Do you even know what a Neocon is?

[lendaddy]

Thom used this term in another thread and it got me wondering. Those of you on the left throw this term around as a synonym for fascist, or almost nazi, but I wonder if you even know what it is. Heck I hear it in the mainstream media and they don't seem to get it either. Heck I didn't know till late last year when I researched it because I was being called one I see this as a tired attempt to associate a negative with an otherwise benign term (like we did with liberal) Don't want to be one of those now.

But seriously what do you guys think it means?

[widebody911]

Neo Conservative aka "new conservatives"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoconservatism_(United_States)

In short, Project for the New American Century (PNAC) founders, members, and their groupies (like you, Lendaddy)

[pwd72s]

On a recent show, Rush said that whenever liberals spout "neocon" they really mean Jewish conservative, but of course they wouldn't say that...

[widebody911]

Originally posted by pwd72s
On a recent show, Rush said that whenever liberals spout "neocon" they really mean Jewish conservative, but of course they wouldn't say that...

Sounds like he's trying to paint the aggressor as the victim.

[ubiquity0]

It doesn't really mean anything. Like you say it is only a negative stereotype to apply to anyone who disagrees so that nothing needs to be substatiated. (Well at least its used by people who are not comfortable with applying the 'liberal' stereotype to someone who disagrees with them)

[Moneyguy1]

I think ubiquity has it right. It is simply a word used by some to dismiss the arguments and viewpoints of those with whom they do not agree. Both sides do it when their own arguments hold no water. As for Rush, one has to remember he is simply an entertainer with no depth. Like so many so-called "commentators". Folks like him do nothing to clarify and profit at the angst they produce by their devisive words. Those who are true believers of folks like Rush (and others on both sides of the fence)who take advantage of the public's fears need to get a life and start thinking for themselves.

That ain't gonna happen.....

[widebody911]

Sorry guys, but NeoCons do exist. If you're ashamed to be counted among them, that's a different story.

[lendaddy]

He's right, they do exist, it's a real movement. Still haven't seen it described properly as I understand it. Hint, It started back in the 60's.

[island911]

Hillary must be a Neo-Lib.

[island911]

. . .oh, and Hillary, the vast-parinoia-peddling Neo-Lib -- Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[stevepaa]

It seems to me it came to forefront in last ten years. It has a socially conservative part based upon local morals which in most areas means Christian fundamentalists promoting their view of life, marriage and family to the exclusion of other peoples civil rights.

On the foreign policy side, it has gone beyond the Kennedy era viewpoint of defending liberty where it exists, and has injected a moralistic view to promoting the violent overthrow of regimes deemed evil. While liberals like myself would deem these regimes that violate their peoples civil rights as abhorent, I would prefer peaceful means to achieve the desired goal of liberty.
I think neo-cons would say the ends justify the means, whereas liberals want the same ends but are not willing to accept the same means.

[Jeff Higgins]

I think the term came about because "conservative" simply does not inspire fear and loathing in anyone. There is no threatening or radical undertone lurking in the background. The "neo" prefix adds that connotation. Notice no such prefix is required for "liberal"; it stands alone as a term that inspires fear and loathing. It has all the threatening and radical undertones it needs to survive on its own.

[nostatic]

wikipedia rocks

[bryanthompson]

There is no threatening or radical undertone lurking in the background. The "neo" prefix adds that connotation.

How about neo-Liberal or über-Liberal. No, the über makes it sound 31337, which we can't have... I do like 'neoliberal' though.

[GettinHeadStuds]

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
It has all the threatening and radical undertones it needs to survive on its own.

True: Fascists, communists, and Nazis have always feared liberals. Fascism, in many respects, is an ideology of negativism: anti-liberal, anti-socialist, anti-Communist, anti-democratic, anti-egalitarian, etc., and in some of its forms anti-religion. As a political and economic system in Italy, it combined elements of corporatism, totalitarianism, nationalism, and anti-communism.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascist)

Liberals challenge the status quo for the better of all. Anti-liberals wish to maintain the status quo to cement and protect their power.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by nostatic
wikipedia rocks

Thanks, that is cool.

[island911]

Originally posted by widebody911
. .

Liberals challenge the status quo for the better of all. Anti-liberals wish to maintain the status quo to cement and protect their power.

Right! . .how else can we have government studies, of government studies, that chase their own tail?

. . . but at least it's expensive.

edit: thing is; challenging EVERY "status quo" is just a mark of a neophyte. . .or is that neoLib?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by widebody911
Liberals challenge the status quo for the better of all. Anti-liberals wish to maintain the status quo to cement and protect their power.

If that were all ther were to it, I think many more of us would be behind them. Unfortunately, it's not. See Slacker's post on the bastardization of the term "liberal"; it captures where they have gone awry and how many of us perceive modern liberalism.

[dd74]

Originally posted by lendaddy
But seriously what do you guys think it means?

New conservatives. Those who like to mix religion with state, are vitriol, and think SOP Americans can't make decisions on their own, godlessly or otherwise.

But I don't worry. Like wedgie shoes, Neocons too will have their day of fading fashion.