I'd like to know what your definition of "neocon" is Leauki. Some define it as big spending Bush era, 'compassionate conservatism" Ron Paul coined the term and he and his followers are big opponents of Israel. They all went as far to boo Mike Pence when he vowed support for the Jewish state. So the word neocon holds some code for most of the people who use it.
I don't know what "compassionate conservatism" is, but I define as "neocon" ("neo-conservative") those who stand in the tradition of Irving Kristol, who coined the term.
Ron Paul is pretty much the opposite of a neocon. And I don't think I ever let anybody doubt about my position regarding the Crazy Uncle and the Paulians.
Neo-conservatism, as I see it, is application of traditional values to the modern world while realising which of those values aren't.
The spirit of neo-conservatism:
"The trouble with traditional American conservatism is that it lacks a naturally cheerful, optimistic disposition. Not only does it lack one, it regards signs of one as evidence of unsoundness, irresponsibility."
"I have observed over the years that the unanticipated consequences of social action are always more important, and usually less agreeable, than the intended consequences."
"An intellectual may be defined as a man who speaks with general authority about a subject on which he has no particular competence."
"Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions -- it only guarantees equality of opportunity."
"The liberal paradigm of regulation and license has led to a society where an 18-year-old girl has the right to public fornication in a pornographic movie -- but only if she is paid the minimum wage."
"It is ironic to watch the churches, including large sections of my own religion, surrendering to the spirit of modernity at the very moment when modernity itself is undergoing a kind of spiritual collapse."
"Young people, especially, are looking for religion so desperately that they are inventing new ones. They should not have to invent new ones; the old religions are pretty good."
(All quotes by Irving Kristol.)
Basically it's an ideology that uses traditional values and a strong military to protect modernity. I believe (and neo-cons believe) that the rights of homosexuals are best defended by a US marine with traditional values, for the simple reason that those who claim to be progressive won't defend our freedoms.
I'm old enough to remember Carter. Americans were ready to vote for Mickey Mouse at the end of his first term. I suspect the current President will get the same treatment after his disastrously failed and economically devastating term. I can't think of one good thing Obama has done for America. Can anyone name a good thing Obama has done? (crickets chirping).
Well, in defence of Obama, he has increased aid to Israel. But he seems to be more willing to help Israel prepare for war than to speak up before there is a need for war. And that worries me greatly.
And so far Obama has been a lot better than Carter.
I have a specific bone to pick with Carter because he allowed Iran to fall to the enemy. Carter didn't realise the immense importance of the Iranian monarchy to the world and we have all paid for that stupidity. Smart Europeans speak of American arrogance and claim to find it among politicians like Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. But in reality it was Jimmy Carter who was so arrogant and so convinced that nothing outside America is of any importance that he didn't realise what everybody knew before and after his administration, that Iran is important.
