The 2016 Election and the End of the Conservative Movement

George Hawley

As a general disposition, conservatism is a normal tendency. If we define conservatism as a fear of radical change, then all societies at all times have had a large proportion of conservatives. Indeed, we may even think of conservatism as the default position of most people. For decades, polls have shown that more Americans define themselves as conservatives than liberals. Republicans are especially likely to define themselves as conservatives.

Yet the major institutions of organized conservatism do not define conservatism as a disposition; to the leading journalists and intellectuals associated with the movement, conservatism requires devotion to the free market, support for traditional values, and commitment to an aggressive foreign policy abroad–the so-called three-legs of the conservative stool. These are the hallmarks of a “true conservative.”.......To Read More....

My Take - What they're describing is neo-conservatism.  The third leg of conservatism - an aggressive foreign policy - is going to be a far more passive foreign policy, in line with the libertarians.  

Conservatives have been infused more and more with libertarian concepts.  In short - America is going to stop being the world's policeman starting within about five years because we're broke.  What we've been practicing is the Bretton Woods scenario.....and we no longer have the financial wherewithal to manage it.  And if the E.U. manages to get their own military - as they're attempting to do - that will effectively end NATO, and the cost of maintaining it by the U.S., including closing all those bases that were created as a bulwark against Soviet aggression. 

That's now a red herring as Russia is broke, getting more broke by the day, and like Europe is breeding itself out of existence.  If the demographics continue as they are there'll be no Europe as we know it by 2030 and Russian ethnics may be a minority in their own nation.  That leaves nothing to defend that will matter to the U.S. 

But the author is right about one thing....so-called conservatives aren't conservative.  And when given a clear cut choice between a candidate with a 90% conservative rating versus a candidate with a 50% conservative rating....they will accept the worst possible candidate for which to vote.