This morning, Dan Riehl and Stacy McCain react to their invitation to join the cadre of Intellectual Smegmatism against the unwashed masses of Movement Conservatives.
A little background may be in order. Finding that the Democrats are hopelessly divided against themselves over the issue of health care, and reeling from the forced departure of Van Jones, the intellectuals in the party have determined that these activated citizens are really wagging the dog–which would be them, naturally: the foreordained leaders by virtue of their highly developed crania, which even the most rank amateur of phrenology can see. So, it’s time for a purge of WND, which has given a voice to “the paranoid style.” Nevermind that there really is an Obama Youth League. (I keed!)
So, useful idiots and intellectual panjandrums in their own conceit Rick Moran and Dave Wiegel pen pieces lamenting the death of intellectualism in conservatism, joined by Patrick Ruffini, also at The Next Right, and echoed by Megan McArdle, whereupon these views are instantly recapitulated on The Rachel Maddow Show. Ana Marie Cox is guest hosting, and her guest is Tanenhaus, editor of the NYT Review of Books, whose own book, happily, is about . . . The Death of Conservatism.
He recalls true conservative intellectual William F. Buckley, Jr., who, being dead, is laudable. Buckley famously booted the John Birch Society from the ranks of mainstream conservatism, with his denunciations read into the Congressional Record. Where, Tanenhaus wonders, are the equivalent figures in today’s conservative movement?
I’ll tell you what. Let’s get Cornyn to denounce the Birthers, and Pelosi to denounce the Truthers. Problem is, she can’t: they’re her base. Mustn’t let plebes seize power through such reactionary means as plebescites.
This is a little like the pro-reform doctor who wants opponents of ObamaCare to forego Medicare: sure, just give them back the money they paid into the system, first. But before any of that, let’s find out from Obama and Arianna whether it’s acceptable to have Truthers in positions of high government trust.
Ha – intellectualism was killed by the left – the same that cannot discern black from white – yet fling indefensible bumper-sticker slogans like biblical truisms.
Good post, Dan.
Spot-on, Dan.
And thanks for the link.
Dan, I’d be perfectly satisfied if they’d just quit stealing any more for Medicare.
[...] The Smegmatists: I’ll tell you what. Let’s get Cornyn to denounce the Birthers, and Pelosi to denounce the Truthers. Problem is, she can’t: they’re her base. Mustn’t let plebes seize power through such reactionary means as plebescites. [...]