CON GAMES: Neocons I Have Known

June 23rd, 2008 at 06:03pm Michael Conniff 2

Some of my best friends are neocons. Like the swallows of Capistrano, the upper crust that has segued to Aspen for the summer season have among their number a choice selection of neoconservatives. Given the nature of my friendships with said neocons—more degrees than a thermometer—you would have thunk that I might have a less infrequent reading on the dominant foreign policy philosophy of our time. But neocons are funny that way: if you’re not on their side they’d just as soon do without you.

Neocons don’t play well with others.

Case in point. An Aspen neocon invites Richard Perle, one of the lower-case godfathers of neoconservatism to his house for a private presentation for sixty bucks a head. Everyone I know gets invited—except me—even though said neocon has been a guest on my “Con Games” radio show and has an open invitation to return. As it was I had to hear second-hand by someone who walked out that Richard Perle still takes no responsibility for the carnage in Iraq, that he claims to this day there was only one neoconservative, Dennis Wolfowitz, in the Bush Administration. That sounds like a whopper and I’m sorry I missed it.

My hope is it was all an oversight and it may well be. But how about this? I invite two neocons out to lunch in Aspen, thinking they would have much in common and that this would be fun. I should have worn my Kevlar vest. Not only was there no backing down about Iraq despite my hacking away, but when one neocon invited the other over for dinner that week I was odd man out, even though I had done the inviting in the first place. Instead they had dinner on Red Mountain with the conservative candidate for Governor of Colorado.

Let them eat cakewalk.

Oh, well. At least I brought my neocons friends together. I know, I know: as a liberal I’m too sensitive about these things. I keep hoping that I will meet a neoconservative with an open mind—an oxymoron if ever there was one. To me, neoconservatism is about seeing everything as appeasement, no matter the size of the pea-shooter, and making the philosophy fit the crime, regardless of the consequences. By ignoring the opinions of others, neoconservatives have dug themselves a very deep, very black hole.

One exception to the rule: I have friend in Aspen who is a neocon dyed in the bull—he still believes Saddam Hussein’s nuclear weapons reside in Syria—but he’s also the greatest guy I know, and happy to argue politics down the line. So maybe there’s hope. Maybe the problem isn’t that neoconservatives won’t listen to anyone who disagrees, but that liberals need to give them the love.

For the neocons out there, it can be lonely at the top, especially when your friends tell you that right or wrong you are always right.

Entry Filed under: Politics, Colorado, Con Games, United Post

11 Comments Add your own

1. Mitch Mulhall | June 23rd, 2008 at 11:06 pm

Michael,

Would you like some cheese with your whine?

For Pete's sake, your yearning for an invite makes me think you should be writing for Vanity Fair, or Huffington Post. As a long-time listener, not to mention reader, do me a favor and get the weak shite out of here.

Cheers,
2. reckless G | June 24th, 2008 at 6:15 am

"By ignoring the opinions of others, neoconservatives have dug themselves a very deep, very black hole."

Which all of us regardless of liberal or conservative leanings, are being sucked down. Great dissertation on neocons Michael, I couldn't have said it better myself!

The secret to being a liberal in a neocon world is that you just have to enjoy the argument for argument's sake. You can't expect to convert them. If they're at all offended by your insinuations, they'll take their marbles and go play with their own kind. But if they like to argue and don't feel too threatened by your tone, they'll keep talking and reveal some interesting stuff.

Just look at it from an anthropological point of view, which is how I take Con Games and Aspen Post in general; hearing what others believe and how they justify those beliefs is just a fascinating way to pass the time.

For that I thank you and advise you to ignore Mitch's sour comment. He must've had a bad day.
3. Mitch Mulhall | June 24th, 2008 at 10:54 am

G,

Michael's suggestion that an inability to listen to opinion is a trait unique to neocons is patently erroneous. It is far too common in the realm of politics.

Perhaps I was a bit harsh about Michael's obvious bitterness over his absence on that guest list. Remember when his picture appeared on the front page of an Aspen newspaper with other local notables? He spent several radio segments pointing out that the paper's caption writer failed to acknowledge his prominence in the photo. I realize Michael's wired differently when it comes to things social, but I don't think it's beneficial to him to advertise this kind of disappointment.

Cheers,
4. reckless G | June 25th, 2008 at 8:33 am

Mitch,

I admire Michael's willingness to expose his human foibles, both on radio and in print. We're all selfish, egotistical, attention seeking animals. So what's wrong with admitting that and using the experience of it as a springboard for discussion?

I think he made a very good point about the fact that those who want to go on believing they are right (regardless of political leanings, but most notably evident in neocons), have a tendency to shun those who challenge their beliefs.

This is why Con Games and Aspen Post are so remarkable. Both offer a place for people of all opinions to respectfully disagree and to challenge each other's perspectives. Michael is rarely in the position of preaching to the choir. He welcomes criticism of his views as a converation starter, and seeks out dialog with those on the opposite side of the political spectrum.

As has been pointed out by one of our mutual friends, Michael's approach is anything but humble. And as I have often replied; in a field where self-promotion is imperative to success, humility will get you nowhere.
5. mgman | June 25th, 2008 at 9:06 am

I think neocon-bashing is more fun right now than liberal-bashing because it’s a little newer and we’re bored with the same old liberal-bashing rants. That said, something unique to neocons that I’ve experienced is that they see no point in discussing issues with those who have different views because they see those people as the enemy that is to be defeated. They’ve become simplistic in their thinking and solutions which has led us to; “you’re either with us or against us.”

Take a current issue, energy, and you see that the neocon solution is one-sided-my-way-or-the-highway-dogma. The Bush administration had about as much power as one party can get in our political system and they completely dropped the ball on energy because of this neoconservative simplistic canon.

Obama had his first major blunder in political maneuvering when John McCain announced his idea for a 300 million dollar competition for a ‘mega-battery’ that would take electric cars to the next level, and fast. A political maneuver, yes. But that is how elections are won. While not original, it’s a good idea that involves throwing a small chunk of the money we dish to the government at something seemingly worthwhile. Obama should have beaten McCain to the idea table and not just have to respond to it. Most great technologies developed from government funded research (unfortunately, most in military applications but let’s not go there). In the 1920’s, aviation was seen as a novelty that would never go anywhere. But prizes for aviation accomplishments changed all that: see Lindberg. Notably, these were mostly wealthy, private sector competitions in an economic environment vastly different that the one we've been in for the last 30 to 40 years.

Sticking with the subject, the neocon response to this is, “If the market were ready for a mega-battery, there would be one there”………Horse excreta!! In the U.S., the auto is a unique and fundamental piece of the way we live, good or bad. The ratio of how much we spend on moving the car around to the value from it has to remain in a certain balance for this to work. We’re not talking about dvd players or blenders here. This ‘crisis’ is good for us because it’s been a bi-partisan failure for decades and while blame is hurled at the two parties, the transition will come from a melding of government and private money and our ingenuity.
6. Mitch Mulhall | June 25th, 2008 at 9:19 pm

[that [a 300 million dollar competition for a ‘mega-battery’] is how elections are won.]

No, that is how electrons are won.

[As has been pointed out by one of our mutual friends...]

I really miss Rat's comments and posts.

[humility will get you nowhere.]

I see what you mean by that. I do not agree.

Cheers,
7. reckless G | June 26th, 2008 at 6:11 am

Mitch,

You do not agree with me? How unusual.

Please give me an example of a humble yet successful radio talk show host, and I'll concede the point.

mgman,

Good observations. You seem to be both a realist and an optimist, but I can only join you on the first. I don’t think we’re going to pull out of this tailspin before we crash.

The bi-partisan failures of the past 30 to 40 years amount to nothing next to the purposeful dismantling of democracy in America by the neocons during the same period. I liken the neocon movement to the farmer in the fable; The Goose that Layed the Golden Egg. The American taxpayer/treasury is the goose. They think they’re setting themselves up for extreme wealth and world domination, but all they’re really doing is destroying the system that gives them their power. Eventually their own actions will bite them in the ass, but not before we’re all made to suffer the consequences.

OK, ‘nuff pessimism. Please enjoy your day.
8. Mitch Mulhall | June 26th, 2008 at 7:37 pm

G,

Today Mayor Ireland called Michael a "shock jock."

This is almost as much of a reach as writing, "Give me an example of a humble yet successful radio talk show host, and I'll concede the point."

Don't worry. The day you concede a point, I won't be the one who made it.

Cheers,
9. Mitch Mulhall | June 26th, 2008 at 10:29 pm

Or by "radio," maybe this is what you meant:

Cheers,
10. THX1138 | July 13th, 2008 at 10:36 pm

I am a conservative, does this mean I am a neoconservative? I consider myself very open minded and seeking the truth in everything. I want to know the truth as much as I can find it, and not be stalled by some peoples corrupt, motivational teaching. I also am not racist, stupid, redneck, unsuffisticated, or incapable of achieving great things without a great amount of education, by being a conservative. I also like to smoke weed and I believe in Jesus. Did this just blow all your stereotypes to hell? I cant believe that our country is so devided and thinks so little about solutions to fixing real issues. I have not heard one good debate, detailed position, or a solution to any issues of security or economy by either current presidential candidate. I do see many intelligent people waisting too many words with out any resolve, just pointing fingers.
11. reckless G | July 16th, 2008 at 8:09 pm

THX1138,

Apparently, conservatives come in all shapes and sizes.

Sometimes Conniff's views come off as conservative, while he considers himself a liberal. People who know me through my letters to the editor confuse me for a liberal, when I consider myself a conservative. It's becoming increasingly harder to judge a book by its cover.

A neoconservative however is an entirely different animal, a dangerous animal, a freakish hybrid, an invasive species…ok you get the point.

As Michael noted; neocons cannot be reasoned with or brought to the middle, unlike most conservatives I know. From the sound of it THX you are a perfectly normal conservative, of the sort this country was founded by. I’ll bet they even smoked a little weed now and then.