Mindreader

For awhile I've been thinking about a post on the death-whine of Conservatism, which is the attempted distancing from Bush. This is where Conservatives, including Conservative Republicans, deny that Bush is a "true" Conservative, whatever fantasy they think that means.

However, Josh Marshall just said it sooner and better:

With all the efforts now to disassociate President Bush from conservatism, I am starting to believe that conservatism itself -- not the political machine, mind you, but the ideology -- is heading toward that misty land-over-the-ocean where ideologies go after they've shuffled off this mortal coil. Sort of like the way post-Stalinist lefties used to say, "You can't say Communism's failed. It's just never really been tried."

It's a genius piece, and one to take to heart in this day and age. He concludes:

Take the movement on its own terms and even be generous about it. What's it about? And has it delivered?

Aggressive defense policy? Check.

Privatization of government services? Check.

Regulatory regimes favoring big business? Check.

Government support for traditional mores and values on sex and marriage? Check.

That about covers it. And Bush has delivered. The results just aren't good.

Uh, amen.