Useful Idiots, Or The Next Right?

It's amazing what a little research can turn up, assuming one isn't frittering away their time twittering about themselves all day. I was amazed to see Rachel Maddow's show mostly regurgitate some Next Right posts by Henke, Moran and Ruffini advising conservatives on the way forward. Out with the extremists, we must moderate our stance and tone!!

One doesn't normally expect to find the best advice for conservatives via MSNBC, let alone Maddow. But guest host Ana Marie Cox's having Sam Tanenhaus on as a guest certainly seemed revealing in this particular case. It looks to me as though Tanenhaus' The Death of Conservatism is in large part the actual inspiration and brains behind Henke and Ruffini's current so deeply informed insights and deeply concerned efforts all meant to get the Next Right right.

True, Tanenhaus has written notable books on conservatives. But besides being the Editor of the New York Times' Book Review, who is Tanenhaus? I've seen him referred to as a conservative, but I'll put my money on the wisdom from someone named Mona at Q & O - that is originally Henke's site, after all.

I deeply admire Sam Tanenhaus, who is a liberal Democrat and scholar, editor of the NYT Review of Books, author of a superb biography of Whittaker Chambers, and currently working on one about WFB.

Ah, now that makes it even more interesting. So the wisdom that is Henke and Ruffini advising conservatives today actually comes from a liberal Democrat? Yes, I've no doubt all good liberal Democrats want nothing more than to help conservatives succeed.

Funny though, as Tanenhaus had a somewhat different take on extremists and extremism when his Democrats were out of power. Read it all at the Freeper link as Tannehaus gave his own party the very opposite advice of what Henke and Ruffini have embraced as their wisdom today.

How the 'Radicals' Can Save the Democrats New York Times ^ | August 11, 2003 | SAM TANENHAUS

But if abstract ideology plays a limited role in presidential races, the importance of ideologues and extremists — that is, of people who cling to strong beliefs — can't be overstated. It is they who bring passion and energy to politics, as Dr. Dean's Web-linked legions are now doing. Without these "radicals," parties can lose their way.

So, now with Democrats back in control as a result of doing precisely what he was suggesting in 2003, Tanenhaus is advising conservatives to do the very opposite of what got them back there? And Henke, Moran and Ruffini are pushing it through the conservative blogosphere as their great and profound wisdom of the day??

As I posted previously, when it comes to wisdom like that, I think I'll just politely pass. Useful idiots are rarely very useful to the actual causes they would allege to support.

I'll put my money on Liberty and Tyranny, which Tanenhaus interestingly enough ignored, even with all that time on his own paper's best seller list, ... and WND and Tea Parties, instead, ... thank you very much.

Comments

[Peter]

I'll take useful idiots for $1,000, Alex.

[neversaydie]

I'm reminded of something I read somewhere about toning things down:

http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2009/09/be-careful-conservatives.html

Oh yea, now I remember ... it was here!

"I don't want to give Obama the opportunity to stand before America and Congress Wednesday night and claim that, while he's working hard to improve health care for all Americans, the same old suspects on the Right are engaging in poisonous witch hunts against low level employees for nothing more than short term political gain. At least think about it and go forward prudently."

This is horrible advice.

Those who sit idly by unable to act for fear of "what they'll say about us" deserve the government that is then foisted upon them.

[maverick muse]

Four little research points:

The Hazard of Moral Hazard, just say no to enabling bail-outs or excusing "incompetence" as if there's any excuse for appointing utter incompetence into this White House administration.

Those touting William F. Buckley as the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ can get a hold on their "conservatism/god is dead" mantra and take it off the Republican platform. Laura Ingraham was interviewing someone as obnoxious as Ruffini this morning, but demanding we all be William F. Buckley reincarnate, warts and all. Elitism is not a conservative virtue.

You can't buy political victory paid for through loser imaginary "high ground" that McCain and Coleman took to defeat.

Never discard political ammunition necessary to win a battle just because you haven't the guts to fight this one and assign yourself a post in the safety zone. Who are these lazy inbred "conservatives" so engrossed with self fawning that they can't lift a finger to read or dig up records themselves, that they dare impugn others willing to do the heavy work?

[FeFe]

Tell it, maverick muse!

[Reaganite Republican]

Great post Dan- it's funny, I just 86'd "the Next Right" from my blogroll recently for similar reasons-

Isn't it funny "conservatives" with dubious credentials have come out of the woodwork this year telling us to do exactly what Obama needs us to do... things that make you go hmmm.

As Jindal has noted, Reagan lost in 1976 in the primaries to a moderate... who lost the election.
Reagan didn't water it down four years later... he came back with an even sharper message, supported by the liberal incompetence of the God forsaken Carter era. We will find ourselves -after losing with a RINO- facing the same circumstances in 2012. Small wonder then the Dems are trying to keep any Reagans from arising... ie Palin.

And Alinsky would have admired the DNC and WH's efforts to isolate and demonize strong opponents such as Rush Limbaugh- after they neutralize him and all like him, we would be left with an un-electable RINO-laded GOP pushing the Obama-lite that Colin Powell was advocating... back before the Obama ether began to wear off, anyway.

[Ran]

Fefe, I too, I'm with the Mav!

Bold colors people. Squishy pastels are welcome to comment and send in donations (thanks Dave!) Bold colors. The "conservatives" who would conserve the Big State are ready for the fork test. I think they're oh-vehr, done.

Full disclosure, I hang with a bunch of libertarians and their blogs. I disagree with the Objectionables (just a friendly dig, guys) on some things, but man... I'd rather a trade of ideas with them than just about any "progressive" on the planet.

"I'll put my money on Liberty and Tyranny, which Tannehaus interestingly enough ignored, even with all that time on his own paper's best seller list, ... and WND and Tea Parties, instead, ... thank you very much."

Thank you, Dan!

[DanO]

Bold Colors and Not Squishy Pastels...Damn Right.

You folks deserve a treat. Take a short break from The Hero Of GryphenGate to snarf some fresh red meat from SARAH PALIN over at the WSJ regarding Om]bama and health care deform:

http://tiny.cc/Palin_WSJ_article

[the bishop]

Tanenhaus has been coasting on that Whittaker Chambers biography, that Imus helped promote to the point where Charles McCord got sick of it.

[WestWright]

Thank God for strong Conservatives like Dan Riehl, Stacy McCain, Mark Levin & others for standing strong against these tools @ the New Rino Right!