Jonah Goldberg has a good column on how nostalgia for past conservatism is misplaced. First of all, the ones whining about how conservatism was so much greater way back when tend to be weenies. Conservatives get stuff done; they don’t stand around whining about how everyone isn’t perfect. Plus whining is a liberal instinct; if your instinct is to whine, maybe you’re not the conservative you think you are.
Also, the complaining about current conservatism and talking about how better conservatives were in the past seems like the sort of thing that’s just going to go on forever. Like in the future, they’ll be those talking about how much greater conservatism was back now dealing with the collapse of a liberal administration and having the momentum of the Tea Parties. And if we were able to see those people now, we’d be like, “Are you crazy? Your conservatism is so much better with you because you have lasers and jetpacks!” And future conservatives will probably yearn for the days when conservatism had motivated go-getters like Andrew Breitbart — even though they have Cyborg-Reagan who has a railgun for his left arm. Get some perspective, people!
and crying about ‘How Christian America was back in the good old days’ is misplaced too.
The whole concept of ‘FREEDOM’ (to do as you please) started in the Garden of Eden when Satan (the first Lawyer, Liberal, and promoter of Democracy) gave Eve the apple.
As for Conservatism being better in the past…
when did that happen? On 100 Reagan administration officials were indited or convicted of CRIMES that they were guilty of. Sad but true.
Don’t get me wrong I have the deepest respect for Ronald Reagan that you can possibly have but what did he leave us with? GHW Bush Senior and then GW Bush Jr? That is his Conservative legacy? The George Bushes? And I like George Bush. Both of them. They are very good and decent Christian men. Great people!! But Conservative? Get real.
Prior to Reagan most Conservatives acted like KOOKS! Senator Joe MaCarthy was absolutely correct about Communists in the Democrat party but he behaved liked a drunken Barbarian. He acted nuts!! And he failed to persuade but a few. He failed miserably. In fact I think Jim Traficant had a bigger following
So far Conservatism and the so-called Right-Wing Conservative Christians have been a colossal failure. Look at the MESS they left us with.
Conservatism is at it’s best when it’s actually practiced. Conservatives in the past were for the most part no better conservatives than those of today. That’s because conservative principles, like small limited government and individual freedom are timeless. Reagan was a great conservative, but I believe the likes of Sarah Palin and Gov. Ritchie of New Jersey can be just as great, maybe even better.
So I agree, whining about past conservatism being better is dumb, useless and wrong. The principles haven’t changed. It’s just a matter of being willing to walk the walk.
They are correct insofar that conservatism back in the 1980s was awesome. Of course, the number of conservatives in the 1980s included me. None of that silly “oh, how great it must have been.” It was great being a part of it.
Just like it is today.
Conservatism today is just as good as back when, when it is actually practiced. The problem is that after Reagan, conservatives allowed people like mccain, graham, gingrich and vitter to call themselves conservative instead of liberal light. Reagan was a principled conservative, but knew thew trade offs that needed to be made to get the anti-American dimocraps to get with the program. He listened to everyone’s ideas, regardless if they were real Americans or democrats and implemented the one he thought best for the country, not necessarily the one best for politicians. Even the stupid dems have an idea once in a while that does not involve hating America or raising taxes. Conservatives today are just tired of compromising with poo flinging, screeching, America hating democrats, so we look like we are worse than those that calmly allowed the marxist commies to participate.
@ carpenter so all I heard was
-you critisizing Bush 1 and 2
-calling Reagans administartion corrupt
-that right wing conservatives have left us with a mess.
-McCarthy was a barbarian
At least that was all I heard, I disregard the rest to call you a hippie because me is smirt.
(seriously though I enjoyed your rant, and such reality based history is important medicine)
actually the very BEST Conservatives were those in the Continental Congress when dueling, fist fighting, and brawling was as common place (and American) as Apple Pie. And that was in the Congress while Congress was in session!
Back then, if a ‘Liberal’ called you a name, you called him out!
And if he refused come out, if he wimped out, you went in after him!
Back then LYING was a capital offense. Someone lies you bust a cap!
So give me some of that good old fashioned Swords and Sunset or Pistols at Dawn Conservativism! That is what this country was really founded on! Thats what I am waiting for.
BTW Conservativism is not the most reliable or most enduring coalition for America. Democrats from something like 1920-1969 had basically uninterrupted control of congress. There platform:
-pro welfare/safety net
-pro unions
-pro military
-anti-communism
-heavy state planning and regulation (At&t is a perfect example of what came out of this)
North, South, East, West the country electorally looked like Massachusetts. That was how America voted until Democrats were taken over by the communist left. Had Democrats not cut off their right hand to favor their left then Republicans would still be the token “other party.”
What I am saying is right wing causes like small government, welfare reform, limited unions etc.. All enjoy more support right now then they would if the Democrats had not chased so many voters out the door. If blue collar Democrats ever purge the communists then causes of the right will mostly go the way of the classical republican and the dodo bird.
In a strange way you should all be thankful democrats are as liberal as they are.
Swords and pistols require two gentlemen. Now a days there would be one gentlemen and one leftist thug with a gang who sneaks around the back of the dueling area and kills the gentlemen who was stupidly playing by the old rules.
Those nostalgic about how great conservatism was in the ’80s are completely justified. Back then we had Ronald Reagan, and it was awesome. In the ’80s Reagan was proudly LEADING the conservative movement, while today we have Newt, Rom, Huckabee, and a bunch of other self-centered poll-following, RINO professional politicians all trying to walk the line of capturing the conservative vote while not being “too conservative”. I’m not ashamed to say I miss Reagan.
I thought one of the hallmarks of conservatism was yearning for things to return to the way they were, while liberals whine because nothing will ever be the way they want it.
SNL said that BITCHES get stuff done.
While they wore starched collar white shirts with dark skinny ties, and horn rimmed glasses, they were able to hate communists openly,
so they had that going for them. Joe McCarthy being a Barbarian is a BAD thing?
No.
I’m just saying that its too bad he FAILED to convince more people back then.
He didn’t have Newt Gingrich’s personality and speaking ability or Romney’s presence. When the left refered to him as a ‘Barbaric Monster’ he often behaved in such a way that they made thier case against him.
BUT! Let me make this absolutly clear. Senator Joe McCarthy is one of the Greatest Americans in history. He ranks right up there with George Washington. And there should be a National Holliday celebrating his fight against the Commies that are ruining America.
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