Krugman: Bush has strayed from true conservatism? He's the very model of it.

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Same Old Party
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: October 8, 2007

There have been a number of articles recently that portray President Bush as someone who strayed from the path of true conservatism. Republicans, these articles say, need to return to their roots....Mr. Bush hasn’t strayed from the path at all. On the contrary, he’s the very model of a modern movement conservative....

***

(NOTE: Krugman presents a long litany of precedents for things Bush has done that people "claim to be shocked" about, ending with the following two.)

People claim to be shocked at the Bush administration’s attempts to equate dissent with treason. But Goldwater — who, like Reagan, has been reinvented as an icon of conservative purity but was a much less attractive figure in real life — staunchly supported Joseph McCarthy, and was one of only 22 senators who voted against a motion censuring the demagogue.

Above all, people claim to be shocked by the Bush administration’s authoritarianism, its disdain for the rule of law. But a full half-century has passed since The National Review proclaimed that “the White community in the South is entitled to take such measures as are necessary to prevail,” and dismissed as irrelevant objections that might be raised after “consulting a catalogue of the rights of American citizens, born Equal” — presumably a reference to the document known as the Constitution of the United States.

Now, as they survey the wreckage of their cause, conservatives may ask themselves: “Well, how did we get here?” They may tell themselves: “This is not my beautiful Right.” They may ask themselves: “My God, what have we done?” But their movement is the same as it ever was. And Mr. Bush is movement conservatism’s true, loyal heir.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/08/opinion/08krugman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[Swamp Rat]

1. Bushler has been spending our money like a drunken sailor.

I wouldn't call that conservative.

[aquart]

3. Oh, those low-class parvenu boots.

I don't care how much they cost. Only trash would wear them.

[Swamp Rat]

5. Little Boots Bushler will get you for that!

:D

[Marr]

6. It's big "C" Conservativism to the core.

Reagan did the same. They funnel heaps of tax money to a narrow group of political donors by way of the war industry. The hope is to give so much to themselves and their friends that there's nothing left for society. That's definitely Conservatism. It's very Reaganesque.

[Swamp Rat]

8. I know, I just wanted an excuse to call Bushler a drunken sailor.

:D

[loudsue]

16. But look at history: "conservatives" ALWAYS spend like drunken sailors.

The confusion is, they're not conserv-ation-ists, they're "conservatives": they want to "conserve" the bulk of the money in the hands of the few, and spend tax dollars (especially on war) like it's their own private checking account.

The only thing "conservatives" (i.e., mostly the republican party) want to do is to PREVENT tax money from going to members of the general population and/or our infrastructure. Eisenhower & Nixon didn't mind tossing a few crumbs to the rest of the country, but that was just for show.

[JeffR]

2. Krugman riffing on Talking Heads

excellent...!

[Marr]

4. A very important point, yes. There's a big push to distance Bush from conservatism right now.

He's the conservative poster boy. Some want to ignore that fact so they can sell their scam again, and others are simply blind ideologues who cannot accept that their ideas, when put into practice, are the Bush Administration.

[charlie]

7. Yes-yes-yes-yes-yes. Yes!

Every time I hear that bilge recasting Bushco as some kind of aberration and lumpen conservadroids as betrayed victims I want to plank someone in the head. We're "governed" by Murder Inc because idiot Mom and Pop conservatives defended Movement Conservatism with blood, fangs, and spittle every step of the way. Their snarling triumphalism reached a frightening crescendo under Bush and now they're unhappy because they've gotten exactly what they've been squalling for?? Fuck them, fuck them twice.

[fujiyama]

9. He's absolutely right

This myth that conservatives want to "reduce the size of government" or are "fiscally responsible" is just that - a myth.

Republicans, well before even Nixon have constantly expanded the scope of government into people's personal lives.

Let's see - Nixon started the DEA and the "War on Drugs". Reagan expanded on that and spent BILLIONS on defense. It wasn't until Clinton we had a government that tried to be fiscally responsible in any sense of the term. Under each republican administration I see new czars, new departments, and more expansion. Bush is just continuing a tradition and just expanded on it.

Unfortunately, there is little understanding of this, and many on our side perpetuate this myth. Hell our front runner said she was "grateful for republican values she was raised on" on Letterman. I wonde what the hell kind of values those are.

[pnwmom]

10. Krugman nails it again. Let's put this on the Greatest Page. Recommended. n/t

[pnwmom]

11. One more recommend will do it -- please????

[opihimoimoi]

12. "How did we get here?" You can only fool the People part of the TIME

In the end, Truth will Prevail.....

[DeepModem Mom]

13. a.m. kick

[unblock]

14. did ... did the krugman just channel david byrne!?

he ... he truly does RAWK!!!

:headbang:

[bigbrother05]

15. Same as they ever were! k&r