Revanchism

Sam Tanenhaus wrote a book called The Death of Conservatism, which is on my list for my for my Kindle. It was written just before the Tea Party reared its head. I learned about him from Bill Moyers Journal. Tanaehaus distinguishes between the conservatism of Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck and the conservatism of Edmond Burke and William F. Buckley, a significant distinction in my estimation. Though I am liberal in outlook I have respected conservatism since Barry Goldwater and find much of merit in it. But I have little respect for what has been done in recent years in the name of conservatism, which, in my opinion, has become extreme to the nth degree.

Tenenhaus shows the difference between what he calls realism and revanchism. Revanchism he defines as what has been taken away in American conservatism to the radical ideology rampant today. It comes from the French word for “revenge,” a politics of vengeance. They go absolutely against conservatism defined by Edmond Burke in the 18^th century who is well known for his support of the American Revolution. Burke warned against extremism and dogmatic orthodoxy, which we see today. Today we don’t even recognize those who hold to philosophical conservatism such as Fareed Zakaria (see and earlier blog on him) as conservatives. He and folks of his ilk have left the conservative movement. Or modern conservatism has moved from Edmund Burke to Rush Limbaugh.

A pivotal point Tanenhaus sees took place in 1965 which the John Birch Society, who are much like modern Tea Party movements who view politics in a conspiratorial way. They saw Eisenhower as a Communist agent along with 80% of the government. True conservatives such s William Buckley indulged them thinking they were absurd but at least anticommunist, but eventually they said “enough.” Race has also played a part in modern conservatism as seen by some of Obama’s great detractors such as Joe Wilson who shouted “You lie,” during Obama’s State of the Union address. Edmund Burke talked about a civil society, but modern conservatism seems quite uncivil.

Perhaps Dick Cheney reflects the worst of this when he claimed his company, Halliburton had made millions of dollars without any help from the government; when in fact it all came from the government; defense contracts. They reflect the myth of rugged individualism as the greatness of the country rather than the common good. Thus the radical evangelisms, free marketers, or authoritarian conservatives agree on one thing that liberals are out to destroy them, therefore they much be destroyed at all costs; like the modern Republican agenda to defeat Obama as their number one priority.

All of this has given rise to the modern conservatism reflected in the Reagan and Bush administrations which have little resemblance to traditional conservative values and introduced and economic system and has raised havoc in the country. Those conservatives who tried to promote the old conservative philosophy were marginalized and stripped of power. Modern conservatives are very good at shouting and rallying troops but they are anti-intellectual and have lost touch with their roots.

I have a great deal of respect for traditional conservatism and worthy adversaries, and the times of civil debate. I have no respect for modern Republican candidates, with the exception of Mitt Romney. They have no agenda no vision except to be against liberals. It is a sad state of affairs.