Can real conservatism ever be a respectable movement again or has Bush ruined it for us?

Question

If you would like an example of what I mean by real conservatism please check here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Goldwater

"Goldwater rejected the key programs and viewpoints of the New Deal and fought inside the Conservative Coalition to defeat the New Deal coalition. After 1981, however, the influence of the Christian Right on the Republican Party so conflicted with Goldwater's libertarian views that he openly voiced his opposition."

If you don't feel like reading the link above, which I'm sure many of you won't, here's an excerpt.

Answer 1

Good question. I looked at your profile, I don't like the comparison of Bush and Fascism. Fascism has a connotation that when people make that comparison, one thinks of Nazi's. But I do agree that Bush is no conservative, like Goldwater. I believe in individual rights, (which the congress and the president just crapped on with the suspension of harbeas corpus for "enemy combatants"), small government, respect for the Constitution, free market. Which means I oppose the other side of the fence. But what I really oppose is Liberal agenda, socialism, group rights over individual rights, and big government. So when you ask, has Bush ruined it for us, he is closer than Kerry, and there was my vote, so my vote was for a glimmer of conservatism, not true conservatism. The way for the conservative movement to be respectable is a return to true Goldwater values, and it appears a fiscally conservative, small government Libertarian is the right choice, unfortunately, I don't get the opportunity to vote for one.

Answer 2

Real conservatism can. Bush is not of that stripe, just another smoke-screen to get votes. No true conservative would make such horrific or so many attacks against the Constitution, the law he has sworn to protect.

Goldwater was a Conservative. Bush and the whole neocon bush-league are not conservative any more than they are Christians (or as they say "Goofy").

Answer 3

Blaming Bush for the GOP abandoning conservative principles is sort of like blaming your pencil for misspelled words, isn't it?

Bush is just a mouthpiece. He doesn't set the policy, he just repeats what his puppeteers tell him.

That being said, "conservatism" means different things to different people. For old-school Republicans that means less government, fiscal responsibility, and respect for the Constitution. Three key points which the current GOP has forgotten.

That particular interpretation of "conservatism" is not currently part of American politics.

Answer 4

You are reading too much of the likes of "The NY Times," and watching too much CBS television. The conservative movement is hearty, in spite of the dying screams of the left-wingers. We will remain strong, too. Strong and good and decent, just like President Bush.

Answer 5

depends on what real conservatism means to you. Bush is not real conservatism to me because he spends too much money, wants government to be too big, and uses the military as the world police.

Answer 6

I am not conservative.. but I have no doubt it can and will be recovered. Nixon screwed things up pretty bad but they recovered. Once Bush and all taste of him and his cronies are gone.. many of us will feel free to vote Republican again.

Answer 7

acutally Bush has done nothing but it is the polarization of the parties, and the extent that each party will go to, and attempets to discredit from making up things, twisting all the facts and digging up info going back to thier high school or grade school.

It will only get worst, not that the political people are worst, but that each side is going be fighting alot more dirty as the future goes on.

Answer 8

Goldwater started it, Bush ended it

Answer 9

I think the compasionate conservative will become the new left.

Answer 10

Maybe in a generation or 2.