Taxidermy Conservatism

Peggy Noonan has decided that “standing for principles” and not voting for them is … “grown-up.”

Having written my book [Death of the Grown Up], them’s fightin’ words. Avoiding consequences, taking shortcuts, shirking responsibilities — all comprise the m.o. of the hopelessly immature, a category fit for any US senator who, believing Justice should be blind and not a perpetual grievance avenger, votes to confirm Sonia Sotomayor. This remains true no matter how many soothing adjectives — “serious,” “calm,” “judicious” — Noonan intones to cloak such undutiful irresponsibility. What she and others such as Charles Krauthammer are advocating is nothing less than Taxidermy Conservatism—all stuffed shirts, hot air and no action. No blood, either. Just plenty o’ “calm” as Peggy’s GOP votes itself into an airless and dusty oblivion.

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Diana West writes a weekly commentary column for the Washington Times, Townhall.com and the Newspaper Enterprise Association. A conservative with a strong bent for cultural commentary, West explores topics few writers touch upon - from whether Islam is really a religion of peace, to whether Howard Dean was as good a governor as his campaign claims he was, to society’s bizarre efforts to protect children from Mother’s Day, to the rise of “PC” summer camps in Vermont - presenting all in a deft, often humorous manner. West has contributed essays and features to many publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, The Washington Post, Commentary, The New Criterion, The Public Interest and The Women’s Quarterly. She has also written fiction for The Atlantic Monthly and has been a columnist for Scripps Howard News Service.

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