tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149446.post9128859446250690390..comments2023-10-10T10:34:10.843-06:00Comments on The Nexus of Assholery: Conservatism's Man to WatchPatrick Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592482865332628189noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149446.post-58277118299644926092009-03-20T19:01:00.000-06:002009-03-20T19:01:00.000-06:00I agree. Both the Republican party and conservatis...I agree. Both the Republican party and conservatism -- both in America and elsewhere -- need people like Schwarzenegger and John and Meghan McCain.Patrick Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12268876306800933642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149446.post-29755474898203510672009-03-20T18:35:00.000-06:002009-03-20T18:35:00.000-06:00"Those who say we could have balanced the budget t...<I>"Those who say we could have balanced the budget through spending cuts alone are guilty of political cynicism at its worst. Those are not serious people," Schwarzenegger recently said. "Those who say we could balance the budget through tax increases alone reveal their total economic ignorance and lack of math skills. Their grasp of economics must come from living on a hippie commune or something like that".</I><BR/><BR/>*wipes away another tear*<BR/><BR/>That was beautiful. Too bad he can't run for President. <BR/><BR/><I>Reagan's administration was particularly notorious for his contribution to the rise of right-wing conservatism - the sort that's populated by Christian fundamentalists of Pat Robertson and Falwell's ilk. From what I've read, older generation conservatives like William Buckley and Goldwater pretty much disowned the GOP when this happened.</I><BR/><BR/>This strongly reminds me of what happened with the Canadian conservative movement in the 1980s after Brian Mulroney was elected, which was ironically around the same time that Thatcher and Reagan came to power in their own countries-the old guard conservatives largely being shunted aside by the new Milton Friedman-esque conservative movement. <BR/><BR/>The historical record plainly shows, too, that Canadian conservatives have had no qualms about intervening in society and the economy, with guys ranging from Macdonald to Bennett to Borden to Diefenbaker to Lougheed to Stanfield all making reforms, hiking social spending, actively seeking new trade opportunities, or otherwise stepping in to complement the activities of the free market. <BR/><BR/>Makes you wonder how any of them would fare if they were running for office today-would they be dismissed as Red Tories, or even as Liberals? <BR/><BR/>There seems to be another sea change occurring today in conservative circles, with the likes of Meaghan McCain and the Governator running up against the likes of Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh in determining where the American conservative movement goes next. <BR/><BR/>It's hard to tell if something similar will occur in Canada, although it might-I've come across one or two columns bitterly criticizing Harper for shifting more to the center (<B>and that's supposed to be a bad thing?</B>), and I've long been convinced that the basis for the support the current Conservative government enjoys from Canadians is because of its skilful handling of the bread-and-butter business of Parliament, and passing various useful reforms in fields like immigration, law enforcement, and the military, as opposed to any ideological program of broad and deep tax and spending cuts.Jared Milnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07553795678274087372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149446.post-62377194360693071202009-03-20T18:15:00.000-06:002009-03-20T18:15:00.000-06:00I'm not comparing Schwarzenegger to Regan and sayi...I'm not comparing Schwarzenegger to Regan and saying they're similar. I'm comparing Schwarzenegger to Regan and saying he'd be a better model for conservatives to follow.Patrick Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12268876306800933642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149446.post-18228764454722001072009-03-20T17:52:00.000-06:002009-03-20T17:52:00.000-06:00Just my opinion, but I think it's bad form to comp...Just my opinion, but I think it's bad form to compare the governator (I can't pronounce his last name, sorry)to Ronald Reagan.<BR/><BR/>Reagan's administration was particularly notorious for his contribution to the rise of right-wing conservatism - the sort that's populated by Christian fundamentalists of Pat Robertson and Falwell's ilk. From what I've read, older generation conservatives like William Buckley and Goldwater pretty much disowned the GOP when this happenedContents under pressuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08150798234316773741noreply@blogger.com