The Crisis of Conservatism

By MSNBC

June 3, 2009

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Joe Scarborough takes a turn as guest while editor and publisher of The Nation, Katrina vanden Heuvel, serves as the host for a change. Although Scarborough isn't entirely comfortable with the arrangement--"God, now I know how people feel when I interview them," he interjects--it nevertheless leads to a spirited and informative discussion on the role of Conservatism in America.

Surprisingly enough, the conversation starts and ends in agreement. Vanden Heuvel points out the inability of Scarborough's "male, stale and pale" GOP to address the crises facing America and Scarborough, like too many wistful Republicans, hearkens back to the ideology of Reaganism/Thatcherism for answers. They proceed to disagree over Reagan's legacy and the promise of an industrial policy and final agree on the need for a "green program, ala Teddy Roosevelt." "We can agree on that" Scarborough responds, "because you know why? Conservatives conserve."

I never thought I'd write this: I wish more Republicans were taking a page from Joe Scarborough.

--Corbin Hiar

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