The Weekly Standard has been the flagship publication of the neoconservative movement since it first appeared in 1995. William Kristol and Fred Barnes have been at the heart of the magazine, whose influence soared during the Bush administration, when it championed invading Iraq. The news that Rupert Murdoch, the head of News Corp., is selling the magazine to the billionaire Philip Anschutz, who also owns the Washington Examiner, raises some questions about the magazine’s future direction.
Will Kristol and Barnes remain at the helm? Or will the magazine turn toward a more traditional conservatism?
The neoconservative movement has recently suffered several blows. The sun has set on the pugnacious New York Sun, which served as a valuable outlet for neoconservative journalists and authors. The American Enterprise Institute has ousted several neoconservatives, including Joshua Muravchik, from its roster of fellows. But no magazine, it can be safely said, has become more important to the fate of the movement than the Weekly Standard.The Standard’s contribution has been to inject a dose of youth into the movement, a kind of Viagra. It didn’t specialize in long, academic treatises of the kind that Commentary published, with their mandarin language. (Only now is Commentary being overhauled by its new editor John Podhoretz, who has brought on a number of new writers, such as the always stimulating Max Boot, to enliven it.) Instead, the Standard aggressively tried to steer the political conversation in Washington in the direction of neocon doctrine, and, to a surprising degree, succeeded. Some of that success can be ascribed to Barnes, who is a seasoned and savvy journalist with a keen ability to pucture the pretensions of the liberal elite. But the Standard’s greatest feat was to play a decisive role in shaping the debate during the run-up to the Iraq War, when magazines such as the New Republic followed its lead in promoting the toppling of Saddam Hussein.
To a "surprising degree," succeeded?
Strange, that ... maybe we should be "surprised" at how unhinged is the demonization of the neocons?
More at the link.
7 comments:
"To a "surprising degree," succeeded?
Strange, that ... maybe we should be "surprised" at how unhinged is the demonization of the neocons?
Wow... I saw that line as a compliment to the Standard's success at shaping, introducing, and selling neoconservative ideas in DC & elsewhere--which, from 1995 until the presidency of Dubya, wasn't all that hospitable to neocon thought, even among mainstream Republicans--and not as unhinged demonization, at all.
Maybe it's an insult that you have to actually be a neoconservative to see...
"It's a neocon thing... You wouldn't understand."
For me as an outsider to the whole con movement, that wasn't even the most interesting part of the article. Instead, I'm hoping to see folks on both sides of the aisle discuss questions like this, which comes a paragraph or two down from what Donald quoted.:
"There has, however, been little examination among conservatives of the results of the embrace of the neocon program (a notable exception being the extremely penetrating columns of former Standard writer, now New York Times columnist David Brooks). If the Standard’s success helped push the Bush administration in the direction of pursuing a kind of World War III against Islamic terrorism, it also influenced magazines such as National Review. Formerly redoubts of traditional conservatism, skeptical of nation-building and foes of big government, these publications muted—if not abandoned—much of the original faith, to the distress of conservative founding fathers like William F. Buckley, Jr., who depicted the Iraq War as a dangerous Wilsonian crusade."
I worked for News Corp for a few years. I never could quite figure Murdoch's politics, however. He seemed conservative, but didn't he support Hillary Clinton in 2008?
Demonization of the Neo-cons?
I dont know Dr.
Were the Nazi's demonized at the end of WW2, or the Japanese Imperialists?
how about Mussolini and his Capo's?
Strictly situational here...no ideology or personal philosophy. Just reality.
The Imperial Japanese and the Nazi's were ejected from power and later had to stand and deliver on their methodology and reasoning. Most were forgiven some were jailed and some were Hung by there necks till dead......ultimate accountability to the masses you garner, and the paces you put them through, correct?
Although the Neo-cons were as firmly rejected....although it took longer, and without firing a shot within our borders...proof that our country rocks....
The fact remains...the lights are being turned on in many a darkened area...as always the cloak of war is being lifted, the only difference now is that transparency is happening more quickly and is now readily more widespread due to modern technology.
There are viable legal consequences for the actions of the previous admin (no need to hash it out here...we all know it exists, we are presently watching Cheney build a defense in the public forum).
We could see our first ever conclusive exposition that, we indeed are a Republic.....we are ruled by law, not by men....rain or shine we stay the course....our continuity lay in our records of law and its preservation, leaders ideologies and philosophy can be experimented with here, but no one group is above the Law of the land.
We have had three wars of choice within the 21st century, three examples of presidential intervention, the consequences have been inherited from generation to generation since, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq...none of them mobilized us to victory the way the only War declared by Congress had...and was won so quickly won in comparison.
or am I way off base here?
And man,reading the "Ideology" posts it looks like you crazy cats had a great weekend eh,
and....anyone heard what Netanyahu is saying this morning?
timing?
Gordon Brown has just announced Britains largest independent investigation of the war in Iraq.
Wheels are turning...
Murdoch may well just be ejecting all things Neo-con, a liability that could very well land and him in a court room as well? as he attempts to attach his reigns to the next profitable political agenda? as would any unscrupulous capitalist....
Nah...no way, I think....I mean ....
Yes, cracker, you are way off base. Analogizing neocons to the Nazis and Fascists is laughable. You would be better served not to stretch to such extremes.
I do enjoy the Weekly Standard and make it a part of my daily stroll around the Internet. They've many good writers and I hate to single any out, but I am impressed with some of the new ones they've brought on board for the blog.
At least Murdock sold it to the Washington Examiner and not the Washed-up Post.
Now THAT would be a tragedy.
-Dave
Fair enough Tom....I do digress, and I am speaking fundamentally.
Let me rephrase, given the results, requiring accountability is logical, more so a necessity in regards to maintaining the Rule of Law, especially in the realm of governance.
what tickles me is the appearance of Murdoch abandoning ship.
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