I agree that Libertarians are not Conservatives. Both may count as right of center, but they aren’t the same.
This is one of the big problems we are facing. The right is fractured. A large chunk of it wants to be more fiscally conservative, but more in tune socially with the libertine times we are in and the younger generations. The older (and more rural) conservatives put more emphasis on the traditional values first and foremost and will not vote for a party that doesn’t care about these things. Ron Paul may be a kook on many issues, but he does tap into a pool of voters out there that agree with us on economic issues, but want nothing to do with Republicans because of their social conservative positions. Beck is simply trying to tap into this.
I don’t see libertarians as right of center, they are leftists on too many things, true radical leftists, anti-conservative leftists, not moderates/centrists.
Their effect is to destroy conservatism not bring in new voters to it, the left can afford to take the long view and let libertarianism work for them.
For instance, “open the borders today, eliminate the Border Patrol and INS” and then we will fight to end all the welfare and social programs tomorrow .
There’s certainly something to that, but remember that libertarians tend to naturally ally with conservatives for a reason. Most of them (myself included) believe in conservative values, just not enforcing them at gunpoint. As far as political affinity goes, we also believe that even the most rock-ribbed conservatives can be reasoned with or at least peacefully coexisted with, and know that’s not possible with liberals.
Contemporary liberals aren’t ‘liberal’ in any sense of the word, and their love of the state as a mechanism to force conformity vastly outweighs their love of freedom or individuality. Despite our differences, conservatives and libertarians are far more compatible than either group will ever be with progressives.
So, I’m glad that Beck is trying to cash in. He’s no doctrinaire libertarian, but he certainly knows how to make money. There’s a market out there that’s really just being filled by Fox Business at the moment. And it’s nice to move the goalposts back for a change, and let the left deal with the fact that Fox is now the centrist channel. ;-)
I only agree with your analysis in part. There are plenty of social conservatives who are just fine with extremely liberal fiscal policies.
No it is more complicated than that:
Conservatives should be Patriots.
The problem is, a whole lot of would-be Patriots are more anti-Union than they are pro-American.
So we have a solid portion of otherwise patriotic Americans who have sold themselves without question, to foreign business interests.
That is a (huge) problem, and America must find a way to get back American customers.
Soon.
Or else, America will simply cease to exist.