[quetzalcoatl]

Irving was indeed himself mugged by the "reality" of conservative philosophy and enfolded leftist policies such as a lack of objection to welfare programs, international "revolution" through nation-building/militarily imposed "democracy" and application of Fabian Socialism/Keynesianism coupled with a socially conservative viewpoint.

That sounds like Nixon to me.

You have completely misunderstood the point of your own quote. This is a description of what the neo-conservatives were objecting to, not what they admired. You have just proven Nixon was not a neo-conservative, by associating his policies with those the neo-cons despised.

[quetzalcoatl]

The reason Nixon is the greatest president of the 20th century (after FDR), is almost never noted - not even by his admirers.

By "great" I mean something quite specific: change on an unprecedented scale whose effects last generations.

Nixon invented the modern financial nation state by decoupling it from the old hard money regime of Bretton Woods. Nixon, as anti-Hayek, violently ripped the intellectual carpet right out from under conservative economics. This is why guys like Paul Ryan are walking zombies - they literally have no clue why their theories continue to accomplish the opposite of what they intended.

Whether RMN intended this or understood its long term implications is another story.

[Figlio di Moros]

What's with using Nixon's initials? Nixon's a quick enough name to write and readily identifiable.

[Elect G-Max]

This is a description of what the neo-conservatives were objecting to, not what they admired. You have just proven Nixon was not a neo-conservative, by associating his policies with those the neo-cons despised.

No, the article pretty clearly states that the kind of "reality" by which he had been mugged, namely conservatism, included those features.

[quetzalcoatl]

What's with using Nixon's initials? Nixon's a quick enough name to write and readily identifiable.

The 3 initial nickname is an old tradition in US politics, primarily among Democrats or Republicans that fancy themselves progressive. Think FDR, LBJ, JFK, etc. I am associating Nixon with that tradition, as he was the last liberal US president.

[Elect G-Max]

That's a very unique definition of liberal. I suppose you'd consider Hitler a liberal too.

[Figlio di Moros]

By the proper definition of liberal, all US presidents/politicians are and have been liberals. By US definition, he was conservative; by standard definition, he was likely the last president with an actual conservative streak.

[quetzalcoatl]

That's a very unique definition of liberal. I suppose you'd consider Hitler a liberal too.

Not unique at all. Nixon is appreciated by many progressive Democrats. Chris Hedges has called Nixon the last liberal president. That doesn't mean he's a charmer or a noble character.

I'll ignore the Godwinism, as it leads nowhere.

[Malatant of Shadow]

By the proper definition of liberal, all US presidents/politicians are and have been liberals. By US definition, he was conservative; by standard definition, he was likely the last president with an actual conservative streak.

Whether all U.S. politicians are liberal depends on whether one is looking on the democratic republic, which is itself an expression of liberalism, from the outside or from within. Since all U.S. politicians operate within that framework, one can in a sense say that all of them are liberals; however, to say otherwise is meaningful, in that liberalism is a set of ideals more than a system, and conservatives work to retard progress towards achievement of those ideals, even when they do so within a framework that was established by past liberal victories.

Your second sentence is however incorrect; within the U.S. political framework President Richard Nixon governed as a liberal/progressive, not as a conservative. (Vice-President Richard Nixon and, even more so, Congressman Richard Nixon was a different story.)

It's always difficult to assess Nixon's presidency, as it was both remarkably good and remarkably bad. (The same could be said for his predecessor.) His achievements in office were astounding and mostly very good: recognition of China, end of the Vietnam War, better relations with the Soviet Union, passage of the Environmental Protection Act, advances in civil rights and racial equality -- Nixon was a liberal president with amazing achievements. The only reason he cannot unequivocally be placed among the greatest leaders in the nation's history is of course his personal failing, his paranoia, and his abuse of power to destroy political enemies and popular movements. Nixon's presidency would make a first-rate Greek tragedy.

[Elect G-Max]

By the proper definition of liberal, all US presidents/politicians are and have been liberals. By US definition, he was conservative; by standard definition, he was likely the last president with an actual conservative streak.

Haha, no. By the proper definition (i.e., classical liberalism), we haven't had a liberal President since Grover Cleveland.

Nixon is appreciated by many progressive Democrats.

I'm going by real definitions here, not phony US ones. Liberalism has nothing to do with being "progressive". But do you know what we call the fusion of conservative social policies (like the war on drugs) and "progressive" big-government programs like the EPA? Neoconservatism.

[quetzalcoatl]

...I'm going by real definitions here, not phony US ones. Liberalism has nothing to do with being "progressive". But do you know what we call the fusion of conservative social policies (like the war on drugs) and "progressive" big-government programs like the EPA? Neoconservatism.

"When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, `it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less."

The Humpty Dumpty Syndrome is the abiding fault of way too many folks that call themselves libertarians. The force is strong with this one.