George W. Clinton and the End of Conservatism

Andrew Ferguson:

Am I the only one who sensed the spectral presence of Bill Clinton (pre-bypass) hovering over George W. Bush as he delivered his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention?



The speech, or at least its second half, has been widely praised as a stirring justification for the country’s continued vigilance in the war on terror — along with Bush’s subtle conflation of “continued vigilance” with “my re-election.”

But that’s not the half of the speech that reminded me of Clinton.



The first half, in which Bush outlined his domestic agenda, received less praise — a “laundry list,” critics called it — but it was much more interesting, and its political significance, I’ll wager, will be farther-reaching.



For in it Bush declared the death of American conservatism. As a guide either to governing or to politicking, conservatism is over, finished, kaput. The hovering presence of Clinton looked pleased.

…

Like Clinton, Bush pretends all this frenetic governmental activism is revolutionary — uniquely adapted to our unprecedented new era. (Every era thinks it is unprecedented.) There is much talk about “expanding choice.” Underlying it, however, is an idea that’s not new at all: the citizen as client, a consumer who fulfills himself by coming to rely on the blandishments of government.

For reasons that aren’t clear, Bush insists on calling his approach “conservatism.” Surely we can find a more accurate term. Has “Clintonism” already been taken?



More here.