Notable Quotables With Fred Barnes
by Jason at 6:00 am on June 15th, 2006 in Media, PoliticsCourtesy of The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes during a local radio interview on Wednesday:
“George Bush is not a small-government conservative; he’s a strong-government conservative”
Uhm…ok. And this means what, exactly? To paraphrase Fred (writing down the full quote while traveling down the highway at 70mph seemed to be a bad idea):
“It means he uses the full scope of government power to enact conservative principles.”
In this era of pre-emptive war, the expansion of government programs and departments, massive deficits and questionable surveillance programs, just what conservative principles have been enacted here? Or can pretty much anything be justified in modern conservatism, as long as its followers are still allowed to rail against abortion and gay people?
Ken wrote:
All hail Il Duce.
Posted 15 Jun 2006 at 10:26 am ¶
Ken wrote:
Wow - it’s even on video.
Posted 15 Jun 2006 at 10:27 am ¶
Jason wrote:
Not exactly sure what that has to do with Barnes’ quote, but thanks for participating anyway!
Posted 15 Jun 2006 at 11:19 am ¶
Ken wrote:
Mussolini was big on strong-government, though perhaps Franco’s conservatism is more on mark.
Posted 15 Jun 2006 at 12:30 pm ¶
sac wrote:
Conservatives hollow opposition to “big government” has alway been bullshit, they want government to intrude in peoples’ lives to impose their ideals as much as anyone, just in different arenas, like the bedroom.
Posted 15 Jun 2006 at 12:52 pm ¶
matt wrote:
such an extremist thing to say. you are jeopardizing political comity.
Posted 15 Jun 2006 at 12:56 pm ¶
sac wrote:
Actually, I am only reinforcing my persistent fence-straddling by pointing out the BOTH sides want governmental regulation, it is only the arenas that are to be regulated that differ.
Posted 15 Jun 2006 at 2:22 pm ¶