What, Exactly, Does the Right Stand For? Josh Hammer

[mystery-ak]

What, Exactly, Does the Right Stand For?
Josh Hammer


Years of bickering over the meaning of American conservatism and the identity of the American Right, which had already escalated in the conspiracy-filled aftermath of coalition lynchpin Charlie Kirk's horrific assassination, reached a fever pitch at Turning Point USA's recent AmericaFest conference in Phoenix. The question conservative leaders now confront is straightforward enough: Where do we go from here?

It is imperative -- indeed, indispensable -- that leaders answer this question correctly and act accordingly.

The conference began, following introductory remarks from Kirk's widow, Erika, with a tour de force speech from Ben Shapiro. The longtime podcaster, columnist and author condemned the Right's "frauds and grifters," those "charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty," and those useful idiots who have refused to take any stand whatsoever amid the explosion of conspiracism because of rank "cowardice." A number of subsequent speakers, from charlatans like Tucker Carlson to cowards like Megyn Kelly, attempted -- in defensive, ham-fisted fashion -- to respond to Shapiro's tone-setting invocation.

The basic case against Shapiro's appeal -- a position I share -- was best articulated by Vice President JD Vance in the conference's closing keynote speech. The veep noted that he "didn't bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to deplatform" because "Charlie invited all of us here" and "believed that each of us, all of us, had something worth saying." Therefore, we should not be engaged in "canceling each other."

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https://townhall.com/columnists/joshhammer/2025/12/26/what-exactly-does-the-right-stand-for-n2668481

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

My problem is that seemingly we're just opposed to liberalism, not really pro-anything, which sucks. Seems like in Reagan's time conservatism stood for something definitive in domestic and foreign policy, values, and economic ideas. No longer.

Full throated populism made it basically a reactionary movement. It'd be nice to get some "pro" ideas.

[Kamaji]

My problem is that seemingly we're just opposed to liberalism, not really pro-anything, which sucks. Seems like in Reagan's time conservatism stood for something definitive in domestic and foreign policy, values, and economic ideas. No longer.

Full throated populism made it basically a reactionary movement. It'd be nice to get some "pro" ideas.

Not only would it be nice, but it will be imperative in order to avoid getting run over by a resurgent DNC that is demonstrably left wing and anti-US.

[Fishrrman]

From the source article:
"The question conservative leaders now confront is straightforward enough: Where do we go from here?"

Maybe nowhere. Which seems to be where they're headed now.

Following is an excerpt from a book I read not long ago entitled "The Man In The Mirror":
============================
He took a moment to compose his thoughts. “I remember holiday gatherings growing up,” Joe started cautiously, “when the dinner would usually derail into a shouting match between you and my dad.”

Eva crossed her arms and gave her husband a disapproving look.

“And he used to say you gave conservatives a bad name. But quite frankly, you seem more conservative than he is.” Joe finished his thought.

Karl erupted in amusement. “Conservative! He thinks I’m a conservative.”

The rest of the table laughed along as Joe felt left out of an inside joke.

“Conservatives do a fine job of giving themselves a bad name without my help.” The uncle settled down. 

Joe leaned forward. “Well, if you’re not a conservative, what are you?”

“Now he’s done it,” George commented to Roger.

Karl launched into a passionate speech: “What even is a conservative? What has conservatism conserved? I used to vote for conservative politicians who promised to stave the decline. All they ever accomplished was delaying the inevitable, the insatiable, and the insistent. These politicians never turned back the beast nor retook lost territory. The measure of their success was not victory but rather how well they herniated themselves struggling against the crushing weight of progressivism.” He took a deep breath. “No, I am not a conservative. I reject the capital ‘L’ Liberal dichotomy.”

Joe sat dumbfounded. “Well, there’s not really anything besides that, is there? You’re either liberal, conservative, or something in-between.”

“I am fascinated that you exist,” his uncle ribbed, “a true specimen of system propaganda.”

“Karl!” Eva chided.

Her husband put up his hands apologetically and sat back in his chair. “Liberals and conservatives are two wings of the same bird. One just happens to be ahead of the other in the race to complete oblivion.”
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Fishrrman, again:
How long until "conservative" here, means about the same as it does in Western Europe?
(think: "Conservative" political parties, as they exist over there...)

[The_Reader_David]

My problem is that seemingly we're just opposed to liberalism, not really pro-anything, which sucks. Seems like in Reagan's time conservatism stood for something definitive in domestic and foreign policy, values, and economic ideas. No longer.

Full throated populism made it basically a reactionary movement. It'd be nice to get some "pro" ideas.

It might be remembered that the basic stance of the original American conservative movement from the days of Goldwater was summed up by William F. Buckley, Jr. as "to stand athwart history shouting 'Stop!'"

Of course, American conservatism, wanting to conserve the American Founding, is not actually opposed to liberalism, properly so called, but to "liberalism", to the socialists, cultural Marxists and outright Communists who stole the name of a movement that originally was connected to liberty, and supported things we American conservatives want to conserve:  free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free markets.  In fact, it's really our name (a fact remembered in Australia, where the word wasn't stolen, and the center-right party is the Liberal Party), and I want it back.  Let the Leftists call themselves "socialists" or "progressives" or "mugwumps", or anything else they fancy other than "liberals" or "conservatives", since they are neither.