The Fall of Conservatism

[ready4ONE 5,400]

An interesting read, much too long to post in its entirety here:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05...currentPage=all

George Packer: The Fall of Conservatism

Have the Republicans run out of ideas?

Excerpt:

“From Day One, Nixon and I talked about creating a new majority,” Buchanan told me recently, sitting in the library of his Greek-revival house in McLean, Virginia, on a secluded lane bordering the fenced grounds of the Central Intelligence Agency. “What we talked about, basically, was shearing off huge segments of F.D.R.’s New Deal coalition, which L.B.J. had held together: Northern Catholic ethnics and Southern Protestant conservatives—what we called the Daley-Rizzo Democrats in the North and, frankly, the Wallace Democrats in the South.” Buchanan grew up in Washington, D.C., among the first group—men like his father, an accountant and a father of nine, who had supported Roosevelt but also revered Joseph McCarthy. The Southerners were the kind of men whom Nixon whipped into a frenzy one night in the fall of 1966, at the Wade Hampton Hotel, in Columbia, South Carolina. Nixon, who was then a partner in a New York law firm, had travelled there with Buchanan on behalf of Republican congressional candidates. Buchanan recalls that the room was full of sweat, cigar smoke, and rage; the rhetoric, which was about patriotism and law and order, “burned the paint off the walls.” As they left the hotel, Nixon said, “This is the future of this Party, right here in the South.”

Nixon and Buchanan visited thirty-five states that fall, and in November the Republicans won a midterm landslide. It was the end of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, the beginning of his fall from power. In order to seize the Presidency in 1968, Nixon had to live down his history of nasty politicking, and he ran that year as a uniter. But his Administration adopted an undercover strategy for building a Republican majority, working to create the impression that there were two Americas: the quiet, ordinary, patriotic, religious, law-abiding Many, and the noisy, élitist, amoral, disorderly, condescending Few.

This strategy was put into action near the end of Nixon’s first year in office, when antiwar demonstrators were becoming a disruptive presence in Washington. Buchanan recalls urging Nixon, “We’ve got to use the siege gun of the Presidency, and go right after these guys.” On November 3, 1969, Nixon went on national television to speak about the need to avoid a shameful defeat in Vietnam. Looking benignly into the camera, he concluded, “And so tonight—to you, the great silent majority of Americans—I ask for your support.” It was the most successful speech of his Presidency. Newscasters criticized him for being divisive and for offering no new vision on Vietnam, but tens of thousands of telegrams and letters expressing approval poured into the White House. It was Nixon’s particular political genius to rouse simultaneously the contempt of the bien-pensants and the admiration of those who felt the sting of that contempt in their own lives.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

But his Administration adopted an undercover strategy for building a Republican majority, working to create the impression that there were two Americas: the quiet, ordinary, patriotic, religious, law-abiding Many, and the noisy, élitist, amoral, disorderly, condescending Few.

Interesting. That sentiment still seems to resonate for some Republicans today. I'd sure be nice if politicos recognize that people are people and ideas are ideas. There's no 'good guys' or 'bad guys', just good ideas, bad ideas and some better ideas.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Apparently the local VJ cadre of ultra-conservatives have run out of snappy comebacks?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Apparently the local VJ cadre of ultra-conservatives have run out of snappy comebacks?

LOL....you know - you and me are anomalies. Most of the Fil/American members here are dye-in-the-wool right wingers.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I can't say the right wing has nothing valid to offer, or any valid points, they do. But it is funny that this article has gotten no response.

[almaty 19]

true and interesting...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Totally unrelated but I was surprised to seen on MSNBC the other night that bookies have raised the betting odds on McCain winning the election.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Totally unrelated but I was surprised to seen on MSNBC the other night that bookies have raised the betting odds on McCain winning the election.

What is the pay out if McCain should beat the current spread? Conversely, will Republicans vote against McCain in order to get a big pay out from their bookies?

[zqt3344 21]

What kook-o, liberal, water walking, kool aid is this stuff you are posting here! We shall see how far conservatism has fallen this November, and I do not want you whining around and singing the blues when Ovomit loses! Go on laugh it up and ignore the polls, go on and underestimate conservatives and John McCain, for to do so is at your own risk!

Apparently the local VJ cadre of ultra-conservatives have run out of snappy comebacks?

Hey Sixer let me clue you in to something here in the USA so you can learn. Liberal dove loving left wing idiot wack jobs like Ovomit do not win national elections in the USA, so no it does not surprise me or anyone that McCain is the odds on favorite!

Totally unrelated but I was surprised to seen on MSNBC the other night that bookies have raised the betting odds on McCain winning the election.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What kook-o, liberal, water walking, kool aid is this stuff you are posting here! We shall see how far conservatism has fallen this November, and I do not want you whining around and singing the blues when Ovomit loses! Go on laugh it up and ignore the polls, go on and underestimate conservatives and John McCain, for to do so is at your own risk!

Apparently the local VJ cadre of ultra-conservatives have run out of snappy comebacks?

Hey Sixer let me clue you in to something here in the USA so you can learn. Liberal dove loving left wing idiot wack jobs like Ovomit do not win national elections in the USA, so no it does not surprise me or anyone that McCain is the odds on favorite!

Totally unrelated but I was surprised to seen on MSNBC the other night that bookies have raised the betting odds on McCain winning the election.

Can't we get this f##ker banned??? ####!!! Enough already.

[zqt3344 21]

Now now Jabberwocky, control your liberal rage and tone it down, show some manners and class and stop cursing on here. I am a good Christian and I am offended by your smut!

What kook-o, liberal, water walking, kool aid is this stuff you are posting here! We shall see how far conservatism has fallen this November, and I do not want you whining around and singing the blues when Ovomit loses! Go on laugh it up and ignore the polls, go on and underestimate conservatives and John McCain, for to do so is at your own risk!

Apparently the local VJ cadre of ultra-conservatives have run out of snappy comebacks?

Hey Sixer let me clue you in to something here in the USA so you can learn. Liberal dove loving left wing idiot wack jobs like Ovomit do not win national elections in the USA, so no it does not surprise me or anyone that McCain is the odds on favorite!

Totally unrelated but I was surprised to seen on MSNBC the other night that bookies have raised the betting odds on McCain winning the election.

Can't we get this f##ker banned??? ####!!! Enough already.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Hey Sixer let me clue you in to something here in the USA so you can learn. Liberal dove loving left wing idiot wack jobs like Ovomit do not win national elections in the USA, so no it does not surprise me or anyone that McCain is the odds on favorite!

Totally unrelated but I was surprised to seen on MSNBC the other night that bookies have raised the betting odds on McCain winning the election.

I'm no gambling man but even I know that when you raise odds = its because an outcome is deemed less likely. Lowered odds = more likely. In other words - he is not the odds-on favourite. But doubtless you can look for better odds from a different bookie.

Just an observation in any case - I'm not rendering any opinion on it. You don't think Obama will win - fair enough. But you really need to stop flagellating yourself at the merest mention of his name (in which respect I didn't mention Obama - you did).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Now now Jabberwocky, control your liberal rage and tone it down, show some manners and class and stop cursing on here. I am a good Christian and I am offended by your smut!

What kook-o, liberal, water walking, kool aid is this stuff you are posting here! We shall see how far conservatism has fallen this November, and I do not want you whining around and singing the blues when Ovomit loses! Go on laugh it up and ignore the polls, go on and underestimate conservatives and John McCain, for to do so is at your own risk!

Apparently the local VJ cadre of ultra-conservatives have run out of snappy comebacks?

Hey Sixer let me clue you in to something here in the USA so you can learn. Liberal dove loving left wing idiot wack jobs like Ovomit do not win national elections in the USA, so no it does not surprise me or anyone that McCain is the odds on favorite!

Totally unrelated but I was surprised to seen on MSNBC the other night that bookies have raised the betting odds on McCain winning the election.

Can't we get this f##ker banned??? ####!!! Enough already.

Hope you had your fun, Marc. The ruse is over.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Figures

[almaty 19]

lol..i thought so..