I may be behind the times with this (it's pre-9/11) but this is the first I've heard of this movement. Just skimming this really explains the current neo-conservative trends in politics. Excerpts are from an essay titled The Integration of Theory and Practice: A Program for the New Traditionalist Movement by Eric Heubeck, a proported proxy writer for Paul Wyrich.

http://tinyurl.com/22xkb3

Quote :

"We will not try to reform the existing institutions. We only intend to weaken them, and eventually destroy them. We will endeavor to knock our opponents off-balance and unsettle them at every opportunity. All of our constructive energies will be dedicated to the creation of our own institutions…. We will maintain a constant barrage of criticism against the Left. We will attack the very legitimacy of the Left. We will not give them a moment’s rest. We will endeavor to prove that the Left does not deserve to hold sway over the heart and mind of a single American. We will offer constant reminders that there is an alternative, there is a better way. When people have had enough of the sickness and decay of today’s American culture, they will be embraced by and welcomed into the New Traditionalist movement. The rejection of the existing society by the people will thus be accomplished by pushing them and pulling them simultaneously. We will use guerrilla tactics to undermine the legitimacy of the dominant regime…. We must create a countervailing force that is just as adept as the Left at intimidating people and institutions that are used as tools of left-wing activism but are not ideologically committed, such as Hollywood celebrities, multinational corporations, and university administrators. We must be feared, so that they will think twice before opening their mouths…. We will be results-oriented rather than good intentions-oriented. Making a good-faith effort and being ideologically sound will be less important than advancing the goals of the movement…"

I believe some of this is already happening. Conservatives have made a huge point of labeling the media liberal in recent years and attacking left-leaning celebrities. Even though this group has been around for decades, it seems that the Bush Administration has quickly perpetuated these ideals.

So my question is, do conservatives really fear the "leftist elite" so much that they create (or at least buy into) plans like this?

8/2/2007 4:27:56 PM

Why do you assume they must fear liberals to try and undermine them? It seems like perfectly sensible methods of defeating opposing idiologies.

It is politics, a lot of people take it very seriously, that was obviously written by one of these people. I have no doubt that similar organizations exist on the left. Is it your assertion that such left leaning movements are similarly founded upon fear of conservatism? Oh, wait, maybe the corporations are out to get us... guess that makes the left's fear rational.

8/2/2007 5:29:21 PM

Quote :

"I believe some of this is already happening. Conservatives have made a huge point of labeling the media liberal in recent years and attacking left-leaning celebrities. Even though this group has been around for decades, it seems that the Bush Administration has quickly perpetuated these ideals"

Conservatives have been saying the media has a "liberal" bias for the past 30 years, where have you been? It isn't a recent phenomenon. Left-leaning celebrities? You mean batshit crazy celebrities that say incredibly stupid stuff and then get hammered for it? (Baldwin anyone?)

[Edited on August 2, 2007 at 7:38 PM. Reason : .]

8/2/2007 7:37:49 PM

i fell asleep reading the title of this thread. fyi.

8/2/2007 10:50:07 PM

I know it's been the "liberal media" for decades, but it seems like in the past 5 or so years it's been really blown out of proportion. I guess that may be in part because of new forms of media like the internet and 24 hour news networks, I'm not sure. Just saying it seems like everywhere I turn everyone is constantly bitching about how liberal the media is.

And no it's not my assertion that left groups are founded on a similar type of fear. IMO it seems like neocons et. al. really do have this doomsday-like fear that if the left gets the slightest taste of power we'll all be working for government owned factories and calling each other comrade.

Honestly if you know of any groups with as sinister ideas on the left I'd love to read their propaganda too.

8/2/2007 11:19:07 PM

Maybe this would have been more relevant about two or three years ago, but right now with the conservative movement in disarray and the liberal/progressive movement on the offensive, I think a lot of this really is less applicable. If anything, it seems that some of the fringe left is taking pages out of this playbook.

8/2/2007 11:52:58 PM

Quote :

"I know it's been the "liberal media" for decades, but it seems like in the past 5 or so years it's been really blown out of proportion. I guess that may be in part because of new forms of media like the internet and 24 hour news networks, I'm not sure. Just saying it seems like everywhere I turn everyone is constantly bitching about how liberal the media is."

Maybe you weren't old enough back in the 90's, but I would say that it was much more common back then to hear the term. (Especially mid-90's height of Limbaugh of the Republican takeover).

8/3/2007 7:58:05 AM

It has picked up steam recently because the media itself has gone through a revolution and it is much easier to get on the air than it used to be. The internet and the expansion of AM radio have all given rise to alternative voices.

Quote :

"I believe some of this is already happening. "

I disagree wholeheartedly. The conservatives in power are short-sighted, ideological, neo-cons whose view of the world can be wrapped in a few poorly thought out jingoistic phrases. Paleo-conservatives and classical liberals have existed for a long time, though they've largely been ignored by the current Republican party.

Quote :

"Making a good-faith effort and being ideologically sound will be less important than advancing the goals of the movement…"

These sound more like jaded neo-cons with Machiavellian streak.

[Edited on August 3, 2007 at 8:25 AM. Reason : ,]

8/3/2007 8:24:46 AM

Quote :

"Just saying it seems like everywhere I turn everyone is constantly bitching about how liberal the media is."

Maybe you should re-evaluate the friends you hang out with...

8/3/2007 8:35:43 AM

Quote :

"Maybe you weren't old enough back in the 90's..."

Look at your profile, and look at mine.

Quote :

"Maybe you should re-evaluate the friends you hang out with..."

I should say people on TWW bitch about it, and a couple people at work. Plus:

Quote :

"It has picked up steam recently because the media itself has gone through a revolution and it is much easier to get on the air than it used to be. The internet and the expansion of AM radio have all given rise to alternative voices."

Was kind of my point

Anyway, this thread can die for all I care. I just felt the need to post this for some reason when I was bored the other day.

8/3/2007 10:32:47 AM