Why do neo-cons first deny their existence, then continually state I don't know what a neo is?

Question

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Reagan was the first neo-con elected president.

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His illegal alien amnesty (3.5 million), and his deficit spending resulting in mega inflation is totally symbolic of the neoconservative movement. Reagan created the biggest government in US history.

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Jesi (below), whom I respect may not realize that A) we never need illegal workers to accomplish anything in the US. B) reagan did this as Gov of Cali.

Answer 1

'Neoconservative' has absolutely nothing to do with socialism, liberalism, or neoliberalism, I'm not sure what the people above are talking about. The roots of neoconservativism can be traced back from such eminent neocons as Wolfowitz, Pearle, Rumsfeld and Cheney to political theorist Leo Strauss, who argued that politics is about defining your enemy and killing your enemy before they kill you. Neoconservatism is a violently expansive political ideology, which is reflected today in Bush's National Security Strategy of engagement and pre-emptive warfare.

Why do people not admit they are neocons? Well, maybe if we trace the lineage back we can understand why. Leo Strauss was heavily inspired by the work of Carl Schmitt, a German political theorist who was critical of Wilsonian liberalism (which sought to end war through enlightened discussion, basically). Schmitt argued that politics was not about deliberation or debate (notice the similarities to Bush/Cheney?), but about, again, identifying your enemy and neutralizing your enemy before they can kill you.

And Schmitt was also Hitler's chief jurist, the theorist responsible for justifying Nazi expansionism and the 'final solution'. So neoconservatism (and the American foreign policy it has produced) is an ideology that ultimately derives from Nazi ideas about politics and war - no wonder people don't want to own up to being neoconservative!

Answer 2

Neo simply means new. Politicians and politics loves to make up new catch phrases for people they do not like or approve of.

Old hat conservatives who could be called "radical" do not want their numbers watered down by the new politicos who were in the past considered liberal or even socialistic. They might, for heavens sake vote against some of the radical conservatives long time pet issues...like church and state, war or raising taxes.

We are always all or nothing. I am extremely, maybe even radically liberal...but as I go through life, I have seen that there are some things that I am more comfortable taking a conservative viewpoint on. I am no neocon. I will not compromise my principals to fit into any conservative group, even moderate...but as a citizen of this country I stand by my right to have conservative AND liberal views.

Neocons...more trash talk to try and confuse issues. Think for yourselves people, this is the United States of America. CC

Answer 3

As neo-con godfather Irving Kristol once remarked, a neo-conservative is a ''liberal who was mugged by reality''. True to that description, neo-cons generally originated on the left side of the political spectrum and some times from the far left. Many, such as Kristol himself, have Trotskyite roots that are still reflected in their polemical and organisational skills and ideological zeal.
http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=19618

I thought I was a neo-con but according a questionaire I answered I am more of a libertarian/independent. I was disapointed that I didn't make the cut.

Answer 4

Tell the whole story on Reagan's record spending. The Democratic congress pushed through and passed the largest spending increase on entitlement programs in history, while Reagan was asked for spending to remain where it was or with only small increases except in Defense. The record increase in revenue created by the Reagan tax cuts would have offset the increases in spending that Reagan asked for and actually would have provided a budget surplus.

Answer 5

So taking 3.5 million non-tax paying workers, and putting them onto the tax rolls is neo-con? Sorry Chi Guy Reagan was a paleocon we needed those workers back then.

To ALexandr: neo-liberalism is democratic socialism, it is not neo-conservativism.

Added: Reagan also had an amnesty as President, don't forget. He was a big time liberal as the head of the Actor's Guild but his time at GE turned him conservative when he realized only sucessfull business can drive the economy. Today is his birthday BTW.

tried to send a message but you don't have email... I hope I didn't come across wrong, I was going for teacher, not preacher. I like your questions usually.

Answer 6

sorry you are wrong.. the largest most demon-rat friendly gov in US history was made under the Bush admin,...

bush let kennedy writte the education bill
bush pushed the drug bill
bush with nancy polisk made or is trying to make 21 million illegals ..legal
bush gave away the farm so to speak on alot of issues.. the same with the GOP in the house and senate.. that is one reason why they lost. but never forget 1 thing...

both parties are the same.. they both are heading in the same direction 1 is just in a hurry while the other is taking its time ... in the end the goal is the same.. ALL YOUR MONEY

Answer 7

Well if you claim Reagan was a neocon, then you clearly don't know the difference between classic and neo coservatism.

Answer 8

Who cares what Reagan was he was the best damn president since JFK. And by the way, If you will look at JFK's economic policies you will see that he was just as much a Neo-Con as Reagan.

Answer 9

Simple... because being a neo-con is something to be ashamed of.

Answer 10

You're right.
It also pisses me off when they call me a neoliberal. Neoliberalism is the financial part of the neocon philosophy, just without the social policy aspects... and I am not a neoliberal.