Neo-cons also don't concern themselves with immigration which, whether you like it or not, has become a true problem for the U.S. (although, apparently, The Weekly Standard came close to admitting that immigration might pose difficulties). I'm not a "close-the-borders, let's-have-a-moratorium" type. America needs immigrants; they are our lifeblood. But I want respectable immigration numbers and a clear, cohesive immigration policy. Bush is doing absolutely nothing to control our borders and I find that unacceptable. The President just smiles and wistfully intones, "Aren't these people wonderful?" Yes, most of them are, but you're supposed to be protecting us from a terrorist threat, Mr. Bush. With such an open, indiscriminate immigration policy that the U.S. currently works with (it's not at all indiscriminate if you happen to be white and English is your native language, however), how is this possible? Don't ask the neo-cons, who just shrug, avert their gaze and ask, "where's the money?"
There has always been a dichotomy prevalent within the conservative arena, as this excellent commentary points out. I do not always agree with my fellow conservatives - whatever "fellow conservatives" is supposed to mean. And they sure don't always agree with me.
I believe in personal freedom, but also the exercise of personal responsibility that comes with it. I believe in international democracy, but am eager to see how best it can be managed. I believe in unfettered free trade. I believe in social mores, but want to balance them with libertarian ideals. I believe in patriotism. I believe in small government.
You cannot say that I'm a paleo-con or a neo-con.
I am simply a conservative.
Article comments
1 - gonzo marx
the word is Republican..as in a member of the GOP
not a bad thing in and of itself
at least you have the testicular fortitude to openly disagree with the Shrub and the mastermind, Rove...as well as the DeLay's of your Party
now..could you do those of us that remain Independant of "gang tags" a bit of a favor?
get rid of the elite and take back the GOP so some sanity and rational discourse and debate can be had on crucial issues rather than wasting time and money doing...oh i don't know..investigating steroids in baseball..or other such non-sense..
thanx for the definitions..accurate epistimology helps
Excelsior!
2 - Dave Nalle
Good article. MSM. I'm with you most of the way, but I do think that if Bush actually implemented the guest worker policy he's discussed that would be a major step in the right direction on immigration.
Oh, one note for gonzo. You don't think the dems would have held a stupid steroid investigation or something equally showy and irrelevant if they'd been in charge of congress? If you believe that you're living in fairy fantasyland.
Dave
3 - gonzo marx
Dave sez..
*You don't think the dems would have held a stupid steroid investigation or something equally showy and irrelevant if they'd been in charge of congress? If you believe that you're living in fairy fantasyland.*
Dave..tho you may say i am living in a "fantsy land"..it seems you CANNOT resist peering into your tea leaves and predicting things that did NOT happen
i'll stay away from the soothsayer business...
would have, could have, should have
what are the Facts?
Excelsior!
4 - Dave Nalle
>>would have, could have, should have
what are the Facts?<<
The facts are that they DID do exactly this same sort of thing when they were in power. Let's see, during the last few democrat dominated congresses, we've got the Iran/Contra witchunt, the attempt to figure out a way to indict just about every Republican on the hill for somehow being involved in the S&L Scandal, which achieved exactly nothing. Or there are the ever popular ethics investigations over mis-use of the right to send thing postage-free, which Tip O'Neill liked to trot out every couple of years.
And I might add that Democrats were among the most enthusiastic and outspoken figures in the recent steroid hearings. They're really just as big a pack of whores as the Republicans.
Dave
5 - RJ
Oddly enough, the federal government DOES play a legitimate role vis-avis Major League Baseball.
They offer the league an anti-trust exemption. They can revoke this exemption at any time.
Surely a bunch of doped-up players might play a role in their thinking on this issue.
So, the steroids-in-baseball issue was fair game.
6 - Temple Stark
Great point RJ - batting your average - about one good point a week.
:-) I jest.
It did seem there were other things better to do, however, up on the Hill. Did they achieve anything durig their hearings? Nope.
7 - RJ
Oh, no question there was a lot of grandstanding involved. The only thing they seemed to accomplish was to destroy poor Mark McGuire...
8 - Mark Edward Manning
Gonzo Max: "at least you have the testicular fortitude to openly disagree with the Shrub."
Well, Bush was far from my choice during the Republican primaries of 2000. In fact, he was dead last among my preferences.
And I've disagreed with Bush not only for a lack of a cohesive, sensible immigration policy, but I called him out for his steel trade war, his proposed space program, and his invoking of immunity over the Enron scandal (far too Clintonesque in style!).
But, I did vote for him twice and I'm by and large happy with W. However, when I feel he's wrong, I certainly will say so.
9 - WTF
"Well, Bush was far from my choice during the Republican primaries of 2000. In fact, he was dead last among my preferences."
Funny how that works, huh?
I know exactly what you're talkin about... Bauer is a genius, but got no love from the press.
Dare I say Quayle (ducking flying objects).... I actually met him and Marilyn in St. Thomas once... No B.S., had a 30 minute conversation with them... Marilyn is very intelligent, and Quayle is actually very personable. I think he puckers up in front of camera's, which doesn't work...
But he's history... can't tell you if he was flamed unfairly, but I can tell you, the Quayles are a very nice, normal couple. And I'm a nobody, who they stopped and had a 30 minute conversation with. It was a most pleasent afternoon diversion.
10 - ed pefferman
The term neoconservative is a missnomer in chacterizing the Bush administration, neofascist is a more appt description. Dick Cheney is el Duce.