The Conservative Temperament Is Dooming America
RealClear Politics,
by
Bruce Abramson
Original Article
Posted By: earlybird,
9/17/2021 11:48:59 AM
William F. Buckley’s desire to “stand athwart history and yell ‘Stop!’” described a personality type more than a political agenda. Conservatives, by well-earned reputation, tend to revere traditions and institutions, trust authority, and favor measured, incremental change. Dana Carvey’s impersonation of George H.W. Bush caricatured the type brilliantly: “Wouldn’t be prudent, wouldn’t be prudent at this juncture.”
Without knocking prudence, however, shouting “Stop!” is only a smart strategy when you’re ahead. It doesn’t help when you’re losing. (snip)Stopping time now would enshrine the stupidity, cruelty, and moral bankruptcy of radical leftist wokeism.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
Dodge Boy 9/17/2021 12:10:33 PM (No. 917563)
FTA - "With that message broadcast across America, the left will win in a rout. If the right wants to fight, it’s going to have to jettison its collective conservative temperament and embrace personalities capable of leading a restorationist movement."
Here we go again. Where is the "in your face temperament" among the right? Still missing in action. What's it going to take for the unwoke to finally rise up and raise holy hell?
44 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
stablemoney 9/17/2021 12:16:44 PM (No. 917571)
The only people that follow the constitution are the conservatives. The left follows their wants.
61 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
earlybird 9/17/2021 12:20:53 PM (No. 917578)
FTA:
Many of today’s rising conservative stars promise to build a far bolder GOP. Ted Cruz, Ron DeSantis, Rand Paul, and Jim Jordan may be less extreme personalities than Donald Trump, but they share his willingness to reject corrupt authority, challenge prevailing narratives, and promote strategic noncompliance.
If Trump can forge this younger generation into a sustainable restorationist movement, he will emerge as one of the most consequential figures in American history. If not, he will be remembered as a controversial speedbump on America’s glidepath into wokeness.
36 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
kidsmom 9/17/2021 12:36:00 PM (No. 917598)
Spot on. I think the mandates may be the tipping point.
27 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
Rolltide 9/17/2021 12:50:24 PM (No. 917614)
Isn’t Trump the personality type we need to fight back.....lead the fight as a fighter who actually fights and calls liberals and their horrible policies out? He may be coarse but gosh he loves America, is a true leader who doesn’t back down, and the weak republicans who think it’s beneath them to fight back because it is unseemly are losing this country! They really don’t care! They Dems and progressives are laughing as the spineless republicans sit back and won’t support Trump and his supporters who see that this current state of our country is a war and must be won now. This is the Hill.
39 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Rama41 9/17/2021 12:54:05 PM (No. 917618)
This thoughtful article spells out what needs to be done. My wish is that Donald Trump begins to see himself as first and foremost the mentor of the generation that can pull us out of the fire.
44 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
ARKfamily 9/17/2021 1:15:42 PM (No. 917636)
From the article: "The GOP has spent decades promoting respectable, cautious, incrementalists like Mitch McConnell, John Roberts, and Kevin McCarthy—fine men blessed with none of the skills necessary to lead a counterrevolution."
How can I include John Roberts in the adjectives used? Respectable - not really certain when there is a John Roberts on the Jeffrey Epstein log?
In spite of that one statement, it is a good article to read. We definitely to think outside the box with liberals and I know exactly how. Just don't know if anyone would care to listen. . .
14 people like this.
How do we rid the right of woke cowards? I’m not sure it’s possible anymore!
19 people like this.
"Mitch McConnell, John Roberts, and Kevin McCarthy—fine men ..."
Come on man!
27 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
KatieJo 9/17/2021 2:07:06 PM (No. 917679)
This is why I loved Andrew Breitbart so much. He went right for the jugular and did not play by the "white glove" rules that the RINO's pretend to play by. I say pretend because they are not on our side, they are on the other side pretending to be the loyal opposition. We need him so much, but sadly he's gone.
26 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Dr. Constant 9/17/2021 2:26:25 PM (No. 917718)
I have been called many names by many conservatives when I point out that we must learn to fight dirty like liberals.
If you want election reform, cheat like a democrat. But, do it with the goal of showing democrats how evil they are. There is no longer any high road to be taken. Use the same tactics the left does, do so plainly saying you started this, you did it first, we'll stop when yous s***bags do.
21 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
bighambone 9/17/2021 2:43:49 PM (No. 917745)
While the Democrats are always aggressive and run with a philosophy of getting away with what they can, the so-called conservative Republicans are a bunch of naive wimps, always on the defense, who are ready to hide away anytime the Democrats play their favorite political weapon against those wimpy Republicans, and that weapon is the so-called race card that has worked every time. Until that scenario changes the wimpy Republicans will always play second fiddle to the aggressively emerging leftist and socialist Democrats.
10 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
Sanchin 9/17/2021 2:45:12 PM (No. 917748)
Spot on in describing the GOP and their approach via incrementalism towards change. The resistance towards change is the fear they will lose their personal power and influence and it is not about losing control of "academia, K-12, the media, Silicon Valley, Hollywood, Wall Street, the civil service, the unions, most professional organizations, and corporate boardrooms." The GOP and Democrats are not about bettering this country for the majority of the population but instead, maintaining and increasing their and their party's power and influence. Unfortunatley the GOP has always been poor at marketing themselves (Exception Ronald Reagan) because they really have never had anything to offer other than perhaps the illusion of security (economic stability and growth was misdirection that allowed corporates and banks become to big to fail). GOP's only succes has been when the other guy is just so much worse (Trump was diferent because he was not GOP and the GOP failed with Jeb). Great article but it will take a Trump willing to do away with all suggested political advisors recommended by the GOP to fully move ahead.
9 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
Blue-Z-Anna 9/17/2021 2:57:12 PM (No. 917757)
The Right offers only opportunity and hard work. How can we compete with the Easter Bunny? Without honest elections only violence is left. That's quite a dilemma.
17 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
Timber Queen 9/17/2021 2:59:16 PM (No. 917758)
Yesterday we had the most unusual day that left us, in the end, hopeful for the young. About mid-day I heard anguished screams of pain from a man coming from our neighbors place. I ran home to grab my car keys and as I was about to get in my car I saw the 21-year-old son of our neighbors coming into our yard. As I ran to him I could see he was in great distress and had walked the quarter mile on a gravel road barefoot. He collapsed to the ground crying that he had been kicked out of the house. I held his shoulders as he cried it out and helped him into our home.
He had told his parents that his girlfriend is pregnant and they want to get married and begin their family. He would leave school to get a job to support his wife and baby. His parents insisted that they abort the baby. He would be ruining his life and all their dreams for him. Those were the first screams I heard. I told him he was right by supporting life and wanting to care for his love and his child. I shared with him about my abortion experience and that it is devastating to both the woman and the man. His girlfriends parents are supportive and happy to have him as a son-in-law. He stayed with us the whole day talking at the kitchen table and the evening on the deck. TK was awesome. He also shared with us the "fake zoom college experience" and the dehumanizing propaganda in his classes. He is a frustrated and very angry young man. He hates the progressivism and atheism in which he was raised.
He stayed the night in our cabin. This morning I gave him a ride into town to his friends house that had borrowed his car, where he also had a "crash" bedroom. He was going to pack up his things and drive to Trinity County to his girlfriend's family's home. I told him I was proud of him and loved him, and looking forward to meeting his wife. Although he's a young man in crisis, I believe he will find his way. God will bless them both for choosing life. And with life comes all Hope.
40 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
privateer 9/17/2021 3:09:20 PM (No. 917764)
There are some misspellings in this article. In part, it should read: Mitch McConnell, John Roberts, and Kevin McCarthy—craven, treacherous weasels blessed with no desire to lead a counterrevolution."
20 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
bpl40 9/17/2021 3:19:44 PM (No. 917776)
Couldn't agree more. As I have pointed out a couple of times on this site. If we want to save the Republic we must show up at the polling booth with a ballot in one hand and a pitchfork in the other.
9 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
starboard 9/17/2021 3:26:18 PM (No. 917784)
I agree with much in the article and that conservatives have been in a coma. The gloves need to come off yesterday and we need to hit the radicals hard and not stop until we destroy them. It's called the Take No Prisoners approach. Remember, they are demonic. Look what is happening right in front of our eyes.
We also need new leadership at the grass roots level and then all the way up the ladder. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz and a few others need support. Everyone in government that has a R or I after their name must stand up to the Radicals. Just remember, we are going to win this fight. I think it was Reagan that once said... Here's my strategy on the Cold War: we win, they lose.
9 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
DVC 9/17/2021 4:14:11 PM (No. 917843)
Thanks for sharing, TQ. Sounds like the young man is better than his parents.
Good that you took the time to support him when he desperately needed some support.
Best wishes for the couple to get themselves and their lives and their new baby on track.
11 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
Geoman 9/17/2021 4:38:00 PM (No. 917892)
FTA: "The GOP has spent decades promoting respectable, cautious, incrementalists like Mitch McConnell, John Roberts, and Kevin McCarthy—fine men blessed with none of the skills necessary to lead a counterrevolution."
"Conservatives, by well-earned reputation, tend to revere traditions and institutions, trust authority, and favor measured, incremental change."
I differ somewhat with the author, who seems to posit that incrementalism is a conscious conservative policy making choice. Instead, incrementalism, as a theory in public policy making, is more of a pragmatic realization that given a predominate two party political system and the pendulum of public opinion as exemplified in who gets enough votes to be elected every 2, 4, or 6 years to various legislative bodies and executive positions local, state, and federal. Incrementalism is more born of the necessity to compromise to get legislation passed. For example if a majority Republican Senate tacks amendments onto a majority democrat House bill, the bill and amendments go to a Conference Committee made up of negotiators from both houses of Congress. Consequently, neither side typically gets everything it wants but rather the compromise is manifest as incremental change. With leadership of the two houses of Congress in flux, the more incrementalism is necessary to get any policy decision before the president for signature to become public law or to undo a previously enacted public law. In organization theory, Charles Lindblom was credited with recognizing incrementalism in 1959. Like Max Weber decades before him. Lindblom was not openly advocating incrementalism but rather describing the as-is situation in public and private organizations. Weber was often blamed for advocating for the bureaucracy; however, Weber was simply describing the attributes of a bureaucratic organization: hierarchy of authority, specialization and technical qualification, written rules, and span of control.
Lindblom argued that the "synoptic model" for informed decision making, premised on a complete assessment of values, alternatives, costs and benefits, requires far too much information, far too much calculation, and far too much value consensus to be persuasive as a model of how decisions are made. Equally important, it urges a change agenda premised on central direction by enlightened utility maximizers (the elite - or our betters). Most conservatives would agree that such a model is not a recipe for policy success. Good or bad, incrementalism allows for some trial and error decisions and corrections to me made while developing and implementing public policy change. I think what Abramson was attributing to incrementalism as a conservative attribute, in 2021, it could better be described as cowardice, something our leaders across the board on the right seem to possess.
Although I'm not firmly planted in Trump's A-men corner, I have to hand it to him: He's no coward and neither does he advocate for incremental Make America Great Again baby steps. I'm definitely in his corner on that, even if I choose not to worship the acronym.
2 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
udanja99 9/17/2021 4:40:34 PM (No. 917899)
God bless you, TK! Back in the 90’s I talked a young woman out of getting an abortion by telling her my own experience with 9 years of fertility treatments which ended in 2 miscarriages, one of which almost killed me, and finally the adoption of our daughter. She married the father and they had that baby plus another one, both boys.
9 people like this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
danu 9/17/2021 4:47:40 PM (No. 917912)
God is still on His Throne; the timing is according to His plan not ours. See American Revolution v. 1.0 for further information.
6 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
Rinktum 9/17/2021 5:20:27 PM (No. 917953)
Agree with the premise that we need strong, bold and determined leadership. We have the right message and there could not be a better time to champion it. We’ve seen it work during the Trump administration and now have seen the devastation that Biden’s administration has wrought. The difference in political philosophy could not be clearer. It has gotten to the point where it is a battle between good and evil. We have to seriously go after democrats. Expose their hypocrisy and anti-American polices that are actually harming this country. Exposing unimaginable corruption by the political class maybe the reason that many of our Republican leaders are quiet. I doubt they have clean hands and they know democrats will expose them. Nevertheless, we must save the Republic. The days of the deep state and swamp dwellers must come to an end. This is our government and we have take it back from both friend and foe and restore it to its rightful place in the hands of the American people. We have a happy warrior in President Trump and we need an army of likeminded individuals with the same passion to restore this great country. I hope many elected Republican will wake up and realize fighting back is our only option.
#15, Timber Queen, you have made an indelible impression on that young man. You and your husband’s care, concern and loving kindness will be something he takes with him his entire life. I pray that his parents will find it in their hearts to reconcile with him. However, I believe he made the only decision that he could have in the situation. God bless him. I will remember him in my prayers. BTW, I have always admired you, TQ, and never more than today.
9 people like this.
Reply 24 - Posted by:
Trump'sCousin 9/17/2021 5:46:59 PM (No. 917978)
Ladies and gents ... SNAP OUT OF IT!
There's only one way out of this. It's what we've been stockpiling all the Fn guns and ammo for!!
3 people like this.
Reply 25 - Posted by:
Lawsy0 9/17/2021 6:30:28 PM (No. 918020)
My first response: ''Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?''
My second response: Come over here so I can kick you in the butt.
2 people like this.
Reply 26 - Posted by:
doctorfixit 9/17/2021 6:35:25 PM (No. 918028)
Conservatism never delivered anything other than tax cuts and perpetual foreign wars. Its a bankrupt ideology. I think there needs to be an ideology that actively and aggressively seeks out and destroys socialism.
4 people like this.
Reply 27 - Posted by:
Kate318 9/17/2021 6:47:02 PM (No. 918048)
The only name you will ever hear me call you, #11, is fellow patriot and warrior.
5 people like this.
Reply 28 - Posted by:
MDConservative 9/17/2021 7:21:10 PM (No. 918080)
Ok, #24...see you at the Village Green. Awaiting your orders...like, who do we shoot?
This article, as others recently, simply fail to grasp the game. It's not ideology, rather profiteering. And the easiest way to keep the regular folks from recognizing the central plot is to give them shiny objects, from unsolvable issues (see abortion, gun control, immigration, add your own) to chaos (BLM/ANTIFA/INSURRECTION, masks and vaccination decrees, questionable elections, "defeat" in Afghanistan, $3.5 trillion in infrastructure, COVIDS ad nauseum, add you own).
The American public is not all that bright - explain Instagram, for example. They stand around waiting to be told. Following the crowd is their idea of "freedom". Gimme dat = Social justice. Knowledge is something "influencers" pass on through pop culture and media.
We are all spectators at a national political and "business" pro wrasslin' spectacular. The UNIPARTY is in charge, now that Trump is gone, and they have four years to make up. Our Federal government has spent over $10 TRILLION so far "rescuing" the nation from the economically destructive grips of COVIDS. It spent a mere $8 TRILLION "saving" Afghanistan. It is teeing up another $3.5 TRILLION for "infrastructure". Why not? After the obligatory kabuki to satisfy the boobs, Mitch will come to a "best we could do" deal. The money will flow. Mutual funds will swell. The boobs will complain about the rich...
"...conservatism has always held a particular attraction for people who view prudence, risk-aversion, reverence, and obedience as virtues." Now, let's not have trouble. It could go on my permanent record. And I got church a couple nights...
It may be God's plan, but then things don't always work out well for the righteous "good guys." Stuff happens...nice looking pyramids there.
2 people like this.
Reply 29 - Posted by:
bigfatslob 9/17/2021 8:06:36 PM (No. 918114)
This is a great article with a few missteps like the three chumps mentioned, republicans just playing footsie when they should be fighting. The leftist are winning being bold while doing it while we hold out for two elections like we can win them. California was the bellwether no we won't win the left own the store, all of it. We talk second amendment buying guns and ammo then we wake up one day the nation is complete communist and we never fired a shot neither did the left. A General JCS just participated in a real coup with nothing to fear while he hears scathing accusations for republicans, Meh. It's over folks we are there and lost it can only be physical now separate from the union ignore the government to choke them off. Rebel and reject them ignore their demands just say no but quarantine them where they stand don't let them rule us. Force them to become physical with their CRT General to see what happens create a Bunker Hill invite them to act with force.
1 person likes this.
Reply 30 - Posted by:
Italiano 9/17/2021 8:13:11 PM (No. 918118)
And the oh-so-predictable response from the GOPe castrati and Never Trump self-appointed "intellectual elites" will be, as it always is...
Wait for it.
"We're better than that."
2 people like this.
Reply 31 - Posted by:
Trump'sCousin 9/17/2021 8:41:02 PM (No. 918147)
Who knows poster 28
We have no leader or plan
1 person likes this.
Comments:
Don Surber highlighted this article today. I am applauding him and Abramson. It should be a Must Read for every one of us. Thanks, Don.