What William F. Buckley Would Think Of Today’s GOP
Geoffrey Kabaservice :: The New Republic :: April 2, 2012
A significant milestone in the history of American conservatism passed largely unnoticed last month: the fiftieth anniversary of William F. Buckley Jr.’s editorial attack on Robert Welch, the head of the John Birch Society. Buckley’s successful effort to read the conspiracy-minded anti-Communist organization out of the conservative movement deserves to be remembered by the Republican Party. Indeed, the fact that today’s GOP has paid the anniversary little heed is a telling indictment of a party gone seriously astray. Rather than honor Buckley’s example, the right-wingers currently controlling the party have made an unabashed habit of defying it.
Welch was a retired candy maker who created the Birch Society in 1958 to mobilize conservatives against what he saw as an imminent Communist takeover of the United States from within. Buckley himself had sounded similar alarms on behalf of red-baiting Senator Joseph McCarthy, but believed that Welch crossed into paranoia with his assertion that America’s government leaders—including President Dwight Eisenhower, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, CIA Director Allen Dulles, and most members of the Supreme Court—were active Communist agents. Buckley was also distressed by other Birch claims: that Red Chinese armies were massing at the Mexican border to invade the U.S.; University of Chicago professors were plotting to deprive Americans of their rights to vote and hold property; and elite groups such as the Council on Foreign Relations and the Bildergbergers were seeking to merge the U.S. with the Soviet Union in a one-world socialist government. The Birch Society’s notion that those who doubted these theories thereby revealed themselves as Communist sympathizers struck Buckley as self-reinforcing lunacy...
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Link: http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/102241/what-william-buckley-american-conservatism
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heed Buckley's advice. I didn't agree with Buckley on many issues but I respected his intellect. Unfortunately, most of the Tea Party sound like a warmed over John Burch society only with bigger mouths. Buckley would have been run out of the current GOP.
and the Birchers. Seems like a real stretch to slur (since most agree calling someone a Bircher is a slur) a group who has different values. A lot of them are more Libertarian than Republican. As for Buckley, he was a giant but I have no idea what he would think of the "Tea Party" movement nor does anyone else. Tea Party is a broad tent and I have no use for any of them who are strictly obstructionist or who are more interested in religion than limited government. Unfortunately, some consider a desire for limited government as racist, which is nonsense.
to either.
This from the the Tea party website. They don't sound like Birchers nor do they sound radical. I do notice that when they hold rallys that they are peaceful. Only one arrest has been made at any of their rallys. That was here in Saint Louis when a SEIU thug attacked a man at a rally. They also clean up after themselves. According to DC police there were 2 million and not one penny was spent on cleanup. Contrast that with the occupy groups praised by Obama, Reid, and Pelosi where there were rapes, killings, public sex, public elimination of body waste, and a huge expensive mess to clean up afterwards.
By joining the Tea Party, you are taking a stand for our nation. You will be upholding the grand principles set forth in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
15 Non-negotiable Core Beliefs
1. Illegal aliens are here illegally.
2. Pro-domestic employment is indispensable.
3. A strong military is essential.
4. Special interests must be eliminated.
5. Gun ownership is sacred.
6. Government must be downsized.
7. The national budget must be balanced.
8. Deficit spending must end.
9. Bailout and stimulus plans are illegal.
10. Reducing personal income taxes is a must.
11. Reducing business income taxes is mandatory.
12. Political offices must be available to average citizens.
13. Intrusive government must be stopped.
14. English as our core language is required.
15. Traditional family values are encouraged.
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LTDNFAN is correct, as far as I can see.
the majority of my post. You choose instead to make a one line blurp of twaddle suported by nothing other than your own bias.
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