fbpx
Politics Foreign Affairs Culture Fellows Program

Out Of Exile

The strange thing for me about the discussion surrounding this article is how completely centered on Washington it is, as if being a “think tanker” for the opposition party is really “going into the wilderness.”  Yes, it’s a common phrase to refer to the party out of power as being in the political wilderness, but what […]

The strange thing for me about the discussion surrounding this article is how completely centered on Washington it is, as if being a “think tanker” for the opposition party is really “going into the wilderness.”  Yes, it’s a common phrase to refer to the party out of power as being in the political wilderness, but what this means in practice is being forced to work in slightly different parts of the same city and the same buildings and generally getting less press coverage in the process.  The discussion about the article usually focuses on another Megan McArdle statement expressing some excitement at the prospect of new thinking that defeat will encourage.  Ms. McArdle has made this sort of statement before and been chided about it in pretty much the same terms she is being chided now (my semi-defense of McArdle from before is here).  As I have said before, I will just add that there is very little fundamental disagreement here, and the people who are “excited” to go into the wilderness want to do it mainly to develop better policy ideas and arguments that will then translate into political success and legislation.  Those who would prefer to see the party they are allied with stay in power, if only in the White House, are worried that too much can happen if the GOP does not control the Presidency for just four years.  I’m sure that’s because controlling it for eight years has worked out so well for all involved.

It seems to me that the real exile that conservatives have been enduring is their exile from their homes for the sake of going to Washington for one reason or another.  My advice, as usual, is for conservatives to go home or make homes of the places where they are, stop the obsession with party politics and policy agendas and start creating the culture and the world they want to have.  That is a long, slow work of cultivation, but an absolutely necessary one.  Viewed this way, should McCain somehow squeak out a win, this will help to delay and discourage this necessary work and distract conservatives with another administration they will feel, for some reason, obliged to support and defend, or they may feel obliged to indulge in an equally consuming distraction of criticism and opposition.

Advertisement

Comments

The American Conservative Memberships
Become a Member today for a growing stake in the conservative movement.
Join here!
Join here