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Saturday, December 21, 2002

Innocents Abroad suggests that neoconservatives have won, and that even bothering to take notice of paleo and traditional conservatives gives them undue influence. This strikes me as a bit triumphalist. Certainly the likes of Novak and Buchanan have already waned, but listening to talk radio and to talk in middle America, I rather think that alternative forms of conservatism still carry considerable weight. Where neoconservatives may well be dominant is in internet and print media.

Its certainly true that many young neocons have't experienced a realignment that sent them from left to right. In that sense, certainly, they have always been conservative. But, they still value liberal goals, tend to be progressive, and value ideas in a way that can't be taken for granted among other conservatives. In many ways, a neocon is someone who accepts the liberal vision of society, but prefers that it be achived by individuals and markets, rather than by central planning. It is essential that neocons take a leadership role in the Republican party, perhaps the leadership role, but neocons are far from the only voice in the game.

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