A New Era Dawns- the Mount Vernon Statement!
Get ready for a shattering breakthrough in political ideology! A group of top Conservatives have just issued a call to a new order for our country! This document, destined to stand along the Constitution, the Gettysburg address and the pilot of "My Mother the Car" as seminal statements in our history, is called the "Mount Vernon Statement; although I am not sure why, as the people at Mount Vernon refused to allow it to be used for this cheap political stunt. Anyway, that makes it a good start for Conservatives- they're lying before they even get past the title. Well, for your elucidation, here it is- the conservative blueprint for our future, printed here in its entirety, with a few random jeers from Green Eagle.
Mount Vernon Statement
We recommit ourselves to the ideas of the American Founding. Through the Constitution, the Founders created an enduring framework of limited government based on the rule of law. They sought to secure national independence, provide for economic opportunity, establish true religious liberty and maintain a flourishing society of republican self-government.
Because Democratic self government would be anathema to the founding fathers. That goes without saying, right?
These principles define us as a country and inspire us as a people. They are responsible for a prosperous, just nation unlike any other in the world.
And, what would a conservative statement be without a little meaningless, self-congratulatory jingoism, right?
They are our highest achievements, serving not only as powerful beacons to all who strive for freedom and seek self-government, but as warnings to tyrants and despots everywhere.
Because, let us say, the clauses in the constitution giving Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States, to coin money, to establish post offices and post roads, or to promote the progress of science and useful arts, will strike terror in the hearts of dictators.
Each one of these founding ideas is presently under sustained attack.
What? the right of the government to coin money? Boy, I never heard that one.
In recent decades, America’s principles have been undermined and redefined in our culture, our universities and our politics. The selfevident truths of 1776 have been supplanted by the notion that no such truths exist. The federal government today ignores the limits of the Constitution, which is increasingly dismissed as obsolete and irrelevant.
Some insist that America must change, cast off the old and put on the new. But where would this lead — forward or backward, up or down?
I mean, who knows? It might lead sideways for all we know. And then, we would all have to walk like crabs- something that would make George Washington spin in his grave.
Isn’t this idea of change an empty promise or even a dangerous deception?
No, better to keep heading down the path to a depression. At least we know where we'll be then. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't, right? Wait...that's not how the saying goes, is it?
The change we urgently need, a change consistent with the American ideal, is not movement away from but toward our founding principles. At this important time, we need a restatement of Constitutional conservatism grounded in the priceless principle of ordered liberty articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Constitutional conservatism. Because if there is one thing that these founding fathers, who rebelled against the established rulers and created an entirely new form of government, would have hated, it is surely the idea of change.
The conservatism of the Declaration asserts self-evident truths based on the laws of nature and nature’s God. It defends life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It traces authority to the consent of the governed. It recognizes man’s self-interest but also his capacity for virtue.
Of course, the Declaration of Independence, however worthy, has no status in American law.
The conservatism of the Constitution limits government’s powers but ensures that government performs its proper job effectively. It refines popular will through the filter of representation. It provides checks and balances through the several branches of government and a federal republic.
A Constitutional conservatism unites all conservatives through the natural fusion provided by American principles. It reminds economic conservatives that morality is essential to limited government, social conservatives that unlimited government is a threat to moral self-government, and national security conservatives that energetic but responsible government is the key to America’s safety and leadership role in the world.
It reminds the rest of us how boring it is possible to be in a few hundred words.
A Constitutional conservatism based on first principles provides the framework for a consistent and meaningful policy agenda.
* It applies the principle of limited government based on the
rule of law to every proposal.
* It honors the central place of individual liberty in American
politics and life.
* It encourages free enterprise, the individual entrepreneur, and
economic reforms grounded in market solutions.
It certainly does no such thing.
* It supports America’s national interest in advancing freedom
and opposing tyranny in the world and prudently considers what we can and should do to that
end.
Where? Where in the constitution is there anything about what we should do to oppose tyranny?
* It informs conservatism’s firm defense of family, neighborhood,
community, and faith.
And of course, liberals would never support the rule of law, individual liberty or opposing tyranny, let alone family and community. No, only conservatives believe in those things. Liberals believe in Communism and Jihad.
If we are to succeed in the critical political and policy battles ahead, we must be certain of our purpose.
We must begin by retaking and resolutely defending the high ground of America’s founding principles.
Maybe you could retake the high ground by not causing depressions or starting wars of aggression, or torturing people, or giving rich people all the money. How about that for a start?
Well, there it is. Every word. Please take the time to notice one thing: this entire document is composed of nothing but jingoistic catch phrases. There is not one single concrete proposal in the entire thing. There is not one attempt to deal with any of the problems facing our country, let alone confront their causes. This is, of course, because conservatives have no answers, only the same old lies, designed to prolong our nation's descent into the cesspool of greed and hatred that best serves the purpose of their insatiable masters.
And this hollow piece of meaningless trash leads to the following response from the worthless fool, Wolf Blitzer, who asks, as Digby reports: "if this "Mt Vernon Statement" will launch a new era of conservative ascendance." Can it be long before we are treated to Charles Krauthammer, David Broder and all the rest speculating on the brave new future for conservatism to be ushered in by this idiotic document?
Mount Vernon Statement
We recommit ourselves to the ideas of the American Founding. Through the Constitution, the Founders created an enduring framework of limited government based on the rule of law. They sought to secure national independence, provide for economic opportunity, establish true religious liberty and maintain a flourishing society of republican self-government.
Because Democratic self government would be anathema to the founding fathers. That goes without saying, right?
These principles define us as a country and inspire us as a people. They are responsible for a prosperous, just nation unlike any other in the world.
And, what would a conservative statement be without a little meaningless, self-congratulatory jingoism, right?
They are our highest achievements, serving not only as powerful beacons to all who strive for freedom and seek self-government, but as warnings to tyrants and despots everywhere.
Because, let us say, the clauses in the constitution giving Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States, to coin money, to establish post offices and post roads, or to promote the progress of science and useful arts, will strike terror in the hearts of dictators.
Each one of these founding ideas is presently under sustained attack.
What? the right of the government to coin money? Boy, I never heard that one.
In recent decades, America’s principles have been undermined and redefined in our culture, our universities and our politics. The selfevident truths of 1776 have been supplanted by the notion that no such truths exist. The federal government today ignores the limits of the Constitution, which is increasingly dismissed as obsolete and irrelevant.
Some insist that America must change, cast off the old and put on the new. But where would this lead — forward or backward, up or down?
I mean, who knows? It might lead sideways for all we know. And then, we would all have to walk like crabs- something that would make George Washington spin in his grave.
Isn’t this idea of change an empty promise or even a dangerous deception?
No, better to keep heading down the path to a depression. At least we know where we'll be then. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't, right? Wait...that's not how the saying goes, is it?
The change we urgently need, a change consistent with the American ideal, is not movement away from but toward our founding principles. At this important time, we need a restatement of Constitutional conservatism grounded in the priceless principle of ordered liberty articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Constitutional conservatism. Because if there is one thing that these founding fathers, who rebelled against the established rulers and created an entirely new form of government, would have hated, it is surely the idea of change.
The conservatism of the Declaration asserts self-evident truths based on the laws of nature and nature’s God. It defends life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It traces authority to the consent of the governed. It recognizes man’s self-interest but also his capacity for virtue.
Of course, the Declaration of Independence, however worthy, has no status in American law.
The conservatism of the Constitution limits government’s powers but ensures that government performs its proper job effectively. It refines popular will through the filter of representation. It provides checks and balances through the several branches of government and a federal republic.
A Constitutional conservatism unites all conservatives through the natural fusion provided by American principles. It reminds economic conservatives that morality is essential to limited government, social conservatives that unlimited government is a threat to moral self-government, and national security conservatives that energetic but responsible government is the key to America’s safety and leadership role in the world.
It reminds the rest of us how boring it is possible to be in a few hundred words.
A Constitutional conservatism based on first principles provides the framework for a consistent and meaningful policy agenda.
* It applies the principle of limited government based on the
rule of law to every proposal.
* It honors the central place of individual liberty in American
politics and life.
* It encourages free enterprise, the individual entrepreneur, and
economic reforms grounded in market solutions.
It certainly does no such thing.
* It supports America’s national interest in advancing freedom
and opposing tyranny in the world and prudently considers what we can and should do to that
end.
Where? Where in the constitution is there anything about what we should do to oppose tyranny?
* It informs conservatism’s firm defense of family, neighborhood,
community, and faith.
And of course, liberals would never support the rule of law, individual liberty or opposing tyranny, let alone family and community. No, only conservatives believe in those things. Liberals believe in Communism and Jihad.
If we are to succeed in the critical political and policy battles ahead, we must be certain of our purpose.
We must begin by retaking and resolutely defending the high ground of America’s founding principles.
Maybe you could retake the high ground by not causing depressions or starting wars of aggression, or torturing people, or giving rich people all the money. How about that for a start?
Well, there it is. Every word. Please take the time to notice one thing: this entire document is composed of nothing but jingoistic catch phrases. There is not one single concrete proposal in the entire thing. There is not one attempt to deal with any of the problems facing our country, let alone confront their causes. This is, of course, because conservatives have no answers, only the same old lies, designed to prolong our nation's descent into the cesspool of greed and hatred that best serves the purpose of their insatiable masters.
And this hollow piece of meaningless trash leads to the following response from the worthless fool, Wolf Blitzer, who asks, as Digby reports: "if this "Mt Vernon Statement" will launch a new era of conservative ascendance." Can it be long before we are treated to Charles Krauthammer, David Broder and all the rest speculating on the brave new future for conservatism to be ushered in by this idiotic document?
Comments
I was particularly chilled by the call for 'ordered liberty'.
You don't know me yet, do you?
Of course I read the Republican "budget." It only took a couple of minutes, what with no numbers and all.
Listen, right now I am reading Hew Strachan's book on World War I, and a nice book on the Nazi collaboration of IG Farben. I'm in the middle of Winston Churchill's history of WWII, and Arthur Schlesinger's work on FDR. And this is in addition to my 12 hours a day job. What are you reading for fun these days?
Do you blog at work?
Well I have a dandy book on gun control by Harry Wilson. I read the Bible regularly so it is always on my list. And I have a book I am rereading about discussing Christianity with nonbelievers called Tactics.
Maybe you should do more research rather than read other people's opinions.