Two Contradictory Beliefs
by Lee
On the subject of cleansing the GOP through a massive electoral loss in 2008 (let’s hope!), a reader writes the following in to Sullivan.
The Republicans have failed conservative values lately. When they fail so miserably at upholding the values of conservatism, protecting liberty in America, and waging war in our nation’s name, they don’t deserve to be rewarded with a continuation of power. Rewarding this kind of failure is the antithesis of conservative values, and I hope more conservatives wise up. Without the pain of failure, there will be no lesson learned.
But that’s not what conservatism is about today. Conservatism is about the accumulation and retention of power at any cost. Or, to be more accurate, conservatism in America is about accumulating and retaining power at any cost, then engaging in Chinese acrobat-level contortions to explain how doing so is actually in line with the traditional conservative values of distrust of central power, limited government, separation of powers, and so on.
Orwell understood this. Read the definition of Doublethink.
The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. ... To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies—all this is indispensably necessary.
This is Bush-era conservatism—Doublethink. You have to be able to simultaneously believe that a president who has presided over the largest expansion in discretionary government in 50 years is also a “limited government” conservative. You have to believe that a president who claims for himself the power to arrest, detain without trial, and torture anyone he deems an enemy combatant, including American citizens, is a believer in Constitutional rights and the rule of law. You have to believe that a president who subscribes to a theory in which the executive branch operates without any oversight whatsoever also subscribes to the concept of separation of powers.
It’s insanity, and it’s pathetic how many so-called “conservatives” on the right are willing to subscribe to this delusion.
Update: I forgot one more aspect of Bush-era conservatism. No matter what Bush does, no matter how nefarious the activity, no matter how contemptuous toward American democracy his actions may seem, Bill Clinton always did something worse. Always.
Comments
If she is, you’ll hear complaining over at Drumwaster’s. And they’ll blame it on the Demmycrats and the libruls and the media who all hate Amurka and want to see it destroyed by terrists. And if it wasn’t for the libruls and terrist lovers, we would have won the war on terror, Iraq and Afghanistan would be models of Jeffersonian democracy, and Bush would be take his rightful place next to Jesus, Gandhi, MLK, and Reagan.
there is more than enough blame to go around.. also given eh fact that most of the electorate is more interested in who win American idol than the presidency.....
there is more than enough blame to go around.. also given eh fact that most of the electorate is more interested in who win American idol than the presidency.....
It’s just fucking scary and pathetic isn’t it?
I can’t believe how many people can’t be bothered to vote. Of course they can bitch and complain all the time though.
Much smaller scale, but I see the same thing with our community planning group. I’ve been on the board of ours for several years now, figured I couldn’t complain if I wasn’t willing to put in a few hours a month to be involved. Regularly we’ll have either 1 person from an area show up, or a group (because something REALLY pissed them off) and they’ll all complain about how they all want their opinion heard, but they can’t be bothered to come to 1 meeting a month. I love when 1 person from an area finally shows up and says they finally decided to come because they talk to several neighbors who all wish this would be done, or that, or they want to know about different projecs… but none of them ever bothers to attend even 1 meeting (and most won’t even read the newsletter or websites).
If she is, you’ll hear complaining over at Drumwaster’s. And they’ll blame it on the Demmycrats and the libruls and the media who all hate Amurka and want to see it destroyed by terrists. And if it wasn’t for the libruls and terrist lovers, we would have won the war on terror, Iraq and Afghanistan would be models of Jeffersonian democracy, and Bush would be take his rightful place next to Jesus, Gandhi, MLK, and Reagan.
Hyperbole aside I will accept this as a typical Lee rant and with it the proviso that rants need only be passionate, not factual.
And your “update” does not rationalize the notion that bad behavior is acceptable when compared with other bad behavior.
This is why I don’t EVER want to hear “Real conservatives” complain if Hillary or another Dem gets elected.
Ah, you will hear a lot of squawking from those “real conservatives” that blanche at the idea of a socialist in the white house.
Anybody that subscribes to all those conservative traits you catalogued above and thinks that they can make these things happen by voting for the other side, the side that is working to make those ideas nothing but a bad dream, this in my mind is a definition of insanity.
The problem is, the Republicans were not working for those conservative ideas that I certainly believe in. So, again, faux conservatives shouldn’t complain if Her Hillaryness abuses her power, because Bush will have shown her the way.
So, again, faux conservatives shouldn’t complain if Her Hillaryness abuses her power, because Bush will have shown her the way.
So again, we are going to condone bad behavior by comparing it to other bad behavior. Not much of a standard you set for yourself.
Here’s an idea, how about we cling to our core beliefs, throw out those that say they stand by those beliefs but don’t act like it, and fight those that want to exterminate those same beliefs.
there is more than enough blame to go around.. also given eh fact that most of the electorate is more interested in who win American idol than the presidency.....
says a lot about us, doesn’t it? And certainly nothing good.
Rules for being a Republican:
Rule #1. Do anything to win.
Rule #2. It’s Clinton’s fault.
Rule #3. Voters are stupid.
And what are the rules for being a Dem, Hazey?
Wow! What did I do to deserve a German flag? I’ve barely been out of Texas, much less the country.
Rules for being a Democrat:
Rule #1. Do anything to win.
Rule #2. It’s Bush’s fault.
Rule #3. Voters are stupid.
Good, Starving Writer! :)
I was going to say that, but got side-tracked with my new flag.
Wow! What did I do to deserve a German flag? I’ve barely been out of Texas, much less the country.
Did you not see my “vactioning at your German Chalet” reference the other day?
Did you not see my “vactioning at your German Chalet” reference the other day?
Ha!Ha! I’ve truly been outed, haven’t I.
How funny! :)
Here’s an idea, how about we cling to our core beliefs, throw out those that say they stand by those beliefs but don’t act like it, and fight those that want to exterminate those same beliefs.
Last time we did that it was called The Revolution....
I knew it! RepMom is a spy for Der Fuher! :-)
Posted by West Virginia Rebel on 07/17/07 at 08:22 PM from United States
I knew it! RepMom is a spy for Der Fuher! :-)
HEH, lets see pic of her in those jack boots…
I knew it! RepMom is a spy for Der Fuher! :-)
Dang! Busted. And I was so sure of my cover as an American housewife. Guess I should have mentioned the daily soaps more..
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This is why I don’t EVER want to hear “Real conservatives” complain if Hillary or another Dem gets elected.