New Year Old Ideas Restated....

Modern U.S. conservatism is a dying political phenomenon.
It has "promised" itself to death.
Given that, modern conservatism either reneges on it's solemn pledges, or else it simply contradicts itself in some unpleasant fashion, but it never ever delivers on much of anything.
That is because if it ever did, the country would probably go up in chunks.
George Bush Jr. is the most flexively conservative US President in some forty years, and the country has never been more divided, indebted, hag-ridden and miserable.
As such, conservatism abides for the moment chiefly because it is not so much a doctrine or cohesive ideology but rather an interlocking and mutually reinforcing collection of cherished myths.

1.) The myth of grievance: Conservatives are the only oppressed class in the USA, Jeff Jacoby and sundry radio windbags send their kinder to toney private schools on the strength of this one alone.

2.) The myth of christian politics: Christ Jesus Universal and Triumphant has been exiled from public life by a tiny conspiratorial cabal of globalized secular humanists. GOP politicians will bring Jesus back and give him a high cabinet post or their 2008 Vice Presidential nomination if need be.

3.) The Myth of Rugged Individualism: The unstated goal of U.S. conservatism is to sire a sort of "Homo Conservatus-Americanus", a great strappinjg brute who will wax still stronger in a country free of personal entitlements like health insurance and voting.

4.) The Myth of Small Government: How small is "GOP small"?
Small enough to bungle Hurricane Katrina, screw up the Middle East, run up a huger national debt and openly distribute new boons and perks to your most fervent supporters. Of all the myths that compose modern conservatism, "small government" is the most malevolent.

Debased and corrupt, this dying theology is kep alive and relevant by a nasty and brutish class of native enforcers. Persons like Karl Rove and Grover Norquist are very very necessary given the decline in conservatism's approval rating these last eight years.
They know what they want and are happily willing to do anything to get it.
Therefore the task of liberals, democrats and independent progressives whether we win or not this year is to prepare for the arrival of "post conservative civilization".
That means less worrying about civility and the restoration of bipartisanship and more concern with refuting by deed the malevolent consequences of a discredited ideology.
Making nicey-nice with the GOP hasn't don't American any good for eight years now...no point in continuing something with no pay off.
Maybe someday U.S. conservatism will evolve into something more public spirited with a real willingness to negotiate in good faith, but til then we must be prepared for more bitterness and division, no best is so vicious save when it is cornered.