What is 'Fearful Conservative Intellectual Syndrome'?

[The Illusive Man]

I first saw the usage of such terms on right wing forums and have been trying to pin down a definition. Oh boy has that been hard.

I had searched via Google: “Fearful Conservative Intellectual Syndrome" including quotation marks. The first three links were reposts of the following blog post by Lloyd Marcus. The rest were just hits for individual words not the entire phrase.

I believe these conservative colleagues are suffering with Fearful Intellectual Conservative Syndrome. Intellectuals in our party such as Coulter and others are rallying around Romney because they fear America will not elect a pedal-to-the-metal true conservative. They believe we need a liberal-lite to defeat Obama. Meanwhile, we not-so-smart naïve tea party patriots believe a true conservative will win in a landslide.

This only adds more questions (and vague terms) and no answers!
What is a “true conservative”?
What is a “liberal-lite”? How did John McCain qualify as such?
What is “solid conservatism”?

We know the drill. Here is the play by play. The lib media and Republican elite convince all the “smart people” on our side that only a reasonable “moderate” like Romney can possibly beat Obama. So, out of fear, we select Romney as our 2012 presidential nominee.

Who are the Republican elite?
Who are the lib media?
Why are “smart people” and “moderate” in quotations?

I searched via Google again: "Fearful Conservative Intellectual Syndrome" site:*.edu I found an article posted by Glenn C. Loury in 1997.

Try to understand my problem. As a black conservative intellectual I belong to an endangered species. For if few conservatives choose to think of themselves as intellectuals, even fewer blacks can pass muster as conservatives.

Not that my position is uncomfortable. With black critics of racial liberalism being such a rare breed, I have found my voice amplified on a range of issues.

Recently, however, I have been unable to shake a troubling thought: The designation "black conservative intellectual" may not be merely anomalous but oxymoronic.

Uh oh.

[m52nickerson]

I stopped reading when I saw the word intellectual to describe Ann Coulter.

[Whore of Spamylon]

I stopped reading when I saw the word intellectual to describe Ann Coulter.

Same here.  I actually scrolled down to specifically see if anyone had similar sentiments.

Go figure.

[Witchyjoshy]

What is a “true conservative”?

"Anyone who agrees with my statements."

What is a “liberal-lite”?

"Anyone who is to the left of me."

How did John McCain qualify as such?

"He was to the left of me, as is Romney"

What is “solid conservatism”?

"Means that you not only agree with what I say, but aren't afraid to scream it from the rooftops and the street corners.  It means you aren't afraid to shove it in people's faces.  It means you are proud, like a true 'Murican!"

Who are the Republican elite?

"Successful Republicans, by which I mean rich!"

Who are the lib media?

"All of the news!  They're controlling us, you know.  Even FOX News.  It's just a liberal plant designed to make us look bad!  Unfortunately for them, strawman has a point, and FOX News has a lot of accidental wisdom!"

Why are “smart people” and “moderate” in quotations?

"You ain't smart if you don't agree with me.  And there ain't no such thing as moderate.  You're either a red-blooded strong conservative, or you're one of those weak, manipulative liberals."

Ouch.

Ow.

Ow.

I'm in physical pain.

[Stormwarden]

....ow. Oh god, my brain, OW...I think it's trying to escape the bone box here! Seriously, I feel like some brain cells died just now. What, do they prescribe to the RHJunior school of conservatism (to the right of Jerry Falwell)?

[Witchyjoshy]

I should clarify, I was making shit up as I went, pretending to be in the mindset of a stuffy conservative who views everyone to the left of him as a RINO.

[Material Defender]

Sounds like ultra conservative insanity to me, for the most part.

For "Fearful Conservative Intellectual Syndrome" it mostly seems that being intellectual is at opposition to being conservative, thus both debasing the conservative for those of the other sides but those within because they seem unable and fearful of intellectuals that are 'conservative. Though I heard this whole 'moderate' versus 'Strong' Conservative versus 'extreme' conservative. Just if Ann Coulter is 'moderate' now instead of 'extreme' (As she was about ten or so years ago...)

Oh dear lord, what the fuck is happening on the conservative side?

[niam2023]

I have inquired into this via my conservative friend David.

Apparently, there is a growing feeling of extreme right wing policy which is looking to take root in the Republican base, and has been quite successful in such.

A comparison to the Nazi Party is not too inaccurate. In this group, which David was kicked out of for not "being a true conservative", which is baffling to me, as David is fiscally conservative on most issues, opposes Gay Rights and is a staunch Christian, being as far right as anyone I know, except the Pretty Boy Nazi. And even he might not be right wing enough for these nuts.

This group has vibes of extreme white power in its individual members. They are frothingly insane, to be frank, and want "THEIR America" back, emphasis mine.

The Conservatives have gone and done it. We're seeing the Golden Dawn happen HERE now.

[Osama bin Bambi]

I have inquired into this via my conservative friend David.

Apparently, there is a growing feeling of extreme right wing policy which is looking to take root in the Republican base, and has been quite successful in such.

A comparison to the Nazi Party is not too inaccurate. In this group, which David was kicked out of for not "being a true conservative", which is baffling to me, as David is fiscally conservative on most issues, opposes Gay Rights and is a staunch Christian, being as far right as anyone I know, except the Pretty Boy Nazi. And even he might not be right wing enough for these nuts.

This group has vibes of extreme white power in its individual members. They are frothingly insane, to be frank, and want "THEIR America" back, emphasis mine.

The Conservatives have gone and done it. We're seeing the Golden Dawn happen HERE now.

Where is this shithole that you live in? I want to show up with a plague of locusts.

[niam2023]

Union City and Fremont.

We are mostly liberal, but oh, are the mega-conservatives loud.

[VirtualStranger]

Union City and Fremont.

We are mostly liberal, but oh, are the mega-conservatives loud.

I think that conservatives in the bay area would have to be loud just to be heard. That is the most liberal region in the country.


Also, "intellectual conservative" is hilarious because most conservatives are massive anti-intellectuals.

[TenfoldMaquette]

Wait...am I reading this wrong, or are they outright saying that being a "true conservative" means you have to be bigoted and abjectly stupid...and that both qualities are somehow virtuous? 

[armandtanzarian]

Wait...am I reading this wrong, or are they outright saying that being a "true conservative" means you have to be bigoted and abjectly stupid...and that both qualities are somehow virtuous? 

Sounds like it... They already made "helping your fellow man" and "turn the other cheek" a communist trait.

[Canadian Mojo]

Wait...am I reading this wrong, or are they outright saying that being a "true conservative" means you have to be bigoted and abjectly stupid...and that both qualities are somehow virtuous? 

I think what they are trying to say is that the 'intelligentsia' will sit and rationalize an issue and try to compromise rather than be true to their ideology. In their minds the conservative ideology is correct and a conservative utopia should driven towards regardless of the pain it causes along the way. Basically they are saying they see that the other side has a point, they just don't give a shit and decry the conservatives who do.

[Old Viking]

It's just a string of buzzwords, each of which has vague connotations but no meaningful definition.  This is the way the conservative mind works.  When they spout buzzwords they think they are communicating.