about MR CONSERVATIVE

Anybody who gets HBO simply must see the HBO documentary, Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater. The man who (arguably) started to modern conservative movement is by our modern standards a raving ,screaming, howl-at-the-moon liberal. That's right, the man who said

"Extremeism in pursuit of liberty is no vice
and moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue."

just happened to be FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR GAY PERSONS.

just happened to be AGAINST LAWS RESTRICTING ABORTION.

just happened to be FOR STRONG DEFENSE

just happened to be FOR A BALANCED BUDGET

just happened to be FOR LIMITED PRESIDENTIAL POWERS.

Now don't get me wrong , I didn't like Barry's foreign policy one little bit and I was pretty suspicious of his position(s) on civil rights, although I did buy into the "Party of Lincoln" mantra in my college years but Barry would have been a "moderate" Democrat by today's standards.

HBO painted a very favorable and sympathetic picture of the man and I have to admit that I was moved by it. Perhaps, because the nostalgia for those days the emotions ran rampant.

There were plenty of conservatives on the program who complained that the values of Goldwater (those would be legitimate CONSERVATIVE values) have been abandoned by the neocons and there was even some remorse from the the likes of Richard Viguere who is the architect of the modern Republican machine (mailing lists and phone banking).

I suspect the program will be out on DVD or CD shortly. If you have the opportunity to watch it, please do so.It's great ammunition to use on "moderate Republicans" who need a reason to vote for Democrats. It's a good tool.

on edit: speaking of the 1964 campaign....Goldwater's running mate was Bill Miller, Congressman from New York...his daughter is now a successful LIBERAL RADIO TALK SHOW HOSTESS, STEPHANIE MILLER.