I think that means "ultra conservative" (see Donald Rumsfeld). Its also the Dems new bad word for Republicans that lean so far right they fall over.
Actually, the first few times I heard the term used was people applying it to themselves. I have no idea what it means, though.
ne·o·con·ser·va·tism also ne·o-con·ser·va·tism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-kn-sûrv-tzm) n. An intellectual and political movement in favor of political, economic, and social conservatism that arose in opposition to the perceived liberalism of the 1960s: “The neo-conservatism of the 1980s is a replay of the New Conservatism of the 1950s, which was itself a replay of the New Era philosophy of the 1920s” (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.).
Optimus Prime: Autobots, we must stop the Neocons! MegaDon: Muwahahahahaha, you'll never stop us Prime.
In the popular press "neocon" is thrown out too easy--and yes is used to describe more radical or ultra conservatives. To me this is unforturnate, because a "neocon" should refer to someone with conservative leanings but who may not fit in the traditional conservative box. In other words I usually think of someone who is generally conservative but maybe not in one of the following areas--economic policy (they may or may not be budget hawks like McCain or Bob Dole or Greenspan, or they may be voodoo economic subscribers), foreign policy, or social policy (libertarian, NE Republican types). It is too bad neocon has been thrown out for people like Rumsfield because now people like Snow, McCain, Greenspan and a few other moderate or independent-thinking (versus rank and file part line types) conservatives don't really have a title to grab.
Neocon is used almost exactly like New Democrat was. And they're both perfectly suitable terms for groups of party members who represent a movement to advocate policy shifts in their parties. Whether you like their ideas or not, they definitely are "neo" "conservatives." Interesting that both the neo (or new) conservatives and the New Dems both advocated moves to the right. I don't have a point there, just find it interesting.
You are mostly right. But in some ways, the neocons shift to the middle. Paleoconservatives, the old right, favor things like closing immigration, while neocons are more open to immigration and things like granting amnesty to illegal Mexican immigrants. Paleoconservatives are also more isolationist in foreign policy, while neoconservatives believe in using American power and spreading democratic ideals, in the tradition of Ronald Reagan. They also support free markets, like neoliberals. Neoconservatives are probably a little less culturaly conservative to a certain extent as well. I think of the paleoconservatives a the far-right, and dying, part of the right.
That sounds right. I think this thread as successfully, and fairly come up with a good definition. That's cool, no big flare ups and arguments.
This is BS..are you trying to make it look like this is from a dictionary. Its not. Neoconservative means new conservative...Its current use is usually associated with conservatives who supported the"Contract For America", a tool that nationalized conservatives.. that layed aside the explosive issues of abortion and school prayer ...and concentrated on conservative values that had a wider appeal for the entire nation.
This is what I found at Merriam-Webster's website. One entry found for neoconservative. Main Entry: neo·con·ser·va·tive Pronunciation: -k&n-'s&r-v&-tiv Function: noun Date: 1952 : a former liberal espousing political conservatism - neo·con·ser·va·tism /-v&-"ti-z&m/ noun - neoconservative adjective I guess this is what it used to mean.
