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The End of Conservatism(Fareed Zakaria)
newsweek ^ | Feb 16, 2008 | Fareed Zakaria

Posted on 02/18/2008 6:21:35 AM PST by kellynla

Conservatives are a gloomy bunch at the moment. Many believe that their party—the Republican Party—has lost its way and that it has done so by abandoning its principles. Aside from his foreign policy and Supreme Court appointments, conservatives find little to love about George W. Bush. His signature domestic policies include a vast expansion of government-financed health care (prescription-drug benefits), and increased funding for education while halfheartedly promoting vouchers and school choice. Bush also signed into law campaign-finance reform and supported a proposed immigration bill that would have allowed illegal aliens a path to citizenship. The Republican Congress is even worse, having indulged in an orgy of irresponsible spending. And now the party is set to nominate John McCain as its presidential nominee, a man who on several key issues has broken with Republican orthodoxy and voted with Democrats. For conservatives, a return to principles is the only way to be returned to power.

David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter, begs to differ. "On the contrary," Frum writes in his smart new book, "Comeback," "the evidence suggests that a more consistent, more principled, more conservative administration would have been even more soundly rejected by the public than the unpopular Bush administration ever was." As Frum documents, every Bush policy that conservatives decry is in fact wildly popular. Public support for prescription-drug benefits ranges from 80 to 90 percent. And every Bush policy conservatives favor is regarded by the public with great suspicion. A majority of Americans regard the Bush tax cuts as "not worth it," and would prefer increased spending or balancing the budget to cutting taxes. In the one area where Bush remains unfailingly popular with conservatives—foreign policy—public support has also collapsed.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: conservatism; conservatives; fareedzakaria; immigration; theend
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To: TommyDale

” It gives conservatives 4 years to regroup and strengthen, with a true cause.”

Unless and until we start electing true blue conservatives to governorships so that we have a better field to choose from for POTUS; we are going to continue to be in the predicament we have been in for the past 20 years.


21 posted on 02/18/2008 7:19:43 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla
They are only hoping that this is a crisis in conservativsm.

Interesting that these people seem to be held in high regard, even though they are clearly pursuing an alternative agenda.

If anyone wants to know the definition of a Neo-Con, here it is:

From Wikipedia; "At age 14 he was a campaign volunteer for a socialist candidate.."

Also multiple hits on Council on Foreign Relations and the Bilderbergers.

No wonder he is all for the collapse of conservativism.

Thanks for the post, Kellynla, and Semper Fi, sir.

22 posted on 02/18/2008 7:21:13 AM PST by Designer
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To: Sudetenland
The truth is Conservatives are optimists, we believe in the future and the superiority of our governmental system. It is the Liberals who are always pessimistic with their mantra of doom and gloom.

I only partially agree. I'm a pretty gloomy conservative--but not about whether conservatism is a better way to run a society. Rather, I think the prospects of slowing America's steady movement since 1932 toward nanny-fascism have become surpassingly close to zero.

We had a brief interlude from 1980-1998 in which the gallop was slowed to a walk. That appears to be decisively over. The next election will be a vicious argument about whether Democrats or Republicans get to control the stream of goodies during the fall. Conservatives don't even have a place at the table.

23 posted on 02/18/2008 7:21:24 AM PST by ModelBreaker
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To: kellynla
“every Bush policy that conservatives decry is in fact wildly popular.”

Ok, fine, let the kids eat ice cream for dinner every night.

24 posted on 02/18/2008 7:22:34 AM PST by jpsb
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To: Dixie Yooper

I don’t listen to Rush Limbaugh. I have been actively working in the GOP locally since 1998. I was not a Duncan Hunter supporter, he had no name recognition and had zero chance. My primary election isn’t until May either, and I will NOT be supporting John McCain, even if he is the only name on the ballot. It ticks me off that so many people were so quick to cave in to McCain.

I think a lawsuit claiming that our civil rights were violated might actually be in order. (And I hate lawyers and lawsuits!) We were denied our votes in the nomination process. A national or regional primary is the only solution to this nonsense.


25 posted on 02/18/2008 7:24:46 AM PST by TommyDale (Never forget the Republicans who voted for illegal immigrant amnesty in 2007!)
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To: kellynla

Conservatism is an ideology. Its core principles cannot die. Through-out American history, it has been embraced in varying degrees.

A single candidate cannot destroy conservatism. They can only suppress or revitalize it in the contemporary political scene and governmental institutions.


26 posted on 02/18/2008 7:26:48 AM PST by IssuesOriented
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To: Sudetenland
[ I am anything but pessimistic. ]

You're also probably oblivious..
McLaim CANNOT and will not win.. period..
Mclaim is George Soros man.. and smells like Soros..
Republicans want a dirty man that smells GOOD..

27 posted on 02/18/2008 7:28:11 AM PST by hosepipe (CAUTION: This propaganda is laced with hyperbole....)
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To: KC_Conspirator

Thanks! I hope people do more real hard work the next 4 years for the Conservative cause than what I have seen for the last 8. I am going to try to get North Carolina to push our primary ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire. I hope more states do the same. A hand full of delegates should not bankrupt a candidate before the rest of our states get a chance to say what we want about them.


28 posted on 02/18/2008 7:28:13 AM PST by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: IssuesOriented

“Its core principles cannot die?”

With half of America receiving government assistance and more than half not paying income taxes; it is only a matter of time...

Who says Communism is dead? LOL

“Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink.”
P.J.O’Rourke


29 posted on 02/18/2008 7:32:56 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: OPS4

“Have a BLessed Day!”

Thanks. Lord knows I need one. LOL

And the same to you!

Semper Fi,
Kelly


30 posted on 02/18/2008 7:34:14 AM PST by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla

RE “, lets eliminate the free medical care to ILLEGAL ALIENS!”

Does the Republican party looks like it’s heading towards cutting off illegals by choosing McCain? At least Republicans will oppose NEW benefits IF a democrat wins.


31 posted on 02/18/2008 7:34:34 AM PST by sickoflibs (Are libs really as dumb as they act??(maybe they just assume we are that dumb))
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To: kellynla

Yep, the Republicans lost the Congress and next the Presidency because they were too conservative.


32 posted on 02/18/2008 7:34:34 AM PST by e-male
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To: TommyDale
I’m not happy about a bunch of states switching over to winner take all. It’s not right unless we are all doing it. I really wasn’t all that happy with any of the candidates this time. Duncan and Tancredo had zero name recognition, and Fred Thomson was just tired and lackluster. The two governors were too tainted from the liberal states they are from. The only candidate who’s people worked as hard as McCain’s were Ron Paul’s. No Thanks! I’m sorry to say that I’m stuck with McCain, but I using my vote for him to vote against Hillary of Obama. I refuse to give up my vote. I love this country too much not to keep fighting against them!
33 posted on 02/18/2008 7:37:50 AM PST by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: kellynla

David Frum’s new book “Comeback”...

a.k.a. - “Payback”

The question some may ask me...

“Are you, Steve, a disgruntled conservative Republican?”

“No, I’m just committed to get the party back to where it should be, and do it by any means necessary.”

The moderates and appeasers to them and liberals is what got us in this mess, and they know it, and hopefully there will be enough of us around to make this message loud and clear at ouor state and national convention(s) this year...

We have lost the White House this time...And it was lead by a conserted and combined effort on both sides of the aisle...If the country-clubbers want a party, you guys need to go team up with the liberal to moderate democrats and build your own sandbox...True conservative do not need to retreat and do our own thing...

Gen. Patton said it best...

“Let the Hun do that!”


34 posted on 02/18/2008 7:42:09 AM PST by stevie_d_64 (Houston Area Texans (I've always been hated))
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To: Dixie Yooper

We differ on the compromise candidate McCain.


35 posted on 02/18/2008 7:49:36 AM PST by TommyDale (Never forget the Republicans who voted for illegal immigrant amnesty in 2007!)
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Comment #36 Removed by Moderator

To: kellynla
With half of America receiving government assistance and more than half not paying income taxes

Exactly, there are more "conservatives" every year who are pro-life, pro-gun, pro-God, pro-military but who toss those issues the in dumpster the instant that their monthly government check is threatened.

37 posted on 02/18/2008 7:50:13 AM PST by Notary Sojac
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Just because America may have chosen to abandon Conservatism, doesn't mean the rest of the world has.

Asia is and will always be its flag bearer.

Or put another way, there is little multiculturalism in Asia.

38 posted on 02/18/2008 7:56:50 AM PST by Jakarta ex-pat
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To: TommyDale
I’m sorry that some of us feel more strongly for our Country than for the conservative movement. I know that doesn’t sound very FRiendly, but it’s how I feel.
39 posted on 02/18/2008 8:05:25 AM PST by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: kellynla

btt


40 posted on 02/18/2008 8:05:52 AM PST by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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