“Right-Wing Rousseauists”
Rod Dreher on CPAC and modern conservatism: “But good grief, is this what constitutes popular conservatism in 2009? This ideologically-driven right-wing Rousseauism, with Leninist overtones about the Enemies of the People?”
My biggest problem with the current dominant form of American Conservatism (at least amongst the political leaders) is that it is so internally inconsistent and detached from any core values. Starting with Gingrich and perfected by Rove, it has no anchor other than a manufactured sense of oppression and an infantile reactionary worldview…well and tax cuts. When I read a conservative like Rod Dreher or Daniel Larison or Andrew Bacevich I am just completely flabbergasted that they are made pariahs from the movement. Even though I don’t agree with the roots of their intellectual and cultural understanding, I think they are a prefect foil to Liberal thought and the interplay between the sides would benefit America greatly. Limbaugh, Palin, Joe the Plumber, and to an extent the Republican leadership, they represent what David Brooks referred to as “political nihilism,” shiftless and ignorant. It should be of no comfort to anyone that they are the loudest voices in the movement.
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5 Responses to ““Right-Wing Rousseauists””
“Joe the (Du)mber” only exists because the smart wealthy GOP knew its base was defecting. Their base, in case anyone needs a reminder of this shocking fact, is made up of under-educated blue-collar laborers. Joe was supposed to rope them back in. The trouble is he thinks he's more of a phenomenon than he really was: a poster-boy. Just like Sarah Palin, aka “Caribou Barbie” was picked to appeal to the less-than-brilliant female sectors of that base, Joe was picked to appeal to the men…to keep them loyal and in the fold.
Both Sarah Palin and “Joe” are insignificant bric-a-brac. Their only function is to galvanize the…well…frankly…the stupid back into the herd.
They, being less-than brilliant as they are, actually believe they are a phenomenon in and of themselves… which underscores the sad aspect of the relationship between the smart sheisters that actually run the GOP vs the well-meaning but dull-witted followers-of-the-rhetoric… The GOP base really are like sheep, following their leaders who are actually wolves in sheeps clothing…right to the slaughterhouse day after day. And the screams and bellows at the end of that line are kept overdubbed by the loud and repetitive chants of “freedom” “democracy” and “liberty!”.. and of course “NO TAXES!!” ..lol…
They're figuring their base doesn't know how to balance their own household budgets, wherein in order to pay the bills, money must come from somewhere?
Megadittos Mikkel! So Sil, what do you really think?
Limbaugh does have core values, I just don't think they're the values that will win elections, especially given the rigidity they're held with.
…lol…that IS what I really think ; )
Why would anyone say anything other than what they really think? Unless they are a politician… which obviously I am not.. The time for pussy-footing around was yesteryear. Generation X doesn't beat around the bush baby..
“The time for pussy-footing around was yesteryear.”
I totally agree. We can no longer afford the same old clueless, short term, catering to the rich and powerful, visionless, soulless,approaches that have destroyed so much progressive momentum in the past. The time for that kind of diddling and self-gratification has run out.