wing—morphed from written words to administrative actions under President George W. Bush. Today, the neocon agenda heavily bears blame for an Iraq War that many, including some neoconservatives, consider a failure.

From this November’s elections, the Republican Party (with which most neoconservatives are affiliated) emerged with: a shrinking congressional minority; a presidential-race loss to Barack Obama, a Democrat who campaigned against eight years of neoconservative ideas; and spats between presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and vice-presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin that divided many right-wing pundits, including neoconservatives. 1

One might think that the last thing to make neoconservatives grin would be Obama’s Cabinet appointments. But some of the president-elect’s choices have been “enough to keep some of us smiling at a time when we were expecting to be in deep anguish,” as one columnist giddily declared in a National Review column entitled “Pinch Me, Am I Dreaming?”

more http://rightweb.irc-online.org/rw/4973.html

The last paragraph is chilling imo.

[gcomeau]

1. That article makes me happy.

They don't have a clue... and that is good. They still think "people are policy" is actually true.

It isn't.

Policy is policy. People are packaging. The longer they take to realize it the less effective they'll be in opposition if Obama makes a policy move they don't like. Which I'll bet an awful lot is coming really, really soon.

[Kashka-Kat]

2. I hope before people dismiss this post - they'll read Naomi Klein & consider that in other

parts of the world "neoconservatism" is known as "neoliberalism," they are for all intents & purposes interchangeable terms to describe speific economic& foreign policies.

Which blows your mind once you start reading this stuff... I do believe it is one of those times in history when all the old ways of thinking shift and disintegrate... the old left/right just doesn't cut it anymore in some ways.

Not saying there is not reason to have some hope that Obama can take all these divergent viewpoints and synthesize out of it a new direction, replace the brutalities disaster capitalism w/ a kinder gentler capitalism and foreign policy...

Could it be that they didn't steal the election this time because too many people even conservatives have been disgusted and disillusioned by what we've seen of disaster capitalism? Whereas in 2000 and 2004 there still was the zeal and the belief, misguided though it was, that they were saving the world from us god-hating commie-liberals.

Not saying don't have hope, just have to be very, very concious and aware, and resist the tempting fantasty of the shining white (errr.... mixed race? LOL) knight coming to save us...

[bonito]

5. That's just my concern as well

I believe he's smarter than the average bear myself included, but I think it's He's agenda carries everyone's interest, that's what I'm reading, where all parties are inclusive for a better future, now that would be the only way to move forward imo.

It's what I'm feeling. Peace...

[readmoreoften]

7. Liberalism is the name of the capitalist economic system. It does not refer to 'small l' liberalism.

Capitalism and Liberalism are interchangeable economic terms for "free-market system"

Those who are 'liberal' within Liberalism are reformists against social discrimination and those who believe that Liberalism (the economic system) can serve all people. Social democrat is as far center as you can get within Liberalism. It's not a false dichotomy between left and right.

The Left are those who reject of Liberalism (and the liberals who support it)-- those are called socialists. Socialists--whether democratic, socially progressive, or authoritarian-- fight to overthrow Liberalism/Capitalism in favor of a world run by those who build it and create it, not those who fund it from inherited swindling or former position with a monarchy or (at best and not necessarily so commonly) great-great granddad's hard work.

You are correct. There is no knight. There's not even a cavalry. The knights and the cavalry all belong to the kings. There is only us.

[HillbillyBob]

3. Lets just drown the neokons/neoliars in a bathtub

I have three in my house. I use the shower I dont need them I ll donate them to this good cause, we can start with bush cheney and grover norquist, then move on to newt, delay and abramoff and so on.
Im sure once word gets out others will gladly donate the use of their spare bathtubs and the water to fill them.....

[DailyGrind51]

4. Grover Norquist is the lynchpin and fulcrum to this whole cabal,

discredit him and the rest will considered irrelevant.

[LWolf]

6. I think the "new era" is one of neoliberalism. nt