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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Saturday, May 19, 2007

"The Devil has come to collect"

He's a bit late to the party, but the fact that Andrew Sullivan has taken to publishing things like this (written by his readers, not him,) tells me he's finally seeing at least bits of the light.
What American 'conservatism' has become fits closely within the definition of fascism: an intensely nationalist movement intent on defining membership in the 'nation' on linguistic, religious, and (increasingly) ethnic/racial criteria, accompanied by an unquestioning loyalty to (male) authority, enshrined in family leaders, business leaders, religious leaders, and especially, the leader of the nation, who is seen as embodying the Nation. Loyalty to the Party or Movement and its ideology is of great importance. Violence is the preferred means of accomplishing goals. Diplomacy, compromise, negotiation, are all identified with (feminine) weakness. The rule of law is also despised, because it lacks the immediacy of (violent) action, and its emphasis on balance and its concern with proper procedure is also seen as a sign of (feminine) weakness.

This is the outcome of the bargain the GOP made with the Devil back when it decided to go for the Wallace voters after the ’68 and ’72 elections. Kevin Phillips has repented a hundred times over for counseling the Southern Strategy, but too late. The GOP has discovered that when you sell your soul to the Devil, the only question is when does the Devil come to collect? Well, he's come.

(The reader comment that spawned this is interesting as well.)

2 Comments:

  • I read this at the Dish and thought Sullivan had gone a bit further than normal. But he saw the light long ago; he's been a consistent anti-torture voice. I read Sullivan daily because he represents the kind of conservatism with which I'd be proud to compromise: reasonable and open-minded.

    By Blogger Nonplussed2, at 3:48 AM  

  • Honestly, I think you're right that he has completely turned, however, I'm not a regular reader of his, and so I didn't want to make that blanket statement.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 6:28 AM  

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