R.I.P. Conservatism?

" Hello everyone and welcome to freedom watch a daily dose of raw liberty streaming online at foxnews.com. I'm your host judge entered -- here. Defending freedom defending your natural rights and defending your right to have a government that stays within the confines of the constitution. In -- new book called the death of conservatism Santana and house editor of the New York Times book review. Argues that George W. Bush destroyed the conservative movement in this country. He bought illegal war is inherited a surplus but spent more money than all its predecessors combined. Bailed out banks and automobile manufacturers. Federalized education and prescription drugs for seniors. And Spybot without warrants on whomever he wanted he even arrested Americans without charge or trial. Something not admittedly done since the days of Abraham Lincoln. Andy did all back in the name of something he called compassionate. Conservatism. I've read the ten and -- book and I've interviewed Sam about it. Well what I want to know is what movement then has the ability to reshape the Republican Party. And bring it back to -- Barry Goldwater roots. Shall I say. Libertarian isn't. Joining me now is nick Gillespie editor in chief -- reason dot com and -- they make you know it's a pleasure for me welcome back to freedom watch. Baggage. Always feel very welcome -- welcome back you and I'm try to make you feel welcome god bless you ten and -- book I mean. Here's a guy was probably a liberal Democrat a lifelong employee of the New York Times the official biographer of William F Buckley. Tells me off the record but not on air in between breaks and interviewing them about the book probably the same thing he told you. That the libertarians. To day are the only true conservative Republicans left do you agree and -- so what does he mean."

" Yeah well you know I thought I I think that there's no question that small L libertarians people who believe in the decentralization. Of power and the empowerment of the individual in every decision making process to the maximum degree possible. Is where the energy is spending conservative politics back in 1975. Just after it left the governorship of California. Reason magazine the magazine that I've worked for for years. Interviewed Ronald Reagan and Ronald Reagan in that interview said you don't libertarian ism is the heart and soul of the conservative movement. I think it has always been the case the power of conservative ideas has never been about social conservative Islam. It has never been about trying to hold back the pastor is bill Buckley's magazine national -- would put it. A stand -- work history yelling stop it has always been about the classical liberal project that reaches back into the sixteenth or seventeenth. Eighteenth century. That the founding of this country was actually based on which is the idea that individuals in decentralized. Decision making processes. Have more information and have more rights I mean things that you write about in Dred Scott -- your other works. That we have rights that need to be respected and that society works better when government respects those rights and allows people to create voluntary institutions. That's serve their needs which change over time and we move into the future that way held. I think libertarian as some. And when you think about somebody like Milton Friedman who was in several Republican advised several Republican administrations. He was a libertarian wasn't a conservative than what it was about. Was saying that individual school children should be able to choose where they go to school. People should be able to free to the army has main book or what of his must pottery which is free to -- that's that's the point and that's where the energy in American politics."

" How did we get to a point where a a former governor. From Texas. Son of a moderate middle of the road but still big government Republican president. Runs as a conservative. Calling some phrase compassionate conservatism. And governs like he's Lyndon Johnson. Maybe even governs like he's FDR Abraham Lincoln you've heard me say in the pages of reason magazine and I I fervently believe this. The George Bush. Has shown. Less fidelity of the constitution than any president since Abraham Lincoln. I mean he governed as a conservative. As if the constitution didn't exist how did we get there."

" Well I think part of it is that the Republican Party in the conservative movement broadly speaking was really kind of hijacked by being in control by being in power when the Republicans took over congress in 1994. And then the White House in 2000. They they got used to being in power in the way that government works in most of the industrialized world that are you know actually all of the industrialized world is that. When you get -- levers of power in your hand you don't give them up and in fact you work them faster and faster get more and more. Kind of goodies to your friends or you start to realize you know the view from the top like I can really I've I'm really in charge here and I think. That's part of the problem bush I don't think you know I there's some evidence that he was people I mean that he was very you know use a sinister guy in many ways. I don't think he was I think that he. Genuinely mistook his ability to do good in the world. And he confuse that as politicians typically do with their ability to be empowered to call all the shots I."

" to it was disastrous I only know of two people run for national office. Barry Goldwater running for president and and Ron Paul and his repeated. Runs for congress who openly said my goal is to shrink the government. Other than that almost every one who gets in power even Ronald Reagan himself. Which is why in the intro I -- return to our Barry Goldwater roots and not our Ronald Reagan -- even Ronald Reagan himself. Ultimately increase taxes ultimately increased regulation. Ultimately put the federal government into places where -- never been so question. Is this a tidal wave that will never stop does that not matter whoever gets into power. Is they're just a Republican version of big government and a Democrat version of big government but no one. Who'll return us to the Barry Goldwater roots."

" There is certainly. You know eight empirical case that can't be denied that there is -- Republican version of big government and a democratic version of big government and we've. Just lived through the Republican version of big government and we are now living through the democratic -- the latest iteration of the democratic version of big government. Where I do think you know there -- these things happen and waves but it's also true that there is a there's a push factors account or movement. And what we're seeing is that Obama on virtually every level whether whether we're talking about foreign policy and doubling down in Afghanistan and whether we're talking about bail outs. Stimulus spending you name it. He is not creating something new here he is following in the well worn groups of George Bush and putting things on steroids a bit. But it's it's a continuation of the bush policies by and large and I think what we're starting to see in Obama is relatively slipping poll numbers. And push back on the economy and on various -- on Afghanistan on new name and on health care. You are seeing the beginning of the understanding that people recognize that government can't do -- all. Even if it wanted to -- can't afford to. And individuals know that in every other part of their lives surface is getting better technology is moving ahead innovation is moving ahead. It isn't happening in the public sector because it -- the public sector plays by different rules. And I think you're seeing people finally saying I want the kind of individualized. Cheaper and better service that and getting everywhere else in my life. In government and this is the beginning of a libertarian movement where individuals are free to choose the schools or kids go to the health care plans that they want there --"

" things like and here's a phenomenon that I've noticed and I wonder if you have as well I speak all over the country you know that you. And reason have sponsored a number of my speeches. But I have found since the presidency of Barack Obama and the assault on our financial writes the assault on the concept of a binding contract. The notion that the government can. And loan money to a bank and then control -- salary of its executives are controlled the investment it makes. This has made it easier to expose things that we're done in the past. Under Republicans that have violated other constitutional liberties for example. Just three weeks ago. I received a standing ovation. In Fort Worth, Texas. -- Texas. When I attacked but Patriot Act. And it's violations. Of the Fourth Amendment and the manner in which it came about with no debate -- no opportunity. To read it. I don't think that I would've gotten that standing ovation had I attacked the Patriot Act in Texas five or six years ago. But this is something is happening in the country. That is causing people to realize the one of the true things that Ronald Reagan said is that the government is not your friend. And that they are now seeing not only what President Obama. And his folks are doing but what President Bush and his folks did before. And they realize that much of it is equally repugnant to the constitution. And to our natural rights."

" I think you're absolutely right and again I think that the continuity the unmitigated continuity between things. Is starting to come into full -- for people and they are repulsed by it they don't want this. You know people recognize that the TARP legislation that you know came on line about a year ago. Is the economic -- the financial equivalent of the Patriot Act it was a massive bill that nobody had -- And yet it was pushed through and we were told it was too important to stop the process and actually been debate or discuss or even know what was fully in any of these bills. You seem versions of that what the health care bill where the you know that baucus bill or whatever. Is already running to a thousand pages and that's without the 500 amendments that have been attached to it already. People are starting to understand more fully at least in the 21 century -- with a clean slate where we had a Republican big government president. And a democratic big government president. But the problem is big government that it is a a load you know was slow lurching beast. That destroys much more than it that it protects or preserve tonight and again. You to work on what we've gone through social revolution a cultural and economic revolution over the past thirty years where. Individuals at all levels of society or more in control. Of what they want in most -- most parts of their lives and now they are finally demanding it in politics as well I like that a slow lurching beast that destroys more than -- protects -- Thanks very much for joining us. My pleasure to."