Where the Right Went Wrong: How Neoconservatives Subverted the Reagan Revolution and Hijacked the Bush Presidency
by Pat Buchanan, published Sept. 2004


(Click for Amazon book review)

OnTheIssues.org BOOK REVIEW:

Pat Buchanan was once a Republican, but he does not like the Republican Party anymore. He DOES like Ronald Reagan -- the book is dedicated to him -- but not the current crop of Republicans. They are "Conservative Impersonators," according to the title of chapter 7. Buchanan's falling-out with the Republican Party came about because the neoconservatives took over the party. That's why he ran for President against Bush in 2000 -- because the neocons took control of Bush's campaign and then his presidency.

Buchanan explains why he wrote the book (p. 10): "It is about where conservatives lost the way, about where the Right went wrong…. And it is about a cabal that betrayed the good cause of conservatism, because, from the very beginning, they never believed in it. They had another agenda all along. So, the purpose of this book is to retrace our steps to see where we lost the way, and rediscover the way back home to a conservative politics of principle."

The title of chapter 7, "Conservative Impersonators," refers to the neocons too. Buchanan concludes, "The neoconservatives are not really conservatives at all. They are impostors and opportunists. They defected from liberalism only when they saw conservatism in the ascendancy."

Buchanan explains, in great detail, what true conservatives believe. He differs substantially from Bush's views (and the neocon view) on the Iraq War in particular. Buchanan asserts that the Iraq War was wrong, and that the neocons lied (and continue to lie) to the American people about jihadist goals and Islam in general. He deeply researched those assertions: he includes 20 pages on the history of Islam (pp. 59-79). And plenty more history about the French, Chinese, and Russian revolutions, as the basis for other disagreements with the neocons.

In summary, Buchanan left the GOP and ran in 2000 because he disliked Bush and the neocons who had taken over the GOP. This book should convince all readers that Buchanan was sincere in those beliefs.

-- Jesse Gordon, editor-in-chief, OnTheIssues.org, November 2011

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Budget & Economy     1971: We are all Keynesians now.     Outsourcing and imports let foreigners control US economy.

Civil Rights     Opposed banning homosexual sodomy laws.     OpEd: abdicated power in 2004 & allowed gay marriage.

Environment     Endangered Species Act hurts jobs to protect bugs & weeds.

Families & Children     Moral & cultural revolution destroyed American family.

Foreign Policy     China today does not threaten any vital US interests.     Increased foreign aid by 65% from 2002 to 2006.     Foreign aid, like welfare, creates permanent dependency.     Never be isolationist; but stop being interventionist.     Avoid the democratist temptation of the internationalists.

Free Trade     America’s freedom is tied to her economic independence.

Government Reform     Told friends he failed to cut size of government enough.

Homeland Security     OpEd: Pre-emptive war is not America's way.     Roll back Communism, not just containment.     Wolfowitz Doctrine disowned by Bush-I became Bush-II policy.     1992: No Pax Americana.     1992: End Cold War military spending levels.     Pentagon depends on foreign manufacturing to defend America.

Immigration     America is becoming Mexamerica.

Principles & Values     Pragmatism is the order of the day of the GOP.     Neoconservatives are opportunists, not conservatives.

Tax Reform     Tariffs are the best form of taxes.     Dependent citizens have no incentive to restrain government.

Technology     Trip to Mars can't be reconciled with $500B deficit.

War & Peace     Iraq War is imperial overstretch & may cause US collapse.     1998: Rejected overthrowing Saddam as US policy.     1998: Encouraged overthrowing Saddam as US policy.     9/12/01: Urged focus on Al Qaeda, not Iraq.     9/12/01: Urged focus on Iraq, not Al Qaeda.     No conceivable gain from conflict with China.     Pre-emptive war doctrine is a formula for endless conflict.     Bush’s war risks the safety of America.

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