What is YOUR definition of a neo-con?

[Zyphlin]

A few conversations on the forum have spurred me asking this question, most recently back and forth between Navy pride and Hautey. As such, I wanted to ask this question to the posters.

WHAT are the characteristics, or the political philosophies or actions, that make up what is so commonly termed a "Neo-Con".

I am not asking for a wikipedia quote, or a dictionary quote, or some scholars quote.

What I am hoping for is your own definition, what makes you consider someone a Neo-con. If you want to comment on someone elses in a civil manner, be my guess. HOWEVER, I am laying one caveat for this thread. If you're going to comment on someone elses definition you yourself must have put one up as well.

Looking forward to seeing the responses

 

[danarhea]

A few conversations on the forum have spurred me asking this question, most recently back and forth between Navy pride and Hautey. As such, I wanted to ask this question to the posters.

WHAT are the characteristics, or the political philosophies or actions, that make up what is so commonly termed a "Neo-Con".

I am not asking for a wikipedia quote, or a dictionary quote, or some scholars quote.

What I am hoping for is your own definition, what makes you consider someone a Neo-con. If you want to comment on someone elses in a civil manner, be my guess. HOWEVER, I am laying one caveat for this thread. If you're going to comment on someone elses definition you yourself must have put one up as well.

Looking forward to seeing the responses

William Kristol, son of Irving Kristol, the Godfather of the Neoconservative movement, defined Neocon perfectly, when he said that a Neocon is a Liberal who has been mugged by reality. The reality is that Neocons are actually Liberal hawks.

 

[Zyphlin]

So your definition of a "Neocon" is someone who is a liberal save for in regards to military, in which they are extremely aggressive in regards of it?

 

[danarhea]

So your definition of a "Neocon" is someone who is a liberal save for in regards to military, in which they are extremely aggressive in regards of it?

Yes, Liberal on many issues, but Conservative on "wedge" issues, for political reasons. Also, like liberals, Neocons believe in the redistribution of money, but their targets for redistribution are different.

However, the main feature which distinguishes Neocons from the average Liberal is the concept of Pax Americana, which they pushed hard for after the defeat of the Soviet Union. William Kristol is one of the founding members of the Project for the New American Century.

 

[niftydrifty]

William Kristol, son of Irving Kristol, the Godfather of the Neoconservative movement, defined Neocon perfectly, when he said that a Neocon is a Liberal who has been mugged by reality. The reality is that Neocons are actually Liberal hawks.

that pretty much ignores all the people that lean right on just about everything, but that are also aboard with the PNAC, including Bill Kristol himself.

imo, a neoconservative is a conservative that has been mugged by paranoia. neocons believe in US global dominance and want to preserve it by any means necessary, lawful or otherwise, and regardless of whether or not there are any facts to support their suspicions.

this is hardly "conservative" in a traditional sense, hence, "neoconservative."

 

[danarhea]

that pretty much ignores all the people that lean right on just about everything, but that are also aboard with the PNAC, including Bill Kristol himself.

imo, a neoconservative is a conservative that has been mugged by paranoia. neocons believe in US global dominance and want to preserve it by any means necessary, lawful or otherwise, and regardless of whether or not there are any facts to support their suspicions.

this is hardly "conservative" in a traditional sense, hence, "neoconservative."

Not true. Before his conversion, Kristol was an avid Liberal. His father, who started the Neoconservative movement, was a registered member of the Communist Party in New York.

 

[niftydrifty]

Not true. Before his conversion, Kristol was an avid Liberal. His father, who started the Neoconservative movement, was a registered member of the Communist Party in New York.

I did know that about Irving. I didn't know that about Bill. I was speaking about the Kristol I know of now, as well as the other Weekly Standard blowhards: Sourkrauthammer, and Barnes. and of the other well known neocons that have never leaned left.

there's a new generation of neocons that (as far as I know) didn't start out being liberals.

 

[the makeout hobo]

A neoconservative is someone who cares primarily about using government power on social issues, like abortion and gay marriage, who places greater emphasis on an aggressive, unilateral, expansionist foreign policy, who is very friendly to large corporations, and who places much less emphasis on smaller government issues.

Ok, feel free to nit pick.

 

[danarhea]

I did know that about Irving. I didn't know that about Bill. I was speaking about the Kristol I know of now, as well as the other Weekly Standard blowhards: Sourkrauthammer, and Barnes. and of the other well known neocons that have never leaned left.

there's a new generation of neocons that (as far as I know) didn't start out being liberals.

A new generation? Hardly. Neoconservatism is dying, and before long, will be dead, thank God.

 

[niftydrifty]

A new generation? Hardly. Neoconservatism is dying, and before long, will be dead, thank God.

I wouldn't be so sure. they are marginal. they are wacky. but they have a way of turning up where it matters.

 

[Spartacus FPV]

I would define them as "Pissed off socialists who believe in pre-emption, and the forced spreading of democracy."

 

[Ikari]

I don't know if I can really define their political ideology well. I think some common characteristics are big war, big government, big spending, big brother actions of the government. They're basically firm socialists with a pension for war.

 

[the makeout hobo]

I would define them as "Pissed off socialists who believe in pre-emption, and the forced spreading of democracy."

I'd disagree, because they don't try to use the government to really try to help out the working class like socialists do.

 

[Billo_Really]

The ultimate *****!

 

[danarhea]

I'd disagree, because they don't try to use the government to really try to help out the working class like socialists do.

Oh they ARE Socialists, all right. They give all of our tax money to the corporations, instead of the working class. It's wrong in both cases, but rather than doing it out of some notion that it is the right thing to do, which it is not, they are giving it all to their corporate cronies, while giving the taxpayers a big, fat middle finger, and daring us to stop the practice.

 

[The silenced majority]

Neocons are ideological zealots who believe that the true path to the elusive terrestrial paradise is one of coercive (sometimes forced) democratization of people who want it not nor understand what it is.



Of course that isn't how it's sold. It's sold as: The United States living up to it's role as - Liberator.

... defense contractors and lobbyists pockets' get fatter all the while...


I guess their dream would come to fruition if 1 day the entire Middle East had an election and chose Osama Bin Laden as their leader...?

 

[Cold Highway]

A Neo-Con is basically a combination of the worst ideas on both sides of the political spectrum. The only thing that is conservative about them is that they are against gay marriage/rights and abortion. What is even laughable is that the Neo-Conservatives were former Socialists.

 

[Billo_Really]

Neo-con's are the biggest *****'s on the planet.

 

[Sergeant Stinger1]

IMHO
1- A neo-con is someone that votes for bush the second time around even after they know he screwed up big time in his first failure.
2- A neo-con is someone that will vote straight Repub no matter what.
3- A neo-con is someone that cannot think for themselves.
4- A neo-con is one that will tell his whole family how to vote but instead they vote the opposite just to screw him or her.