That Wacky, Wacky Kristol Posted by Michael Cohen

Back in December when Bill Kristol got a job as a NYT columnist I figured he would be pretty awful but I must admit his dreadfulness has truly amazed me. Kristol has some of the most valuable real estate in American journalism. Yet he seems happy to simply parcel out dreary, unimaginative and misleading conservative talking points that seem to have one solitary purpose -- making those people who regularly read the New York Times editorial page tear out their hair every Monday morning.

In today's edition, Kristol calls on American conservatives to support John McCain -- and since about 14 movement conservatives read the NYT editorial page everyday, what an important contribution this editorial is!

Today Bill tells us that "The American conservative movement has been remarkably successful. We shouldn’t take that success for granted. It’s not easy being a conservative movement in a modern liberal democracy. It’s not easy to rally a comfortable and commercial people to assume the responsibilities of a great power."

There are several things wrong with this paragraph, but the notion that conservatives have ever sought to rally the American to assume the responsibilities of a great power is certainly the most objectionable.  In fact, the failure to rally the American people is one of the greatest failings of the conservative movement. 

Go back and read Barry Goldwater famous "extremism in the defense of liberty. Now that was an unwavering and unambiguous call for national sacrifice!  Didn't work out so well. And since then conservatives have been more than happy to let the American people off the hook when it comes to assuming the responsibilities of a great power.

Indeed, in the 1980s, Ronald Reagan was happy to talk tough on Communism and increase defense spending to destroy the Soviet Union, but when it came to asking the American people to sacrifice, he instead cut taxes AND spending on programs that benefited those Americans most in need.

As for our current President his rallying of the American people has been a true national disgrace. Not only did he cut taxes IN WARTIME, not only has he made no effort to encourage conservation so as to lessen our reliance on foreign oil, but basically the only sacrifice he has ever asked of the American people . . . was to go to the mall and spend money. In George Bush's America, the only people who have to sacrifice are those who loyally and selflessly choose to serve their country.

What is so ironic about Kristol's encomium to the selfless conservative movement is that it's in fact progressives who have consistently called on Americans to sacrifice; it is progressives who have actually challenged the American people; and it is progressives who have had the guts to occasionally speak unpleasant truths to the American people. This has been the case among great progressive leaders, from Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, Adlai Stevenson and John F Kennedy to Jimmy Carter (remember the malaise speech), Bill Clinton (Americorps) and now Barack Obama today.

Conservative government under Ronald Reagan and George Bush has been characterized not by patriotic sacrifice, but instead by selfishness; lowering taxes for the most well-off, cutting spending for those most in need of a helping hand; scapegoating the most vulnerable in our society and demanding little to no sacrifice from the American people, even in a time of war. 

If Bill Kristol wants to know why "it’s not easy to make the case for the traditional virtues in the face of the seductions of liberation, or to speak of duties in a world of rights and of honor in a nation pursuing pleasure" maybe he should shine a spotlight on those in the conservative movement who have been more focused on turning government into a four letter word then ever challenging the American people to give of themselves for the national good.

Maybe that's why so many conservatives have been enamored of Barack Obama - they finally figured out what they've been missing all these years.

Comments

[Americaneocon]

Sacrifice?

That's your critique of Kristol? Not particularly compelling. It's not like we're experiencing 25 percent unemployment under FDR. Now that's sacrifice!

I think you forget that Republicans have dominated American politics 5 out of the last 7 presidential elections. Goldwater was a man before his time.

Kristol's right that "movement" conservatives will be consigned to irrelevancy should they miss the Straight Talk pulling away from the station.

[Mike M.]

I do wonder what you mean by sacrifice, Michael. I agree with your critique of course, which is that you can't have everything the way the Republicans seem to want. You can't cut taxes on the wealthy and then spend hundreds of billions on a war and occupation. But that's just practical thinking. You seem to be arguing that more needs to be asked of the American people. I'm wondering what you want? A mandatory national service program, perhaps? Seems to me that the people who support that tend to be old enough that they won't be called on to serve in it. Higher taxes across the board? That's a tough sell to pay for a war that most people want out of...

So you're right about Kristol but I'm much more interested in hearing more about what you want from the American people.

[Zathras]

This sounds like dueling talking points to me. Perhaps Michael Cohen is angling for a spot on the New York Times Op-Ed page.

"Progressives," as liberals now choose to call themselves, out on the campaign trail aren't arguing for sacrifice on health care or the environment. They are telling voters they can have universal health care and have someone else ("the rich") pay the bill; they are demanding bold action on climate change that will bring forth new technologies and create lots of jobs without higher energy prices. Unpleasant truths? The only Presidential candidate who has been willing to tell any of those and is still in the race is John McCain.

Coincidentally McCain frequently invokes the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt. I suppose one could argue about the extent to which McCain really upholds Roosevelt's political tradition. But Jimmy Carter?

[Neil]

Cohen is right that Kristol attributes a characteristic of the conservative movement "selflessness" that does not exist now, and has been rarely in existence in the past.

Now, and conservatives know it, government is all about reaching into the national treasury to direct business to political contributors and friends of BushCo. It is alarming the extent to which no bid contracts and slimy procurement deals have enriched loyal members of the GOP. There isn't even any pretense of competitive bidding or executive oversight over their performance.

In fact, that the conservative movement lined up "unanimously" behind Bush when he went into Iraq - a pre-emptive war of choice - to disarm Saddam of biological and nuclear weapons. It is another example of conservatives’ bad judgment but more importantly their abandonment of their traditional values, in this case, accepting fraudulent evidence in lieu of a clear and present threat to our national security.

"If Bill Kristol wants to know why "it’s not easy to make the case for the traditional virtues in the face of the seductions of liberation, or to speak of duties in a world of rights and of honor in a nation pursuing pleasure" maybe he should shine a spotlight on those in the conservative movement who have been more focused on turning government into a four letter word then ever challenging the American people to give of themselves for the national good.

Maybe that's why so many conservatives have been enamored of Barack Obama - they finally figured out what they've been missing all these years."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[democrac]

I think you forget that Republicans have dominated American politics 5 out of the last 7 presidential elections. Goldwater was a man before his time.

Kristol's right that "movement" conservatives will be consigned to irrelevancy should they miss the Straight Talk pulling away from the station.

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[firmala]

good archives thanks you

[fiir]

good archives thanks you
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[m3i zero]

Additionally,I would say when the primaries are over, if McCain has won the day, don’t sulk and don’t sit it out. Don’t pretend there’s no difference between a candidate who’s committed to winning in Iraq and a Democratic nominee who embraces defeat. Don’t tell us that it doesn’t matter if the next president voted to confirm John Roberts and Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court, or opposed them.