Characteristics of a neo-conservative

[bluestateguy]

1)They tend to be American exceptionalists: the idea that America is "special" with a mission (perhaps even a divine mission) to advance human civilization.

2) They tend to believe in the absolute, unquestioned moral superiority of American values, American culture and American foreign policy actions. We don't make mistakes, unless it was a mistake of not being "tough" enough.

3) They are never satisfied with how much money we spend on defense. Never. They always want more, more and more for the Pentagon. As late as 2003, PNAC was still whining that Bush's defense budget was "inadequate" http://www.newamericancentury.org/defense-20030123.htm .

4) They tend to espouse a phony, pretend intellectualism that is blinded by ideological drivel and commands very little respect from the academic community.

5) They try to project a cheerful, optimistic tone to their arguments. They give war and militarism a happy face.

6) They have little use for international alliances, and little concern for international public opinion.

7) Historically, neoconservatives have espoused moderate positions on social issues (many original neo-cons were Democrats), but this tendency is being muted with time as more evangelical Christians are moving into the neoconservative camp.

[Erika]

1. In a nutshell, they hate the poor, the liberals, the peace seekers

They have left Christianity out of their agenda. A bunch of sick puppies.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Historically, this neo stuff really has to do with the small group of

people, primarily jewish, who were working for Scoop Jackson at one time & then ended up with reagan & took a really hard line posture when it came to defense, especially when it came to Israel.
Anybody else is just plain old conservative, they aren't neo anything.

[neoblues]

3. Except "Neo-Fodder"...

Having their party co-opted by NeoCons, they're Neo-Fodder for the Neo-Political-War on Democrats. Having failed to exercise control, but going along anyway, they've become NeoEnablers...
As far as their Party is concerned, they're Neo-Obsolete, Neo-Ineffective but still Neo-Tools.
I know, I know, that's all just Neo-Word play, but then again, Neo-Conservatism is just Neo-Nonsense anyway. Neo-Destructive Neo-Nonsense.

[Idioteque]

4. They are trotskyists...

Our friends on the far left eventually realized how nutty they were so the neocons instead decided to appeal to the right's natioinalism to pursue their trotskyist agenda. No joke!

[Czolgosz]

5. Agreed. They are jingoistic Trotskyites. Trotsky wanted to use perpetual

war to unify the government and the corporations into a single powerful entity (he assumed the government would take over the corporations). The NeoCons want to use perpetual war to unify the government and the corporations into a single powerful entity (they assume the corporations will take over the government). Very little difference, really.

[Guaranteed]

6. I remember thinking like this when I was 7 or 8 years old.

I think maybe they just don't grow out of it.