PrintFebruary 12, 2008
Hegelian Conservatives
Thomas Lifson must have sampled a few too many barrels from his cellar. No self-respecting American conservative would adopt the historical dialectical as a political model. It's way too intellectual, way too indirect, and way too European. That's the kind of mindset of someone that hangs out at Berkley or Davos. Not me, not out here in rural Oregon.
The concept of hitting bottom being required before improvement can start is more like AA, vintage American. After telling one RINO, Senator Gordon Smith, to hit the road after turning against the war effort, I have no problem opposing another RINO from Arizona. I may eventually come around to vote for McCain but right now it's just too much to contemplate. I cannot hold my nose from now to November.
With what appears to be a route coming this fall in Congress with the Democrats extending their control over both chambers, the seven reasons for electing him, Iraq plus selection of six SC justices will become just one reason - his veto power to prevent premature withdrawal from Iraq. With Republican control of both houses, Bush was barely able to get his two nominations through. A McCain presidency with Democratic control of Congress would do well get a Souter through but would more likely have to settle for another Ginsburg. Take away his admirable stance on Iraq and your left with McCain-Lieberman, McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy. In other words, those of you who are so soon to drink the compromise Kool-Aid are selling your conservative souls for a Faustian bargain. Once he has you locked away, he's free to dicker with the left and abandon the conservative core values just to bid for a couple more percentage points.
Down the road, after the results of such ill-informed policies take effect (recall life under Carter), that Kool-Aid will have a very bitter after taste. Those of us so-called Hegelian conservatives who at least tried to tether him to conservative policies, will at least sleep with sound consciences. Who knows? Maybe in the future Hegel will lose his bad connotations.
Al Peinhardt
Gearhart, Oregon
