What exactly is a "neoconservative"?

[James T. Kirk]

I know what a conservative is, but what is a neo-conservative? How do the neos differ from the main type?

[wtmusic]

1. neo = new

as opposed to the old conservatives, like Eisenhower etc. Interesting that that neocons are anything but conservative.

[James T. Kirk]

4. So when was the change?

I know Reagan was an "old" conservative and so was G. H. W. Bush. When did the neos come into play?

[wtmusic]

10. They've been in play for a long time

as far as an ideology with William Kristol, Richard Perle and others writing articles back into the 80's.

I don't remember hearing the term before 1997 when the PNAC was founded.

[bananas]

19. no, Poppy Bush was not an old conservative

back then, they said he wasn't a "real" conservative,
that's why so many of them voted for Perot,
they couldn't bring themselves to re-elect Bush Sr,
but didn't want to vote for Clinton either.

pnac's Statement of Principles is signed by a lot of
people from the Reagan and Bush Sr administrations.
They were pushing these policies back then.

http://newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm

[Carolab]

2. It's like "new Democrats"--they believe in US hegemony

"one world government", etc.

Soros calls them "American supremacists"

[The Doctor.]

3. Here you go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoconservatism_(United_States)

"Neoconservatism is a somewhat controversial term referring to the political goals and ideology of the "new conservatives" in the United States. The "newness" refers either to being new to American conservatism (sometimes coming from a liberal or socialist background) or to being part of a "new wave" of conservative thought and political organization.

The neoconservatives, often dubbed the neocons by supporters and critics alike, are credited with (or blamed) for influencing U.S. foreign policy, especially under the administrations of Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) and George W. Bush (2001–present). Neoconservatives have often been singled out for criticism by opponents of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, many of whom see this invasion as a neoconservative initiative. Compared to other U.S. conservatives, neoconservatives may be characterized by an aggressive moralist stance on foreign policy, a lesser social conservatism, weaker dedication to a policy of minimal government, and a greater acceptance of the welfare state.

Neoconservatism is a controversial term whose meaning is widely disputed. Most people described as "neoconservatives" are members of the Republican Party. The term is used more often by those who oppose "neoconservative" politics than those who subscribe to them; indeed, many to whom the label is applied reject it. The term is frequently used pejoratively, both by self-described paleoconservatives, who oppose neoconservatism from the right, and by Democratic politicians opposing neoconservatives from the left. Recently, Democratic politicians have used the term to criticize the Republican policies and leaders of the current Bush administration."

-Always go to Wikipedia first... they are very good.

[bananas]

15. neoconservatives are also neoliberals

You might think the terms are opposites, but they are not.
Neoliberals are "liberal" in the economic sense of the word,
ie, free-trade, NAFTA, WTO, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberal

The term neoliberalism was coined by Conservative Republicans to describe a political-economic philosophy that had major implications for government policies beginning in the 1970s – and increasingly prominent since 1980 – that de-emphasizes or rejects positive government intervention in the economy (that complements private initiative), focusing instead on achieving progress and even social justice by encouraging free-market methods and fewer restrictions on business operations and economic development. Its supporters argue that the net gains for all under free trade, free markets, and capitalism outweigh the costs to the environment and society while detractors to neoliberalism do not.

[mike_c]

5. real conservatives don't trust that the federal government...

...can run even the simplest municipal institutions. Neo-conservatives think the U.S. federal government should run the world. In some ways the term is a real misnomer because neo-conservatism is VERY different from conservatism as an American political movement. I think the term stuck largely because neoconservatism grew out of a radical splinter group of former conservatives.

[sam sarrha]

17. we supplied Saddam with chemicals that killed 300,000 Iranians

Does that count...:shrug:

[kittenpants]

6. Bat-shit Crazy,

it's the new "conservative."

[sam sarrha]

7. here is the BEST discription... by Rep.Ron Paul of TexASS

this is really well done.....

http://www.house.gov./paul/congrec/congrec2003/cr071003.htm

[LondonAmerican]

13. indeed it is!

it's hard to beat ron paul, who has got to be one of the best congressmen out there in my opinion.

thanks for the link!

[Carolab]

18. I'd like to see a discussion of how this compares to Open Society

which is Soros' "answer" to the neoconservatives (and Hillary is a proponent).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_society

Seems to me it's a "bloodless" coup d'etat to establish a one world government (i.e., democracy everywhere) but does not advocate U.S. hegemony necessarily. It's a counter to the "might makes right" argument of the neoconservatives.

A discussion of New Democrats from the DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=326015&mesg_id=326015

[baldguy]

8. Benito Mussolini

[sam sarrha]

14. actually The NEOCON's are based on Machiavelli and Strauss..

It was Benito Mussolini who ho said...'Fascism would be more acurately discribed as Corporatism, for it is the governments relationship with corporations that is the basis of Fascism'

you can get a better idea of Facism at

http://www.indybay.org/print.php?id=1719333

[Just Me]

9. They are basically corporate imperialists.

They support global domination through corporate control utilizing military force when the corporateers are unable to bribe governments.

IOW, they are basically fascists, just on a global scale.

[LondonAmerican]

11. they're mainly ex-troskyites

and their offspring who were active in the democratic party in the 50s and 60s who moved right as the 60s progressed. one of them described himself as a 'liberal who has been mugged by reality.' they pretty much exemplify the kind of east coast cold-war corporate liberalism that had large parts of the democratic party in its sway until the end of the 60s and have taken the same midset with them in their move to the republicans.

so, unlike traditional conservatives and libertarians, they tend not to have any issues with an activist federal government; they also tend to view the world in much more ideological terms (probably a trot holdover) -- hence their campaigns for 'global democratic revolution' which has much more in common with trotsky's way of thinking than, say, russel kirk's or murray rothbard's.

[sellitman]

12. Look up PNAC

Those are Neo-Conservatives.


They are also 98% of this MIS-administration.

[yankeedem]

16. The first NeoCon was one of us

Henry "Scoop" Jackson of Washington. Here is an excellent article about him and his young aides, who grew up to be PNAC signatories.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001834779_jackson12m.html

[Zenlitened]

20. Someone with multiple college degrees, money, an impressive vocabulary...

... and absolutely NO IDEA of how the real world works.

"They'll greet us with flowers." It would be :rofl: if it wasn't so :cry: .