You could be a neo-con and not even know it...

Written by Jeremy Chrysler
Published September 28, 2004

Political dilettante that I am, I often find myself both confused and fascinated by many things I read on a daily basis around the web. Whether my post-read mental state is the former or the latter, I almost always end up reading more about the subject that inspired my aforementioned state of mind.

And thus, when I read about the shadowy "neo-con plots", I wanted to know more, particularly since the plots to which pejorative descriptions were applied appeared on the surface to be attempts to democratize otherwise totalitarian governments around the world. What was I to do? Well, friends, I took the "Are you a neo-con quiz", and you should too.

Once you do, report back here if you like so that we can compare results. You can find out what I am below. HIGHLIGHT THE TEXT BELOW TO SEE IF I AM A DREADED NEO-CON:

You are a Realist

Realists...
Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision
Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa
Don't want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical considerations
Believe strong alliances are important to US interests
Weigh the political costs of foreign action
Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest
Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Modern realist: Secretary of State Colin Powell

Chrenkoff discusses the origins of neo-conservatives, and the emergence of a new type of neo-conservative he calls the neo-neo-conservative in a great post from a few weeks back. If you've read this far, you might also be interested in an interview with Christopher Hitchens. Given his righteous pursuit of Ma Teresa, and his general penchant for surliness, he can hardly be discounted by the left as anything but perhaps an alcoholic. In this interview, he bemoans his waning socialism, expressing a sentimental fondness for Paul Wolfowitz...it's a long read, but I think you might enjoy it.

Remember to post your neo-con quiz results in the comments section. Alternatively, you could embarass me by not doing so. Your choice!

love it, hate it, there's more of it at Pacetown.

Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!
You could be a neo-con and not even know it...
Published: September 28, 2004
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Section: Politics
Writer: Jeremy Chrysler
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Comments

#1 — September 28, 2004 @ 10:23AM — Mark Saleski [URL]

oooh, i'm a liberal.

shocking!

#2 — September 28, 2004 @ 10:40AM — Hal Pawluk [URL]

Nice find, Jeremy.

I'm not sure what I am, as I didn't like any of the suggested answers for some of the questions as I thought about them.

But I'm definitely not a neocon :-)

#3 — September 28, 2004 @ 10:45AM — Jeremy Chrysler [URL]

Thanks Hal, I thought it was interesting. I too, found the "false dilemma-esque" limitations of the questions a bit annoying. Then again, real-world decisions are often practically limited by situations outside of my control, so I tried to pick the answers which best represented my views would other better alternatives not available or not probable.

Hal...what's your take on Hitchens?

#4 — September 28, 2004 @ 10:51AM — Hal Pawluk [URL]

The neo-neocon post was interesting in that it points up the Shape-Shifter character of neoconservatism. They started as Trotskyists wanting to export the revolution, slid over to socialism/liberals/Democrats, finding Scoop Jackson there, finally over to Republicans.

I just got a new book on their history as written by neither liberals nor neocons. The authors are a conventional Conservative who worked for Nixon, Ford and Reagan, and a Brit who is now at the libertarian Cato Institute.

This is probably going to be as an impartial source as I can expect, so I'll review it later.

The book, by the way, is "America Alone: The Neoconservatives and the Global Order" by Stefan Halper and Jonathan Clarke. If any of you have read it, do you have any comments?

Thanks.

#5 — September 28, 2004 @ 10:58AM — RedTard

I'm a realist evidently. (like Ike and Colin Powell)

#6 — September 28, 2004 @ 11:33AM — Hal Pawluk [URL]

Hitchens: to be avoided at all costs :-)

#7 — September 28, 2004 @ 14:25PM — Tim Hall [URL]

It thinks I'm a Liberal.

I tried all the far-right answers (Invade Iraq, Nuke north Korea now, etc.) Then it answered NeoCon.

If the Neocons were in charge throughout the cold war, most of the world would be glowing radioactive desert now.

#8 — September 28, 2004 @ 14:50PM — Big Time Patriot [URL]

Interesting quiz, some of the questions should have been multiple choice. In a result that will be a real shock to those who read my posts, I am a Liberal. And yes, Jimmy Carter is my favorite president.

Remember when Jimmy wanted to tie human rights records of countries to our relations with them? Remember how the conservatives howled with disdain?

But when George Bush uses those same justifications to start a war (Saddam was a BAD MAN), now it's okay.

Times sure have changed haven't they? I didn't have any trouble with Mr. Carter's idea and I don't have any trouble with what Mr. Bush SAYS about that, I just simply don't believe Mr. Bush when he says it. Probably somewhere after "no more nation building", "WMDs" and "being a unifier" I just quit believing the words that came out of his mouth.

#9 — September 28, 2004 @ 16:25PM — Jon Sobel [URL]

"Remember when Jimmy wanted to tie human rights records of countries to our relations with them? Remember how the conservatives howled with disdain?"

Yes I do remember, but misguided or not, Jimmy Carter meant what he said. No one, not even his henchmen, think George W. Bush means what he says.

I usually call myself a liberal just to "fit in," but the quiz thinks I'm a "Realist," and I actually think it's right.

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