Neocon, Neocon, Who Art Thou, Neocon?

What is a Neo-conservative?

Published on May 9, 2005 By Eastern Diamondback In Politics

Over the weekend I brought the family back home to Chicago for Mother's Day. My aunt (mom's sister), her husband, and my cousins dropped by my parents' house for the barbeque. While eating, one of my cousins let his opinion be known about "Neocons."

Last year my friend, his wife, and I were talking and somehow Pat Buchanan's book The Death of the West came up. She then went on a tirade about "Neocons" and how they hate Mexicans.

I've heard Donald Rumsfeld being chastised for being a "Neocon." I've read references to the "Neocon Death Cult" (not just here).

So I ask this to everyone. What is a neo-conservative, or a neocon? I'm not asking for names, but rather characteristics.

Please, I'm not looking for wikipedia entries. Just what you personally think.

Comments (Page 3)

Lee1776

on May 09, 2005

Here is another miss used label: Pregressive

Love it when liberals call themselves Progressive too. When most of them have not spoken a progressive thing in the last ten years.

thatoneguyinslc

on May 09, 2005

Neo = New

Conservative = Anyone who's political beliefs that are slightly to the left of Ghengis Khan.
(Before you all get mad at me, an ARCH conservative friend told me that joke)

So if the math is right...Neo + conservative = NEO-CON!

One definition that i agreed with is when it is used to describe someone who was formally a liberal and switched sides.

But what do i know...I'm just a LLL. Were clueless!

kingbee

on May 09, 2005

"liberal goal through conservative means"

relatively close as a description of foreign policy (if one accepts wilsonian imperialism as 'liberal').

the reverse ("conservative goals through liberal means") is much more true when describing neocon fiscal/social strategy.

the strauss/kristol fascination with machiavelli provides overall structure: our goals through any means.

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