Shelley said something that surprised me in a series of engaging comments which I happened upon after reading this post by Jonathon Delacour refuting a reader's allegations that Jonathon is, among other things, racist. The response by Jonathon is terrific. The comments that follow also worth the read. But I was surprised that Shelley proposed within those comments that we get rid of the term "NeoCon" or neo-conservative in discussing the current state of things.
I'm not sure we can--that is what they call themselves.
In my mind, neo-conservatve it is an important distinguishing term relating to exactly what is going on in this administration, and uniquely this administration. They named themselves, those who brought George Bush to power. They were neo-cons before he took office and had already groomed him as their man. Or, well, trusted his father enough to know his son could do the job.
This news comes to you from a rather apolitical blogger. Take it with a grain of truth, I mean salt. Or sand. Desert sand.
The difference between conservativism and neo-conservatism is the difference between folks who want what they would call "fiscal responsibility" and hands off, government compared to the folks who's goal it is to take christianity (I use the little "C" because it is their version of Christianity, which is intertwined conveniently with liberty) to "every human being in the world" as they rescue the Holy Land. To serve as a catalyst to fulfill Bible prophesy. (And maybe to get something besides a get-out-of-purgatory-free card along the way).
Neo-conservatives, who are currently in charge of this country, are Crusaders, a name bestowed on them by the devilish members of the axis of evil. I would imagine, in some ways, NeoCons are proud of the term Crusaders. Just wait until the pictures of Iraqis being baptized in the open desert by American troops start floating back. They will.
And if Team NeoCon gets a little oil, some government contracts, and manages to free a few countries from horrific regimes in the mean time, all the better.
over and out...
