"Neoconservatism has failed America"

[land of the free]

what an excellent talking point!

This was from a report Norah O'Donnell just gave on Keith Olbermann's Countdown. She was talking about the beleaguered President, and how he's getting criticism from political foes and people within the GOP.

After Bush referred to his "Freedom Agenda" (hmmm, is this the new term for the failed Iraqi quagmire?), Norah said, "critics charge Neoconservatism has failed America".

Oh, that's a line we all need to repeat ad nauseum. Our new "it's the economy, stupid".

[Arkansas Granny]

1. Neoconservatism was never about America. It has always been

about amassing power in the Republican party.

[land of the free]

2. we know that... but the regular Joes who proudly

called themselves Neocons didn't think of the power grab as the primary objective.

So, we remind them that Neoconservatism has failed America. The "Contract with America" that Newt Gingrich and his proteges brought, when they took over Congress, has failed our country.
Therefore, throw the Neocon bums out.

That's the message we need to repeat this year.

[magellan]

3. Wrong F-word

"Failed" is not the word I'd use to decribe what Neocons have done to America. It implies they were trying to do something good for this country and the people. What has failed is their own agenda. What they've done (and are still doing) is f&cked America.

[Skittles]

4. I absolutely agree

there were never any noble intentions to what these lying, thieving bastards wanted to accomplish

[land of the free]

7. While I agree with you & Skittles

that the neocons had the intentions of amassing power and shoving their agenda down our throats, many Republicans and Independents who voted for them didn't see it that way. Now, many of these former supporters can be reached by reminding them what the Neocons promised, and the mess our country and our deficit is in.

Neoconservatism has failed America... and therefore Neocons have failed America.

(feel free to substitute your favorite F-word for "failed" when talking to the enlightened).

Let's go after the concept of neoconservatism, as that is similar to attacking "liberalism" (except neoconservatism's perils are very apparent, whereas the perils of liberalism are non-existent!)

[magellan]

13. Welcome, land of the free

I'm sorry to disagree, but I think it's important to drive home to Republicans the difference between what they thought they were buying in 2000, and what they (and the rest of us) got stuck with. Saying the Neocons failed America doesn't address the fact that the Neocons weren't even on the ticket...Not in plain sight, anyway. The Neocons promised nothing publicly. Bush** did though.

If you recall Bush**'s 2000 platform, it contained all sorts of run-of-the-mill conservative GOP planks. They were customary and expected to the point of putting you to sleep. Controlled spending, "proper" use of the military (and no nation building), tax cuts, education reform, faith-based initiatives, social security and healthcare reform, restoring honor to the WH, yada yada. I think a lot of Republicans took these at face value. Meaning, they didn't look deeper than the words themselves; they trusted Bush** meant what he was saying and that his intentions were beneficial to them.

What they didn't know was that Bush** would immediately fill his administration with Neocons who would make a farce of every one of his promises. So few had even heard of the Neoconservative movement that up until last year their existence was still considered a "liberal conspiracy theory" by most Bush** supporters. (Some of those same naysayers now embrace neoconservatism. They aren't concerned with the manifesto. They just decided it must be good because it's what BushCo is about and it's got the word "conservative" in it...which makes them the biggest rubes of all.)

Here's how I sum up Bush** and his cabal: What Clinton tried to do with the truth by claiming "I did NOT have sexual relations with that woman," the Neocons pull off on a daily basis.

So it isn't that the Neocons broke their promise to (or failed) America; it was Bush** who did this, and continues to, in every way imaginable. And there's no question in my mind that Bush** himself is complicit. He isn't an unwitting tool of the Neocons; he's been doing their bidding and mealy-mouthing his way through it like the rest of them from Day One.

I do agree with you 100% that we need to push the concept of neoconservatism with old guard Republicans. It's worth helping them identify the very bad taste they have in their mouths...Maybe they'll spit it out!

[TheBaldyMan]

5. not just critics charge it, neo-cons charge them with it as well

Francis Fukuyama had an opinion piece in the Guardian newspaper , Wed 22nd Feb

Mr 'End of History' Fukuyama said Neoconservatism has evolved into something I can no longer support he even mentions history looking back on our present day and judging us harshly!

When the neo-cons start to eat their own: expect a feeding frenzy.

[land of the free]

9. Yes, and I hope this will continue to get press time

although I think it'll likely not see much light again. That is, unless Fukuyama continues to press the point for the next six months.

[Minnesota Libra]

6. That should be on every poster, hat, Tshirt, sign, and......

....every where else we can think to put it. "Neoconservatism has failed America" - I love it!!!!!! Talk about THE PERFECT talking point.:bounce:

[Arugula Latte]

8. I like "Neocons Conned America"

Now, if only more Americans knew what a Neocon was ... :crazy:

[calimary]

10. Yeah, ol' Norah has to cover OTHER stuff now. Like maybe the TRUTH

about this jackass in OUR White House. It was a most uncharacteristic report from her - an apologist of the first order who ordinarily wouldn't DREAM of reporting ANYTHING adverse to bush and his agenda. I figure if it gets to Norah O'Donnell, then it's mighty wide and mighty deep. I'm sure she felt plenty nervous and awkward reporting these things, and having to say what she did in her report. It WASN'T something she's comfortable doing. It certainly wasn't anything she's already known for doing, I'll say that.

The mainstream press seems to be, however reluctantly, facing up to some pretty shitty news surrounding their hero. The scandal-orama that just reeks from all things republi-CON, the neoCON leaders and long-established conservatives (like william f. buckley, no less) openly denouncing the war and this White House's handling of it - there's just a little too much to tippy-toe around anymore. And there's just too much shit out there to mischaracterize as Shinola, anymore. Even THEY can't keep up the pretense any longer. Their boy's full of shit. And it's just too widely known, and there's just too much (and too prevalent in-public) buyers' remorse for them to ignore anymore. NOBODY anymore can say bush is doing a great job - with a straight face. They're all piling on about how Iraq COULD be "on the verge of civil war." Just another one from the No Shit, Sherlock file. As with this, and with the condition of the country because of bush's "leadership" - WE all knew this straight away. It's just now dawning on the rest of them.

And keep in mind: there's a lot of language in the coverage now about bush "saving face" or being given a "face-saving" opportunity in the 45-day "waiting period" on the Dubai ports deal. I think what you're seeing there is a subtle telegraphing of what many on the White House/political beat are conceding, for themselves. There's a problem when you've been on the record as a flat-out cheerleader for bush and you gave him every benefit of every doubt and always reported the way kkkarl and cheney's office wanted you to, and you always accepted the mug of Kool-aid when it was passed around. If you're in the media and you're guilty of those things, deep-down, you might be aware of the uncomfortable feeling that you helped aid and abet this with your unquestioning and unchallenging coverage. If nothing else, you were one of those legions who stuck their necks and their reputations out for bush, talking him up and reporting so enthusiastically about everything concerning him - that YOUR OWN credibility is now shit, as a result. YOU are on that sinking ship WITH him, by doing so. YOU are PART OF THE PROBLEM rather than the force of light, illuminating the darkness and telling the truth about all his lies all the way along. NOBODY in our "mainstream" press did that. Now, they're stuck with it all over their faces. Some of them probably don't WANT to have to report this stuff - because it makes them look like idiots for supporting it, and it casts doubt on their independent judgment and their own competence, if they saw no problem from the most manifestly incompetent "leader" ever to blight American history.

Also, I firmly believe that most of them deeply and fervently wanted everything they said about bush to be true. They WANTED to believe in him. They WANTED him to save them and rescue America and keep us all safe and secure from them mean ol' terr'ists. And to see that illusion shattered is every bit as difficult for them as it is for other believers. Denial runs deep. NOBODY wants to admit they've been fooled. NOBODY wants to admit they've been had. NOBODY wants to admit they hitched their wagon to an anvil. And that's the position they're all in now. ANYBODY who fervently supported bush throughout all this, and now sees everything turning to shit (because of him) is now feeling that. Because some of these people actually did believe in him. And they put all their hopes and fears on him. And he let them down. My mom even says that about junior. "He REALLY let everybody down." NO SHIT. I wasn't surprised. She was, and deeply shaken. That's how a lot of 'em feel out there. Including far too many members of our media.

[MissMarple]

11. And George Bush's brand of radical "conservatism" has failed America.

There is nothing conservative about the neoconservatives. The radical GOP, radical Republicans, and radical corporatists, they are all the same. They are radical and bad for our country.

[land of the free]

12. Yes, and true Conservatives are bailing on the Neocon agenda

I believe this is one of those times when the Republican party is struggling with division. The Neocons and evangelical right Republicans are still together. The moderates and the traditional Republicans are turning against Bush and his cronies. This means several things could happen: either they are willing to vote for moderate Democrats, or for third-party candidates, or they stay home and don't vote this fall. Either way, if we can capitalize on their disgruntled state, it can be good news for the Dems.