I’ve noticed my political bent over the past month has become increasingly hard-line. For the past few years, I’ve happily languished in the middle not really coming down hard in one direction or another on most issues. Although I maintain anti-Bush views with no intention of getting rid of them, I find myself more hawkishly anti-left, anti-establishment and pro-conservative. (Note for all of you who don’t know that there is a different between Republican and conservative, just as there is a difference between Democrat and liberal).
There are certain things about conservatism that move me to take a harder stance. A true conservative (or shall I call them paleoconservatives) hold to die-hard conservative principles. We disdain the neo-conservative philosophies that hjave taken hold in government across the board, including the Republican party. Key issues that true conservatives believe in:
- We do not want the U.S. military to intervene in foreign affairs for anything other than worst-case scenarios.
- Oppose illegal immigration and support tougher immmigration law and enforcement.
- We believe in small federal government, with broader state rights
- Well known paleocons are Pat Buchanan, CNN’s Lou Dobbs, Syndicated Columnist Bob Novak, The American Conservative’s Scott McConnell
Welcome to the new Technosailor. I’ve decided to embrace that. My entries will become not so much pro-Bush as much as pro-conservatism. Rally around the ideal, not a person. My entries will likely become much more hostile toward the left in whatever form it comes. Don’t take it personally. :-)
{ 29 comments }
Dave 11.05.05 at 1:53 pm
Since “the left” is largely impotent these days wouldn’t it be better to aim your hostility at the cult of destruction currently reigning in this country. This would include (but not limited to of course) the queer-hating, woman-hating, Muslim-hating, Jew-hating (well of course they pretend to love Jews, only long enough to ensure Israel’s future so their Jesus with an Uzi can come back), wrap the cross in the American flag idol worshiping sado-christians who are albeit uncomfortably but still firmly joined at the hip with the “white power” groups and the newly militant “conservative” wing of the Roman church, their token well behaved Negros and the multitudes from the “Bible-belt” (which ironically has the poorest, most undereducated, more divorced and higher percentage of teens getting pregnant - family values indeed!). Holy run on sentence Batman! Anyway, what is “the left” - anyone who is appalled at the direction the USA is going in? or just those who advocate anarchy, communism etc. Is it “left-wing” to want to see people brought out of poverty, to see US workers in safe conditions, to want to see our countries rivers cleaner, air cleaner, and leave some areas untouched for future generations, to see liberty and justice for ALL citizens. Whatever, I must put the keyboard down! True conservatism certainly needs more vocal advocates in this country. It’s difficult for many to differentiate between true conservatives and the putrid mix of authoritarianism and cult religion that is sadly still gaining power in the US. But if you manage to make the difference clear your message is certainly worth being heard. Um, I’ve said enough I think.
Aaron Brazell 11.05.05 at 2:10 pm
Dave–
Not sure how to respond to that rant. None of those things you mention are bad things and conservatives are concerned for the environment, for worker’s rights, etc as well. The difference between the left and the right is that the left wants ME to pay for their agendas.
And actually, the left is not at all impotent. In fact, I was thinking about this yesterday. The Republican party is pretty much guilty of being stupid. They hold every branch of government and have for years but they do stupid things constantly. The Democratic party is about to sneak up on the political grandstand and surprise everyone. They are actually guilty of being extremely vicious and effective. Take a look at the power play the other night with Harry Reid forcing a closed door session of Congress. Republicans are stupid in that they want to just make nice and act naive. Democrats play along just quick enough to throw the poisoned dagger from beneath the dark hooded robe, to use word-pictures.
The left is not impotent. They are actually dangerously effective and close to regaining power.
Aaron Brazell 11.05.05 at 2:11 pm
By the way, hi Dave….wasn’t aware that you were “Dave”. :)
Dave 11.05.05 at 2:53 pm
Since “the left” is largely impotent these days wouldn’t it be better to aim your hostility at the cult of destruction currently reigning in this country. This would include (but not limited to of course) the queer-hating, woman-hating, Muslim-hating, Jew-hating (well of course they pretend to love Jews, only long enough to ensure Israel’s future so their Jesus with an Uzi can come back), wrap the cross in the American flag idol worshiping sado-christians who are albeit uncomfortably but still firmly joined at the hip with the “white power” groups and the newly militant “conservative” wing of the Roman church, their token well behaved Negros and the multitudes from the “Bible-belt” (which ironically has the poorest, most undereducated, more divorced and higher percentage of teens getting pregnant - family values indeed!). Holy run on sentence Batman! Anyway, what is “the left” - anyone who is appalled at the direction the USA is going in? or just those who advocate anarchy, communism etc. Is it “left-wing” to want to see people brought out of poverty, to see US workers in safe conditions, to want to see our countries rivers cleaner, air cleaner, and leave some areas untouched for future generations, to see liberty and justice for ALL citizens. Whatever, I must put the keyboard down! True conservatism certainly needs more vocal advocates in this country. It’s difficult for many to differentiate between true conservatives and the putrid mix of authoritarianism and cult religion that is sadly still gaining power in the US. But if you manage to make the difference clear your message is certainly worth being heard. Um, I’ve said enough I think.
Dave 11.05.05 at 2:53 pm
Since “the left” is largely impotent these days wouldn’t it be better to aim your hostility at the cult of destruction currently reigning in this country. This would include (but not limited to of course) the queer-hating, woman-hating, Muslim-hating, Jew-hating (well of course they pretend to love Jews, only long enough to ensure Israel’s future so their Jesus with an Uzi can come back), wrap the cross in the American flag idol worshiping sado-christians who are albeit uncomfortably but still firmly joined at the hip with the “white power” groups and the newly militant “conservative” wing of the Roman church, their token well behaved Negros and the multitudes from the “Bible-belt” (which ironically has the poorest, most undereducated, more divorced and higher percentage of teens getting pregnant - family values indeed!). Holy run on sentence Batman! Anyway, what is “the left” - anyone who is appalled at the direction the USA is going in? or just those who advocate anarchy, communism etc. Is it “left-wing” to want to see people brought out of poverty, to see US workers in safe conditions, to want to see our countries rivers cleaner, air cleaner, and leave some areas untouched for future generations, to see liberty and justice for ALL citizens. Whatever, I must put the keyboard down! True conservatism certainly needs more vocal advocates in this country. It’s difficult for many to differentiate between true conservatives and the putrid mix of authoritarianism and cult religion that is sadly still gaining power in the US. But if you manage to make the difference clear your message is certainly worth being heard. Um, I’ve said enough I think.
Aaron Brazell 11.05.05 at 3:10 pm
Dave–
Not sure how to respond to that rant. None of those things you mention are bad things and conservatives are concerned for the environment, for worker’s rights, etc as well. The difference between the left and the right is that the left wants ME to pay for their agendas.
And actually, the left is not at all impotent. In fact, I was thinking about this yesterday. The Republican party is pretty much guilty of being stupid. They hold every branch of government and have for years but they do stupid things constantly. The Democratic party is about to sneak up on the political grandstand and surprise everyone. They are actually guilty of being extremely vicious and effective. Take a look at the power play the other night with Harry Reid forcing a closed door session of Congress. Republicans are stupid in that they want to just make nice and act naive. Democrats play along just quick enough to throw the poisoned dagger from beneath the dark hooded robe, to use word-pictures.
The left is not impotent. They are actually dangerously effective and close to regaining power.
Aaron Brazell 11.05.05 at 3:10 pm
Dave–
Not sure how to respond to that rant. None of those things you mention are bad things and conservatives are concerned for the environment, for worker’s rights, etc as well. The difference between the left and the right is that the left wants ME to pay for their agendas.
And actually, the left is not at all impotent. In fact, I was thinking about this yesterday. The Republican party is pretty much guilty of being stupid. They hold every branch of government and have for years but they do stupid things constantly. The Democratic party is about to sneak up on the political grandstand and surprise everyone. They are actually guilty of being extremely vicious and effective. Take a look at the power play the other night with Harry Reid forcing a closed door session of Congress. Republicans are stupid in that they want to just make nice and act naive. Democrats play along just quick enough to throw the poisoned dagger from beneath the dark hooded robe, to use word-pictures.
The left is not impotent. They are actually dangerously effective and close to regaining power.
Aaron Brazell 11.05.05 at 3:11 pm
By the way, hi Dave….wasn’t aware that you were “Dave”. :)
Aaron Brazell 11.05.05 at 3:11 pm
By the way, hi Dave….wasn’t aware that you were “Dave”. :)
Dave 11.05.05 at 9:53 pm
Hmm, the party of Delay and Rove “wants to just make nice”? Sure like the Republican Guard in pre-invasion Iraq maybe! Can’t see them as nice or naive Aaron there’s just too much viciousness flowing from the right these days. Too many people getting hurt. I certainly will not spend any time defending the Democrats and I hardly consider them “the left”. Maybe when compared to the likes of Dobson, Sheldon or Bauer they are but they truly don’t represent positive change for this country. Republicans fool their constituents with fake religious talk, the Dems outright lie - not that there’s really a difference between those two actions. They both are only out for what’s good for the party, not the country or it’s people.
If they are so effective why is Bush still in office? It shouldn’t have been hard to beat him but they chose a candidate with too much to aim at. They should have expected “Swift Boat” tactics and run a different candidate or at least a different campaign. They don’t need to sneak up if they want to take over all they have to do is prove they have something different to offer than the amoral crowd in there now. Bush and co. have given them a wide open door. I don’t think they are smart enough to take advantage of it though. They don’t have the cojones to truly stand up for the people they claim to represent and they are basically just as ethically challenged as the current leadership.
Yes I’m the one and only Dave :)
Aaron Brazell 11.05.05 at 10:17 pm
When I speak of naive and stupid, I’m talking about the “dove” politics coming out of the majority in Congress… Republicans are more concerned with “sharing the power with their Democratic colleagues” than they are about pushing their agenda and making it happen…while they have the power. Not that that is a bad thing.
The most spine I’ve seen out of the Congressional majority was the stand that was taken against Harriet Miers…and then that was a power play propelled by the non-elected right such as Pat Buchanan, Rush Limbaugh and other notable conservatives… plus the blogosphere. I feel that the Congressional right caught the hint and played along and it was the most spine I’ve seen yet. There should be no problem in affirming judicial nominees, including Judge Alito. There should be no problem forcing conservative issues to a vote, such as the limiting of Bush’s spending hikes. There should be no issue forcing the President to come up with a game plan on Iraq. But they play too nice.
The left on the other hand are talking about impeaching the President, calling “Rule 21″ closed door sessions of Congress, resurfacing the fillibuster, etc.
Is Tom Daschle on the floor of the Senate in disguise, because these are his tactics. The Dems are brilliant and they are playing their hands brilliantly and they are silently taking the power that the right continually acquiesces.
Yes the Dems were stupid to put Kerry up, but alot has happened in a year and with Bush’s polling so low, they are poised to deal a death blow to the Republican majority - perhaps as soon as midterm elections one year from this coming Monday.
Instead of a well-oiled machine that the GOP should by right be, they remind me more of a sputtering, dying engine that think he can but really can’t.
What do the Republicans have to run on for the midterms? What is their bellweather issue that will ring true with voters? Did I hear nothing?
What do the Democrats have? Alot of ammo - from Katrina/FEMA, to Iraq and no game plan, to Karl Rove/Lewis “Scooter” Libby? Elections are won and lost on public relations, not the truth. The Dems have alot of PR ammo to work with. The only hope for Republicans right now is the spark that may or may not be capitalized on with a Supreme Court nomination fight.
Dave 11.05.05 at 10:53 pm
Hmm, the party of Delay and Rove “wants to just make nice”? Sure like the Republican Guard in pre-invasion Iraq maybe! Can’t see them as nice or naive Aaron there’s just too much viciousness flowing from the right these days. Too many people getting hurt. I certainly will not spend any time defending the Democrats and I hardly consider them “the left”. Maybe when compared to the likes of Dobson, Sheldon or Bauer they are but they truly don’t represent positive change for this country. Republicans fool their constituents with fake religious talk, the Dems outright lie - not that there’s really a difference between those two actions. They both are only out for what’s good for the party, not the country or it’s people.
If they are so effective why is Bush still in office? It shouldn’t have been hard to beat him but they chose a candidate with too much to aim at. They should have expected “Swift Boat” tactics and run a different candidate or at least a different campaign. They don’t need to sneak up if they want to take over all they have to do is prove they have something different to offer than the amoral crowd in there now. Bush and co. have given them a wide open door. I don’t think they are smart enough to take advantage of it though. They don’t have the cojones to truly stand up for the people they claim to represent and they are basically just as ethically challenged as the current leadership.
Yes I’m the one and only Dave :)
Dave 11.05.05 at 10:53 pm
Hmm, the party of Delay and Rove “wants to just make nice”? Sure like the Republican Guard in pre-invasion Iraq maybe! Can’t see them as nice or naive Aaron there’s just too much viciousness flowing from the right these days. Too many people getting hurt. I certainly will not spend any time defending the Democrats and I hardly consider them “the left”. Maybe when compared to the likes of Dobson, Sheldon or Bauer they are but they truly don’t represent positive change for this country. Republicans fool their constituents with fake religious talk, the Dems outright lie - not that there’s really a difference between those two actions. They both are only out for what’s good for the party, not the country or it’s people.
If they are so effective why is Bush still in office? It shouldn’t have been hard to beat him but they chose a candidate with too much to aim at. They should have expected “Swift Boat” tactics and run a different candidate or at least a different campaign. They don’t need to sneak up if they want to take over all they have to do is prove they have something different to offer than the amoral crowd in there now. Bush and co. have given them a wide open door. I don’t think they are smart enough to take advantage of it though. They don’t have the cojones to truly stand up for the people they claim to represent and they are basically just as ethically challenged as the current leadership.
Yes I’m the one and only Dave :)
Aaron Brazell 11.05.05 at 11:17 pm
When I speak of naive and stupid, I’m talking about the “dove” politics coming out of the majority in Congress… Republicans are more concerned with “sharing the power with their Democratic colleagues” than they are about pushing their agenda and making it happen…while they have the power. Not that that is a bad thing.
The most spine I’ve seen out of the Congressional majority was the stand that was taken against Harriet Miers…and then that was a power play propelled by the non-elected right such as Pat Buchanan, Rush Limbaugh and other notable conservatives… plus the blogosphere. I feel that the Congressional right caught the hint and played along and it was the most spine I’ve seen yet. There should be no problem in affirming judicial nominees, including Judge Alito. There should be no problem forcing conservative issues to a vote, such as the limiting of Bush’s spending hikes. There should be no issue forcing the President to come up with a game plan on Iraq. But they play too nice.
The left on the other hand are talking about impeaching the President, calling “Rule 21″ closed door sessions of Congress, resurfacing the fillibuster, etc.
Is Tom Daschle on the floor of the Senate in disguise, because these are his tactics. The Dems are brilliant and they are playing their hands brilliantly and they are silently taking the power that the right continually acquiesces.
Yes the Dems were stupid to put Kerry up, but alot has happened in a year and with Bush’s polling so low, they are poised to deal a death blow to the Republican majority - perhaps as soon as midterm elections one year from this coming Monday.
Instead of a well-oiled machine that the GOP should by right be, they remind me more of a sputtering, dying engine that think he can but really can’t.
What do the Republicans have to run on for the midterms? What is their bellweather issue that will ring true with voters? Did I hear nothing?
What do the Democrats have? Alot of ammo - from Katrina/FEMA, to Iraq and no game plan, to Karl Rove/Lewis “Scooter” Libby? Elections are won and lost on public relations, not the truth. The Dems have alot of PR ammo to work with. The only hope for Republicans right now is the spark that may or may not be capitalized on with a Supreme Court nomination fight.
Aaron Brazell 11.05.05 at 11:17 pm
When I speak of naive and stupid, I’m talking about the “dove” politics coming out of the majority in Congress… Republicans are more concerned with “sharing the power with their Democratic colleagues” than they are about pushing their agenda and making it happen…while they have the power. Not that that is a bad thing.
The most spine I’ve seen out of the Congressional majority was the stand that was taken against Harriet Miers…and then that was a power play propelled by the non-elected right such as Pat Buchanan, Rush Limbaugh and other notable conservatives… plus the blogosphere. I feel that the Congressional right caught the hint and played along and it was the most spine I’ve seen yet. There should be no problem in affirming judicial nominees, including Judge Alito. There should be no problem forcing conservative issues to a vote, such as the limiting of Bush’s spending hikes. There should be no issue forcing the President to come up with a game plan on Iraq. But they play too nice.
The left on the other hand are talking about impeaching the President, calling “Rule 21″ closed door sessions of Congress, resurfacing the fillibuster, etc.
Is Tom Daschle on the floor of the Senate in disguise, because these are his tactics. The Dems are brilliant and they are playing their hands brilliantly and they are silently taking the power that the right continually acquiesces.
Yes the Dems were stupid to put Kerry up, but alot has happened in a year and with Bush’s polling so low, they are poised to deal a death blow to the Republican majority - perhaps as soon as midterm elections one year from this coming Monday.
Instead of a well-oiled machine that the GOP should by right be, they remind me more of a sputtering, dying engine that think he can but really can’t.
What do the Republicans have to run on for the midterms? What is their bellweather issue that will ring true with voters? Did I hear nothing?
What do the Democrats have? Alot of ammo - from Katrina/FEMA, to Iraq and no game plan, to Karl Rove/Lewis “Scooter” Libby? Elections are won and lost on public relations, not the truth. The Dems have alot of PR ammo to work with. The only hope for Republicans right now is the spark that may or may not be capitalized on with a Supreme Court nomination fight.
Joshua Estell 11.08.05 at 1:31 am
Bob Novak is a stooge. I think recent events bear this out. Lou Dobbs I admire quite a bit, but your list suggests that these men ought be placed in some sort of peer group based on political integrity; if that’s the case, you might want to tread back over some of Novak’s pieces and see how tightly they fit with the GOP line.
Aaron Brazell 11.08.05 at 1:37 am
Hi Joshua,
I think you need to understand what I was saying first. As far as I’m aware, I was not referring to a GOP line. In fact, you make my point for me. Thank you. I refer to the conservative line, which if you notice, is not always the GOP line. In fact, the GOP doesn’t look very conservative at all. Again, thanks for making my point for me.
Aaron
Joshua Estell 11.08.05 at 2:31 am
Bob Novak is a stooge. I think recent events bear this out. Lou Dobbs I admire quite a bit, but your list suggests that these men ought be placed in some sort of peer group based on political integrity; if that’s the case, you might want to tread back over some of Novak’s pieces and see how tightly they fit with the GOP line.
Joshua Estell 11.08.05 at 2:31 am
Bob Novak is a stooge. I think recent events bear this out. Lou Dobbs I admire quite a bit, but your list suggests that these men ought be placed in some sort of peer group based on political integrity; if that’s the case, you might want to tread back over some of Novak’s pieces and see how tightly they fit with the GOP line.
Aaron Brazell 11.08.05 at 2:37 am
Hi Joshua,
I think you need to understand what I was saying first. As far as I’m aware, I was not referring to a GOP line. In fact, you make my point for me. Thank you. I refer to the conservative line, which if you notice, is not always the GOP line. In fact, the GOP doesn’t look very conservative at all. Again, thanks for making my point for me.
Aaron
Aaron Brazell 11.08.05 at 2:37 am
Hi Joshua,
I think you need to understand what I was saying first. As far as I’m aware, I was not referring to a GOP line. In fact, you make my point for me. Thank you. I refer to the conservative line, which if you notice, is not always the GOP line. In fact, the GOP doesn’t look very conservative at all. Again, thanks for making my point for me.
Aaron
Joshua Estell 11.08.05 at 10:28 pm
You clearly hold Robert Novak in some sort of esteem, as you have included him into your examples of purist conservatism—a ‘paleocon’, as you put it.
Unless I am missing something (the point I’ve apparently made for you), existing as both a GOP sycophant and as one of your bedrock-dwelling heroes is to reside in a state of mutual exclusivity, and is–by your own standards–a ridiculous and prohibitive contradiction.
If you still feel you’ve made your point, there’s no need to reply… but my point is still pretty much indisputable: Bob Novak is a neocon stooge.
Aaron Brazell 11.08.05 at 10:46 pm
Joshua,
Thank you for inviting me not to respond to comments on my own blog. Very considerate of you. I am neither a fan of Novak or not a fan of Novak. Take it or leave it. You’re obviously more intent on pigeon holing me and my stance than you are about anything else. Welcome to Technosailor. You don’t own the joint.
Joshua Estell 11.08.05 at 11:28 pm
You clearly hold Robert Novak in some sort of esteem, as you have included him into your examples of purist conservatism—a ‘paleocon’, as you put it.
Unless I am missing something (the point I’ve apparently made for you), existing as both a GOP sycophant and as one of your bedrock-dwelling heroes is to reside in a state of mutual exclusivity, and is–by your own standards–a ridiculous and prohibitive contradiction.
If you still feel you’ve made your point, there’s no need to reply… but my point is still pretty much indisputable: Bob Novak is a neocon stooge.
Joshua Estell 11.08.05 at 11:28 pm
You clearly hold Robert Novak in some sort of esteem, as you have included him into your examples of purist conservatism—a ‘paleocon’, as you put it.
Unless I am missing something (the point I’ve apparently made for you), existing as both a GOP sycophant and as one of your bedrock-dwelling heroes is to reside in a state of mutual exclusivity, and is–by your own standards–a ridiculous and prohibitive contradiction.
If you still feel you’ve made your point, there’s no need to reply… but my point is still pretty much indisputable: Bob Novak is a neocon stooge.
Aaron Brazell 11.08.05 at 11:46 pm
Joshua,
Thank you for inviting me not to respond to comments on my own blog. Very considerate of you. I am neither a fan of Novak or not a fan of Novak. Take it or leave it. You’re obviously more intent on pigeon holing me and my stance than you are about anything else. Welcome to Technosailor. You don’t own the joint.
Aaron Brazell 11.08.05 at 11:46 pm
Joshua,
Thank you for inviting me not to respond to comments on my own blog. Very considerate of you. I am neither a fan of Novak or not a fan of Novak. Take it or leave it. You’re obviously more intent on pigeon holing me and my stance than you are about anything else. Welcome to Technosailor. You don’t own the joint.
David 08.01.08 at 2:54 pm
Dobbs may not be a paleoconservative, but he’s a good guy.
Buchanan is definitely a paleoconservative.
Novak definitely is NOT a paleoconservative. He is an open-borders neocon who happens to oppose the war in Iraq.
Neither is Scott McConnell, who sold the American Conservative to the open-borders Ron Unz.
David 08.01.08 at 2:54 pm
Dobbs may not be a paleoconservative, but he’s a good guy.
Buchanan is definitely a paleoconservative.
Novak definitely is NOT a paleoconservative. He is an open-borders neocon who happens to oppose the war in Iraq.
Neither is Scott McConnell, who sold the American Conservative to the open-borders Ron Unz.
Comments on this entry are closed.