Paleoconservatism vs. Neoconservatism: The Many Shades of Conservatism

When people think of conservatism, many automatically think of George W. Bush, but he is only one type of conservative. Conservatives tend to fall into thee very different categories: paleoconservative, neoconservative, and libertarian. Libertarians are a completely different species, so I'll briefly delineate some of the differences between paleoconservatives and neocons.

Paleoconservatism

Like the dinosaurs, paleoconservatives seem to be a dying breed, but they're proudly hanging on. They represent what the GOP used to be before Iraq and the war on terror. The typical paleoconservative probably goes to church, subscribes to The American Conservative, dislikes President Bush, and feels disenfranchised with the current GOP.

Social Issues: Paleocons tend to agree with Republicans on right to life issues such as abortion and euthanasia.

Economics: Isolationism, protectionist trade policies

Immigration: Heightened border security, stricter laws on immigration

Foreign Policy: Anti-Bush, Anti-Iraq War, Anti-Israel. Paleoconservatives opposed the war in Iraq, arguing that traditional conservatives were isolationists.

Israel: Paleoconservatives then to be anti-Israel. They argue that America's support of Israel caused us to become a target for Islamic fundamentalists. Some may even argue that the state of Israel should not exist.

Famous Paleoconservatives: Pat Buchanan, Tom Tancredo, Calvin Coolidge (on foreign policy), or Ron Paul (on foreign policy)

Examples of Paleoconservative Rhetoric: "We are a republic, not an empire." "Close up our borders." "Isolationism!" "George Washington, in his farewell address, argued for neutrality and warned against permanent entangling alliances." "Not with my paycheck you don't!"


Neoconservatism

The typical neoconservative is solidly Republican, possibly Jewish or Evangelical Christian, has a picture of George W. Bush hanging next to an American flag on his wall, and subscribes to National Review.

Social Issues and Economics: Neocons ascribe to socially and fiscally conservative ideology, but they're willing to spend oodles of government money to achieve those ends--hence the paradox, using (fiscally) liberal means to achieve conservative ends.

Foreign Policy: Interventionism. Neocons will do whatever it takes to win the War on Terror, even if it means deficit spending, supporting the Patriot Act, pouring money into the military, and remaining indefinitely in the Middle East.

Israel: As the only democracy in the Middle East, America has a duty to aid Israel in its War on Terror and radical jihad.

Famous Neoconservatives: George W. Bush, Ann Coulter, Fox News, John McCain (on foreign policy), Joe Lieberman (on foreign policy)

Examples of Neoconservative Rhetoric: "We live in an age of terror." "America's Isolationism before WWII allowed Hitler to rise to power." "Neville Chamberlain tried to appease Hitler in 1938. We all know how that turned out." "We cannot afford a policy of retreat and defeat!"

Evaluation

I find myself in the middle of two extremes. While I do support Israel's right to exist, and even to defend itself against terrorism, I don't necessarily support pouring American government money into Israel. As for Iraq, I was not in favor of the war because of the cost, and because there were no weapons of mass destruction. However, I might be willing to vote for McCain because, with his military background, he is more capable than George W. Bush of leading this country through war. If it comes down to McCain and Obama, I will vote for McCain--reluctantly.