Is conservatism brain-dead?

[DroppinScience]

No, not my words. These are the words of a conservative commentator concerned that the conservative movement is being hi-jacked by the idiots (Malkin, Coulter, etc.) while the intellectuals (e.g. the late William F Buckley Jr) are being sidelined as conspiracy theories and shouting becomes the norm.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/01/AR2009100103889.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Valvano and others take note.

[yeahwho]

I don't know, that article and the Washington Post in general reminds me of the what a CIA today briefing would look like.

After the obvious points were brought up and the story ended, I read where the author is some guy who wrote "The Age of Reagan: The Conservative Counterrevolution, 1980-1989."

That whole idea of trickle down economics has royally screwed the average man in the United States.

Reagan never bothered with things like facts or the truth. He lowered tax rates which led to the richest 1% of the population earning more than the other 99% combined. The tax cuts did not pay for themselves, even though Republicans continue to lie and say they did.

So what we're seeing is just the continuation of "no facts" or "truth" from the Republicans.

Plus this ending line of that Op/Ed:

Beck, for one, is revealing that despite the demands of filling hours of airtime every day, it is possible to engage in some real thought. He just might be helping restore the equilibrium between the elite and populist sides of conservatism.

LOL, did he mean the 20 or so filthy rich elitists of which he is beholden and the millions of poor uneducated populists that lap it up?

[travesty]

I don't think conservatism is "brain dead". But for sure those in the movement with the brains are not the ones running it right now. Great article.

[yeahwho]

I don't think conservatism is "brain dead". But for sure those in the movement with the brains are not the ones running it right now. Great article.

The writing was OK, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I wish that valvano or RobMoney would weigh in on their insight to it. The topic gone over is actually years old and has been gone over so many times that I felt the author was gunning to be a voice for the new Republicans himself... which would be nuts considering his last sentence.

If Beck, Rush and the O'Rielly's are the populists in the Republican party he will be waiting decades because they actually have an imaginary audience with no political might.

[travesty]

The writing was OK, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I wish that valvano or RobMoney would weigh in on their insight to it. The topic gone over is actually years old and has been gone over so many times that I felt the author was gunning to be a voice for the new Republicans himself... which would be nuts considering his last sentence.

If Beck, Rush and the O'Rielly's are the populists in the Republican party he will be waiting decades because they actually have an imaginary audience with no political might.

I truly feel that the same article could be written about either party. Intellectual debate has been absent from both parties for some time now. We truly are living in the world of big media mudslinging, sound bites and cheap shots. There is no time for a one hour debate or discourse when a 5 second sound bite will enrage the masses just the same. Just look at how lame and unsubstantiative the Presidential debates were. In their effort to recruit and strengthen their own parties and ideas both parties of made it "evil" to respect or even consider the other's point of view. It's a shame that the finaciers of the party messages like Turner and Soros feel that "You are either with us or against us" is the best way to get the message across. None of this helps further the American soul.

I really do try and remain open minded. Sure I have my opinions but I always like hearing the other side and you know what, it does effect me and I do change my opinions often and I thank all of you on this board for having some good discussions with me at one time or another, even if they can get heated. I guess it's like religion for me, I just don't know how to turn off enough of my brain, to shut down enough logical reasoning so that I can blindly accept something that someone tells me is the absolute truth. No doubt life would be easier if I could.

[Schmeltz]

Intellectual debate has been absent from both parties for some time now. We truly are living in the world of big media mudslinging, sound bites and cheap shots. There is no time for a one hour debate or discourse when a 5 second sound bite will enrage the masses just the same... None of this helps further the American soul.

You really don't have any right to complain after your rant in the Lobbying thread to the effect that American society starts and stops at the bottom line of the almighty dollar. Your media is of poor and insubstantial quality because it makes vast amounts of money that way, and from the sound of it that's perfectly alright with you. I really don't think you'd have it any other way.

You talk about the American soul? What soul? How can such a thing exist if it's ready and available to the highest bidder? Face it buddy: your particular brand of "freedom," ie the freedom to buy and sell anything if the price is right, is soulless and empty. It isn't worth any more than the savings offered by a competitor with a flashy commercial spot and a cut-out coupon. You've got nobody to blame but yourself.

[travesty]

You really don't have any right to complain after your rant in the Lobbying thread to the effect that American society starts and stops at the bottom line of the almighty dollar. Your media is of poor and insubstantial quality because it makes vast amounts of money that way, and from the sound of it that's perfectly alright with you. I really don't think you'd have it any other way.

You talk about the American soul? What soul? How can such a thing exist if it's ready and available to the highest bidder? Face it buddy: your particular brand of "freedom," ie the freedom to buy and sell anything if the price is right, is soulless and empty. It isn't worth any more than the savings offered by a competitor with a flashy commercial spot and a cut-out coupon. You've got nobody to blame but yourself.

Who's complaining? I'm just stating things the way I see them. I'm not complaining. Are there things I'd like to change about the US, sure there is. But if you think that your self-righteous banter is going to make me feel ashamed of being an American capitalist then you are talking to the wrong guy. You can take that grade school attempt to invoke self-loathing and cram it up your snotty British ass. I am not Barack Obama and I'm not apologizing for the USA. We may be going through a tough time as a country right now but at least our best years were only a few years ago, not a few centuries ago. I think that you have some pent up anger about the facts of how inexorably tied to the US economy the UK economy is. I can understand feeling that way but that is your fault, not ours.

[Schmeltz]

I am not Barack Obama and I'm not apologizing for the USA.

...and I'm not British. So I have to say I found your post rather amusing. Sorry for getting under your skin there, but I do have to wonder why you would bother commenting on the sad state of affairs in your country's media and politics if you're perfectly alright with the system that produces it. You get what you deserve - isn't that the anthem of American capitalism?
You have a mass media that speaks in sound bites and a political system that insults the electorate precisely because of the values you espouse.

You don't have to apologize for the USA. But maybe you'd consider apologizing to the USA. For calling it a nation of shopkeepers, if nothing else.

[yeahwho]

It doesn't really matter, let me sum up that whole fucking Washington Post piece in one sentence.

We Republicans have no real answers to the problems we've created.

[travesty]

...and I'm not British. So I have to say I found your post rather amusing. Sorry for getting under your skin there, but I do have to wonder why you would bother commenting on the sad state of affairs in your country's media and politics if you're perfectly alright with the system that produces it. You get what you deserve - isn't that the anthem of American capitalism?
You have a mass media that speaks in sound bites and a political system that insults the electorate precisely because of the values you espouse.

You don't have to apologize for the USA. But maybe you'd consider apologizing to the USA. For calling it a nation of shopkeepers, if nothing else.

Isn't that what we do here? Comment on the sad state of affairs in certain arenas and possibly try to develop solutions? I am absolutely alright with the framework of capitalism and yes you do reap what sow. That's why it is imperative to continue to question, refine and improve the system. However only capitalism gives the ability to improve the system to each individual. I thought that's what we're doing here. As for politics, I believe we have sown some really bad seeds that have, and will continue to, bear rotten fruit for some time. Although the system has been hijacked the system also gives the people the power to take it back if they really want to. THAT is the problem I have with America, it's not the political system and it's not the media that are the source of the problem....it's the apathy of the people who ultimately have the ability to stop the political corruption and hold the media accountable but few seem to be willing to do so although that number is growing. The "system" will continue to produce good times and it will continue to produce bad times, that is inevitable but overall it is still a great system.

Why did I think you were British? Sorry.

[ToucanSpam]

I thought the idea of "Happy Meal Conservatism" was hilarious, clever, and on the mark. I will not deny the fact that both the left and the right have ridiculous people shouting into microphones, but obviously right now the mainstream media out of the United States is dominated by right wingers like O'Reilly, Malkin, Coulter, and the like. Yes, their shows generate more views than what the left has to offer, but that isn't a good thing.

The linked article, "How Radio Wrecks the Right", echoes the points that Hayward makes. He completely blames Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, and company for the "sorry state of affairs" on the right. I don't know if I can commit to blaming those radio talk show hosts he names as being responsible; I think there's one man, who appeared on the radio occasionally the last eight years, who is more to blame than him. Still, the author of the article, John Derbyshire, builds his case by saying these radio personalities latched on to GWB and used cheap ideas and slogans to win people over...hence "Happy Meal Conservatism":

"In place of the permanent things, we get Happy Meal conservatism: cheap, childish, familiar. Gone are the internal tensions, the thought-provoking paradoxes, the ideological uneasiness that marked the early Right. But however much this dumbing down has damaged the conservative brand, it appeals to millions of Americans. McDonald’s profits rose 80 percent last year."

Source: http://www.amconmag.com/article/2009/feb/23/00006/

To remain fair, he takes a swing at the left too. I don't want to copy paste the whole thing in here, so I will just recommend that you check out that article as well. Food for thought, hyuck.

[saz]

the only people or pundits on the american left who i can think of who are loud mouth obnoxious idiots, comparable to limbaugh and right-wing hate mondering bullies, are randi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n8uAsLwHtY) rhodes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGsYS6ROPn0&feature=related), rosie o'donnell, and eric alterman. i find the majority of progressive pundits are much more reserved, rational, and thoughtful, and not loud mouth idiots, like limbaugh & co who are fanning the flames of racism, intolerance and hatred at every turn. it's quite sad and pathetic but it didn't always used to be that way. the right-wing punditry used to be very intellectual, rational and reserved. william f. buckley's firing line on pbs was an excellent outlet and service, providing rational and intellectual discourse as opposed to the hate and fear mongering of contemporary am radio right-wing shock jock programming. in the wake of the shock jock/fox news dumbed down conservatism, (which began in the late 70s when the religious right, the john birchers and the radical base began to take over the republican party), i find people like pj o'rourke and others from the wall street journal and weekly standard such as matthew continetti a breath of fresh air. i completely disagree with them politically and philosophically, but at least they're all about conservative policies and beliefs and aren't raving lunatics.