What is up with the term "Neo-Conservative"

[Shi Huangdi]

I hear this term being thrown around by the left around to describe our current administration. It seems kind of a pointless term to me, as I really don't see any type of distinguishing between it and plain old standard conservative. It's a term mainly used by people who hate the Bush administration, the only time I heard it used by an actual conservative was as a way of reffering to conservatives who were liberal during the Civil Rights movement. Also, I don't really see how it differs from what the left calls "Neo-Liberalism" Can't the left stick to labeling it's own ideologies?

[oedo]

good morning.
do you have to offer any counter proposal? like (neo)facist? or (neo)cleptocratic?

[chequita guevara]

The difference between neo-conservatives and conservatives is one group actually believes the nonesense (conservatives) and the other group merely uses it as a cover for it's pro-corporate agenda.

[Giancarlo]

Chegitz: Is that so? Everything for you is a corporate conspiracy...

[Dinner]

Che: come on man. You can do better then that.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Oerdin: The sad part is that he can't .

[Dinner]

I know he has it in him. He just has to dig.

[Elok]

I think Neo-conservatives are less openly religious. Or something like that. There's an answer I read once in the Washington Post. It consists of a bunch of aggregated irrelevant ideological differences. Basically no difference. Like New Vanilla Coke, only some people actually like it. They'll give it up eventually.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Elok
I think Neo-conservatives are less openly religious. Or something like that.

But then Bush absolutely can't be a Neo-Conservative.


IMO, its stupid.

[Imran Siddiqui]

"A neoconservative is a liberal who’s been mugged by reality." - Irving Kristol .

Neoconservatism was basically founded by former liberals (actually a lot of them were former Trotskyists), who were disillusioned with the liberal philosophy. They believe that liberal foriegn view doesn't deal with reality and skepticism.

It's a nebulous term... but I understand it to mean those who are for reshaping the world to fit US ideals. They are the ones that actually want to spread democracy and think we are the ones to do it, and by force if needed, even if we have to take out dictators the US formerly supported (neocons didn't support them at the time, btw) to do it.

So, you see, they are a blend of their former liberalism (spreading democracy and freedom) and conservatism (force should be used to do so).

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ah, this Wall Street Journal editorial makes my point as well:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110002840

"Neoconservatives believe in using American might to promote American ideals abroad."

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Che: come on man. You can do better then that.

Not at 11:30 on a Sunday evening when I should have been in bed an hour ago. Bad chegitz will probably be late for work tomorrow. See what happens when Bunnygrrls runs off to San Diego for a week?

[Cruddy]

Anyone who uses the word "Consersative" in this country is immedietely bundled into a group who harp on about "family values" (they shafted everyone when in power) and "the good old days".

The "good old days" featuring such items as dyptheria, polio and Hitler.

So it has truly negative impact from a UK perspective. I'm not saying the Tories don't have some support, but there's only so much you can get from the mentally incapable and those with a short term memory.

Anyway, it's a polite time. How about "corporate murderers", "closet religious nuts" or my personal favourite, "Satan's spawn"?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well anyway, I think I've answered it .

Neocons are delineated by their foreign policy belief that the US should spread American values by might (threatening or actually overthrowing dictatorships). It isn't nearly as derisive as some of the left (and some of the far RIGHT) would like to make it.

On domestic issues they can be a hodgepodge of ideas, but are usually more centrists (which is why the far right wants them out).

[Elok]

Originally posted by Jaguar Warrior
But then Bush absolutely can't be a Neo-Conservative.
IMO, its stupid.

Well, lemme rephrase that: religion is used as a means rather than an end. For all the crap about Bush trying to force his beliefs on us and all that, he's far less zealous than many conservatives. So far as I can tell the methodist thing is lip service to get the America and Apple Pie vote. I can't imagine he actually expected the Faith-based initiatives to go through, really.