Levin carries this idea well. I believe the Gay Conservative Movement typifies all the positives of this ideal. While I may disagree from a faith based viewpoint, it is because of my faith that I can call any fighter of the conservative gay movement a Brother in Arms.

I’ve long held the belief that the LGBT community can achieve far more and far faster if they would but hold fast to the ideals espoused here on this blog. They stand to gain so much more from a partnership with a more conservative agenda then they would ever gain from a liberal one.

My two cents.

First, this isn’t my blog and it is Dan’s and I hope, sincerely, that he does engage in greater detail an analysis of Levin’s book after he’s had the opportunity to read it, think about it, digest it a bit. A little time spent in reflection always helps analysis –but not when action is required, no?

Second, am I to understand that you’ve read Levin’s book and thought a bit about it? ’cause if you have, you’re in a far better position to offer some insight than I since you are so certain “Levin does not morph the founders to fit the modern conservative mold”.

My comment was to encourage Dan to so write when it’s pregnant or ripe.

I only know Levin from his earlier writings and some of his work inside the Reagan WH –having met him once but, to TGC’s chagrin, never had a “cocktail” with him. He has a reputation for a certain, well, willingness to say things so that his opinion is injected into the discourse at hand… whether warranted or not. I don’t know if his entertainment gig on talk radio has concentrated or dissipated that tendency.

Look, the liberals often try to take Jefferson, Washington, Franklin and others and morph them into some icon of the Left. Reagan was great to embrace Jefferson and the Roosevelts even tho’ they would have rebelled against the act… how many times this fall and winter have we heard Obama invoke Lincoln for nearly everything… so much that it makes people familiar with ALincoln wonder if Obama has even a grasp of a basic cartoon sketch of that great American and President.

I think the modern conservative movement has more to do with Goldwater and Reagan and Kirk and Buckley and others than it does the Founders. And if the Founders, then maybe more to do with the AntiFederalists (who lost the policy debate of the day) and not those who wrote the Constitution. And certainly more in league with the Confederacy than with the Union of the time.

How’s about you read the book. Then you can return to tell us you missed the mark. Levin does not morph the founders to fit the modern conservative mold.

If you find his book wanting after a thorough reading, I would be greatly interested to read your deconstruction of Levin’s points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyiFjTNT6fs

But I have to think that Levin will spend far more time trying to twist the Founding Fathers into pretzels who resemble today’s conservatives and there in lies the greater danger –as conservatives or moderates, we lose sight that we have little in common with the radical men who Founded our Country… or the men who now stand in hisotry as the anti-Federalists (who were really the true federalists) or their brave Confederate successors.

Granted, I’ve only read the title of Levin’s new book (smile) –but I did read his other books and have read his more prized writings for the vonMises’ folks. I hope you write more, Dan, about what you gather from Levin’s new book and it’s application to the revival of the modern conservative movement.