Healthy Skepticism
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As Joe mentioned yesterday, a lot of conservatives are down on the New York Times’ choice of Ross Douthat as the latest edition to their opinion page. Liberal praise for Douthat’s “healthy skepticism for many of the trappings of modern capitalist society” probably won’t help matters. ~Jim Antle
That last sentence speak volumes. What better time than now to have a prominent conservative voice offering “healthy skepticism for many of the trappings of modern capitalist society” in a major national newspaper? What sort of sane conservatism can exist that doesn’t already have a “healthy skepticism for many of the trappings of modern capitalist society”? What does it say about all these conservatives who are so “down” on Ross that they would find this healthy skepticism to be a reason to disapprove of him? Nothing good, I’ll wager.
I actually don’t think it matters what liberals praise a conservative for. The praise itself is sufficient taint among the NRO/Weekly Standard crowd.
Err, mine was actually a pro-Douthat post. But it’s just a fact that I came across the Chris Hayes post because conservatives were complaining about it.
I wasn’t meaning to say that you were anything other than pro-Douthat in what you were writing. It’s quite clear from the entire post that you were giving Douthat positive treatment, and perhaps I should have made a point of making that clear right away. My apologies if it has given the wrong impression.
I’m sure conservatives were complaining about Hayes’ post, and that’s part of the problem. Your assessment that this kind of praise from Hayes won’t help him with many conservatives is correct. I am questioning why that should be so and challenging the kind of thinking that would lead them to find this healthy skepticism to be a flaw rather than a desirable quality. Your first sentences happened to describe the problem very succinctly.
‘Your assessment that this kind of praise from Hayes won’t help him with many conservatives is correct. I am questioning why that should be so and challenging the kind of thinking that would lead them to find this healthy skepticism to be a flaw rather than a desirable quality.’
If liberals don’t hate him to death then he’s not a true conservative. it makes no sense but neither does the belief that there is a conservative movement in this country. It’s a cult. To be a member you need to be angry and gullible. Actually understanding what conservatism is about is left to a small group, the inner party as Orwell described it. The rest make sure people are nodding and making the appropriate facial expressions as news is heard.
As Joe mentioned yesterday, a lot of conservatives are down on the New York Times’ choice of Ross Douthat . . .
Joseph Lawler didn’t mention any such thing, at least in the linked article. What he said was:
Certain AmSpec contributors have voiced criticism of Douthat’s brand of reform conservatism in the past.
The three linked articles are as described, and ironically include Jim Antle’s review of Grand New Party.
I’m sure conservatives were complaining about Hayes’ post . . .
Faith is a gift. Do you actually know of any conservative having a word to say about the post?
Have I myself seen the post remarked on anywhere else so far? No, but I haven’t been looking for it yet. I saw it in Jim’s post and take his word for it that there are complaints about it. It is probably the case that these complaints are to be found on conservative blogs that I tend not to frequent, so it may be all over Free Republic and other places where I would not see it.
As it happens, I do know that a lot of conservatives are down on the selection of Ross for this job, so I wasn’t going to quibble with the first sentence. Quite a few are very pleased with the selection, but there is plenty of criticism as well.
One more point–it might be that many conservatives have mentioned this post in conversation, but have not written about it.
Mr. Tomlin,
Drop me a line and I’ll be happy to send you the e-mail where I saw the Hayes post. JimantleATaol.com. As for Joe’s post, I read into it what I already knew about the kvetching.
Jim