I am taking it easy this weekend – relatively speaking – and preparing for a series of posts on “What Ails Conservatism?”
Those readers who have followed this blog for a while know of my interest in this subject. I have posts going all the way back to 2005 talking about the coming conservative collapse and was at a loss at what to do about it. But each time I wrote about the state of conservatism, things crystallized in my mind about not just the diagnosis but also other tangents relating to the problem so that now, I feel energized enough to spend a considerable amount of time and thought in explaining my thinking.
The energy comes from George Packer’s New Yorker essay on the “Fall of Conservatism” which is still echoing around the blogs. In fact, it was this laughably shallow piece at Firedoglake that got me thinking about writing a series of blog posts on Packer’s thesis. I thought I could do a much better job than this fellow if only because 1) my vocabulary allows me to get through an entire post without once using the word “f*ck; and 2) I am not a half-crazed, obscenity spewing, ignoramus who missed the point of Packer’s essay and substituted a thesis of dubious logic and intellectually incoherent arm chair psychology for reasoned analysis.
I happen to agree with much of what Packer said in his piece which I didn’t get to read in its entirety until this morning. Alas, that’s one of the things I miss now that I am actually working as a writer/editor. I barely have enough time to put something on my own site everyday and reading 7,000 word essays while taking the time to write a response just isn’t in the cards anymore.
So instead of trying to get it down all in one day, I will take my time and try something a little different; examine individual issues raised by Packer (and other commenters both liberal and conservative) in order to perhaps glean some essential truth that may end up being unique. We know pretty much what’’s wrong with the ideology of conservatism. But what of the philosophy that is its underpinning? And what of the future.
I hope you will join me for what promises to be a stimulating journey.
3:50 pm
Oh, I’ll certainly be joining you, given the sophisticated rebuttal you’ve made to my FDL post.
7:37 pm
Wonderful you can go with dropping an F-bomb. Bravo! But then you toss a sophomoric, school-yard taunt? My, aren’t we all grown-up and mature.
Perhaps before you begin your epic series on this issue, you could explain this a bit more. And this time with actual substance.
“who missed the point of Packer’s essay and substituted a thesis of dubious logic and intellectually incoherent arm chair psychology for reasoned analysis.”
When was the last time you heard “intellectually incoherent arm chair psychology for reasoned analysis.” on a schooyard?
ed.
8:28 pm
Sounds like an interesting idea Rick; I look forward to reading your upcoming series. As a Moderate myself, I am very interested in the future of Conservatism in the United States, now that it is seemingly at a nadir. However, if “join me” is a concept best reflected in replies to your posts, one can only hope that this series attracts more notice than your articles on Lebanon did. I have a bad feeling that criticizing Obama is the best way to go if you measure success in this way; hope you resist that temptation. Not that you shouldn’t criticize him; just don’t let it stop you writing about more important things.
9:54 pm
We know pretty much what’’s wrong with the ideology of conservatism. But what of the philosophy that is its underpinning?
Uh, what philosophy? Are you talking about Burke, a great defender of Habeas Corpus?
6:09 am
I don’t know how much of a pickle Conservatism can be in if Democrats are picking up these house wins as anti-abortion and blue-dogs.
If they were running as Social Democrats I might feel different.
Conservatism may be fine. Some of the Pols who relied on conservative voters may be in a bind….
10:34 am
I posted a request for your ideas on this very subject here on May 13, so am very much looking forward to this series. Packer’s article is interesting. My hope is that your response will include a good discussion of the philosophy underlying conservatism, one, because I get the feeling that many under the conservative banner know more Limbaugh and Coulter than Burke or even Bill Buckley. And two, because the disconnect between conservative philosophy and political implementation has never been greater, seriously devaluing conservatism and its necessary role in governing America.
12:38 pm
I’m looking forward to your series on “What Ails Conservatism?” This is a timely and important discussion that should generate a lot of interest.
I hope you will touch on what I consider to be a key issue; the flawed primary system within the GOP. How does a party based on conservative principles elect a non-conservative candidate? Is McCain’s victory representative of party ills or is he just an aberration of a flawed primary system?
Many of us had an “anybody but McCain” mindset as we carefully watched for an emerging conservative early in the process that would surely include Romney, Thompson or Giuliani. The problem was that the conservative candidates were competing for the same votes while McCain had most of the anti-bush, liberal and independent votes. And of course, we had the unsavory Huckabee-McCain collusion to “dump” Romney.
Being from Pennsylvania, the primary was essentially over with McCain the declared winner before I ever got to cast my vote for Ron Paul. My preference would have been to vote for Romney or Thompson but they had already dropped out.
In moving forward, my choice will again be limited in the national election by the two party system. For me, and many voters, a choice between McCain or Obama really isn’t a option, it’s an ultimatum.
12:47 pm
(Note post 3) Surabaya Stew Said:
“...one can only hope that this series attracts more notice than your articles on Lebanon did.”
Rick’s articles on Lebanon were great and I hope he will continue writing about this important subject that was ignored by the MSM.
10:05 pm
I agree, DrKrbyLuv; Lebanon is not a country for the faint of heart, as its incredible complexity ensures that it can never be easily summarized. (Perhaps thats why it has been largely ignored by the MSN and 99% of political bloggers.) Whether one agrees with Rick or not on his opinions, he sure didn’t choose an easy topic to write about! Nice job…