Washington-based foreign affairs analyst Nile Gardiner in his blog for the Daily Telegraph:
Last November, liberal commentators wrote off conservatism in America as dead and buried. As the latest Gallup poll shows they were spectacularly wrong. It is no coincidence that the most watched news network, the top selling national newspaper, and the most listened to radio shows in the United States are now all conservative.
The success of Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and talk radio hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin, is a powerful symbol of a vigorous challenge to current liberal dominance of Washington. The vast conservative blogosphere is also an increasingly influential force, from National Review’s The Corner to The Drudge Report, as are leading conservative commentators such as Charles Krauthammer. Combine that with a huge rise in membership this year for grass roots conservative groups campaigning against higher taxes, socialized health care, increased government spending, and defence cuts, and you have the foundations of another conservative revolution.
The spirit of Ronald Reagan is alive and well in America, exemplified by strong public backing for the principles of limited government, free enterprise, individual responsibility and a strong defence. The White House should sit up and take note: it is liberalism, and not conservatism, that is in decline in the United States.
Thanks: Sandra Kennedy.
As US President, Ronald Reagan started with certain disadvantages. His having previously been a film celebrity, and his not having ever been rated among the leading ones. Because of this he wasn't taken as seriously as he should have been to begin with, which is all more to his credit because he became a very fine US President.
ReplyDeleteIt's revealing how quickly one can become nostalgic, even after having enthusiastically welcomed what was generally considered a necessary change. A lofty representation of new hope and yes we cans. One might put such a reaction down to human nature, but maybe it also has a lot to do with doubts about the wisdom of trying to apply certain yes we cans.
I've observed a few liberal essays claiming the death of conservatism. In my opinion, it's off.
ReplyDeleteConservatism is not monolithic but they speak and write as if it is.
There are people who say, "There is one party in the U.S. and it has two factions, the Dems and the Repubs" ..
ReplyDeleteYes. They're both in bed with corporations.
ReplyDeleteThere's the "ideological" conservative and liberal and the "political." The two don't always work hand in hand. Many old Republicans don't accept the conservatism being espoused in the present GOP. I would think it's the same for liberals with the Democrats. Just a theoretical perception. I could be wrong.