Pat Buchanan is actually making SENSE

[Eternal_Vigilance]

Ever since his disastrous 1992 Republican Convention speech, where he divided the country along the lines of "the culture war" between social conservatives and radical leftist liberals, Pat Buchanan hasn't built up a lot of credibility. But his recent books decrying the imperialist-like actions of American foreign policy has sure hit the nail on its head.

His analysis of how neo-conservatives have hijacked the Bush presidency is poignant and thought-provoking. He exposes how these usurpers have transformed the Republican Party from its traditional conservative non-interventionalist roots to become the unilaterist preemptive regime it is now. Buchanan is most definitely a conservative and opposes us Democrats on every issue from welfare reform and social issues such as abortion and gay marriage.

However, Buchanan is cut from a different cloth. He is the true traditional conservative that advocates smaller government and sensible foreign policy that ensures that America remains a republic, not an empire. His withering criticism of the current Republican junta for their reckless spending and dangerous foreign excursions offers us a crucial argument that there is EVEN dissension within traditional conservative ranks over the Bush Administration's policies and highlights the growing disaffection that many Americans have for this president.

On this one issue, this liberal Democrat stands in league with Patrick J. Buchanan, the epitome of the traditional American conservative.

[napi21]

1. I thought the same thing yesterday when I heard him on TV.

I don't agree with all his conservative statements, but he really is pointing the mistakes of the neo-conservatives. I was even more impressed when he said he wasn't goin to vote for Bush! He said he was voting for some guy in a third party. Sorry I never heard of this guy so I don't remember his name. I suspect there are quite a few real conservatives agree with Pat. Wonder if they will vote the same way?

[Mojambo]

2. Buchanan is probably going with Badnarik

and the Libertarian party this time.

[Syrinx]

5. nah, he likes the Constitution Party

Whatever that is. (Actually, I think it's the former "National Taxpayers' Party.")

[pacalo]

8. But I also heard him say on another talk show

that if he had to choose between * & Kerry, he would vote for * because the next president will likely choose 3 Supreme Court justices, as well as a Chief SC justice.

[TA]

9. In the past few days he has said he would vote for Bush 3 times

1. On our local radio station KIRO (Seattle) he said he would vote for Bush because it would be a chance to get 4 more Antonin Scalias.

2. On Hardball he said he would vote for Bush because he lives in a red state so it doesn't matter.

3. Today on Scarborough again he said the same about the red state vote.

He is so against the direction BushCo and the neocons have gone. After reading his book I find his statement to vote for Bush hard to believe. I would love to ask him how he would vote if he was in a swing state.

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. Today on Lou Dobbs

he said he "can't" vote for Kerry, hasn't decided on Bush but might vote for (name?) Constitution party candidate.

Pat must be one of those undecideds. LOL!

[joeybee12]

3. I don't know if I'd agree that he's the "epitome" of American conservatism

However, it was scary that I found myself agreeing with him when I saw--I think--Meet The Press replayed. But I do think Pat is a good old-fashioned bigot as well, and I think his concerns over this administration's comfiness with Sharon is based a lot on antisemitism. I mean, I agreed with him that we've been coddling this nutcase, but I think Pat's just using this to improve his image. Until he stops being a raving homophobe, I won't truly trust him.

[Indiana_Dem]

4. Yes I agree with you.

I sent an email to Scarborough about the show. I told them I leaned more liberal than anything but was a fiscal conservative and was glad somebody was talking about this in the mainstream and in primetime. I criticized the show for attributing the budget surplus to the Republican congress during Clinton's administration because you can't say this about the current Republican congress. Also, I criticized Scarborough for not pointing out that the line-item veto is proposed in John Kerry's plan as well as discretionary spending caps which is more than Bush has done in the last 3-1/2 years.

Other than that, I commended him and Buchanan for bringing to light the debt problems our country will face in the near future.

[leftistagitator]

6. He can criticize Bush* all he wants...

I'll never throw my lot in with men like Buchanan. What the hell kind of "republic" does a McCarthy loving, Martin Luther King Jr. hating, pro David Duke gas bag like him want to live in anyway? This is the guy who said there is nothing wrong with a white minority governing a black majority when talking about apartheid. He openly admires Francisco Franco. He doesn't believe in freedom, and I for one can't wait to beat Bush* so he can go back to attacking us, where he belongs.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. Just the other day I heard him defend the Vietnam War as a 'noble cause'

[TA]

11. Remember he was a speech writer for Nixon

He probably wrote some of Nixon's spin regarding the Vietnam War.

[Eternal_Vigilance]

12. Point taken

Buchanan is definitely an extremist in many of his positions, from defending his bigoted views to being a Nixon apologist. But on the issue of current American foreign policy, he does make some valid points.

[necso]

13. Pat Buchanan does not like the neos.

But he is lying though his teeth about who the neos are and how pervasive (and controlling) the movement is, and he knows it.

And the issue is personal with Pat.

Pat was one of Nixon's attack dogs and he came in with the first post McCarthy wave of ugliness within the Republican Party. But Nixon was never a neo even if he did relish gutter level politics.

When the second wave of post McCarthy ugliness (the neos) came in, Pat was gradually swept away from being a major player in party politics.

This happened because Pat has a serious deficiency in neo eyes -- he actually has some principles. Now, I certainly would not endorse Pat's principles and these remain a little "fluid" in my eyes, but Pat does have some feelings for the national cause... And the neos only have "feelings" for their own (personal) cause.

Still, he is "doing his duty" and trying to make out that Bush and the rest of that filthy lot are not neos, and that the Republican Party can be saved from the neos just by getting rid of a few people.

Lies, lies and more lies. Add into this mix personal animus and self delusion and you have the nonsense that Pat is spewing.

Pat has long practise in this game and he knows that by mixing a few truths (particularly truths that are somewhat hidden from public view) in with the disinformation, you have a much better chance of selling it.

What Cheney said, Pat. If you want to stand for conservative principle, start talking about how those neos, the pseudo-Christian "fundamentalists" (you know: the grasping ones; the ones who pray in the front of the temple; the money changers; and all those pretenders who trample on the Gospels) hate Catholics. Cuts a little too close to the bone, doesn't it, Pat? Might hurt the Party, eh, Pat?

Remember, Pat, that freedom of religion and separation of church and state are also conservative principles... or at least, they used to be!

[Zorra]

14. Hey, I'm a Green Dem. But I genuinely respect Libertarians. At least

Libertarians make logical rational sense at times, unlike Bu$h and the republicans, who are out in outer space right field. I might disagree with a few Libertarian ideas, but for the most part, I consider Libertarians very thoughtful, intelligent conservatives who can actually effectively challenge me in a debate.

No republican can. Republicans are brainwashed neocon dittohead sheep that can't think for themselves.

If I were a conservative, I would be a Libertarian, and if a Libertarian were elected to the Presidency instead of some phony neocon corporatist republican like Bu$h, I could live and work with that.

[vetwife]

15. I agree when I heard him.You know we are in trouble when we all

start agreeing with Pat Buchannan !

[independentpiney]

22. Have you read the entire libertarian platform?

I used to feel like you do, but take a good look at their platform:
http://www.lp.org/issues/platform/platform_all.html

-Repeal of child labor laws
-Privatization of police and security functions
-Allow the return of Jim Crow
-Repeal of OSHA
-Repeal of all environmental protections

I don't think most of the libertarians I know are aware of how extremist it is. Half of them just like the drug legalization part. Scary stuff:scared:

[REP]

16. Occasionally, Buchanan Says Something That Makes Sense

And I have a few theories about this. One is that there are some things that are so obvious that anyone with with a shred of intelligence can notice them, and even a nanogram of courage can say them, and Buchanan does indeed have a tiny shred of intelligence and an almost too small to measure amount of courage.

My second theory is even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

My third is that he occasionally says things we agree with just to piss us off that we're agreeing with him.

[Veggie Meathead]

17. The one thing I like about Pat Buchanan is he is a true patriot.

We can agree to disagree as Americans on any issue so long as we realize what we want is the best for our country and our citizens.I don't quite get that feeling from these neoconservatives.

Although it depresse me to see them holding so much power, I have hopes that the ey have sown the seeds of their own destruction with their reckless wars.Yesterday's budget deficit figures ($442 B) is the first sign that their policies are going to come apart but before their day of reckoning comes, they are going to wreck a lot of people's lives around the globe.So take your pick, which way do you want to die,militarily or economically?Dr.Bush has the right pills for you.

[mopaul]

18. I HATE IT when pat makes sense

cause i hate him so. but even a busted clock is right twice a day.

[H2O Man]

19. regarding Patrick J. Buchanan:

in his 1999 book, "A Republic, Not an Empire," Buchanan predicted that the US policy in the Middle East would result in a terrorist attack on a US city by followers of Usama bin Laden.

In his new book, "Where the Right Went Wrong," Buchanan writes "America needs a Middle East policy made in the USA, not in Tel Aviv or at AIPAC or AEI."

This morning, he has a good opinion piece in the Miami Herald. See:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/9606266.htm

found at news at google (Plame)

[Shopaholic]

20. He does that from time-to-time---just ignore him--

sooner or later he'll start ranting and raving again and he'll be back to normal (well, normal for him) once more. I suspect it's a right-wing tactic to make themselves appear sane--say something that makes sense, lure in the unsuspecting or ill-informed, and then once you've got them--start up again with the crazy talk.

[Cocoa]

21. Buchanan is a populist

bordering on a fascist.

All fascists "made sense" in one way or another, they sieze on class resentments, and suspicions about elites, that are real. But they twist them into very bad things.

Let's be a little more vigilant, please. The media shoves Buchanan down our throats but ignores Kucinich, why don't we spend our time lauding Dennis and denouncing Pat for the dangerous man he is?

[yellowcanine]

23. I am NOT drinking Pat's koolaid. He is still a RW reactionary, regardless

of how many mean things he says about George Bush. Remember, Pat vocificerously defended Nixon during Watergate, and he still hasn't said he won't vote for George Bush. Also remember that in 2000 he first said that Gore had won Florida and the election and then he backed down under pressure from the Bush coup makers.