Too Dumb to Fail · How the GOP Betrayed the Reagan Revolution to Win Elections (and How It Can Reclaim Its Conservative Roots) by Lewis, Matt K. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Copyright FOREWORD INTRODUCTION Palinized? Too Dumb to Fail Intellectuals, the Establishment, and Populism Who Am I to Judge? PART ONE THE GREAT THINKERS WHO INVENTED CONSERVATISM

1 A HISTORY OF BRILLIANT CONSERVATISM

384 BC: Ancient Greece The Great Debate Burke in the Twentieth Century Burkean Conservatism versus American Individualism The Rise of the American Conservative Movement Foreign Policy Becomes the “Glue” Leaving “the Winning Side” The Rise of the Traditionalists William F. Buckley Barry Goldwater’s 1964 Campaign The Real Nature of Politics and Elections Conservatism Was Smart

2 RONALD REAGAN: A STUDENT AND A STAR

The Education of a Would-Be President Reagan as an “Amiable Dunce”? Reagan’s Brand of Cosmopolitan Conservatism The Great Communicator The Reagan Legacy

3 TEAR DOWN THIS PARTY!

The Clinton Era A Permanent Governing Majority? Obama’s Election and Its Impact on Conservatism Christine O’Donnell and the Rise of No-Qualification Candidates Failing Forward

PART TWO THE GREAT BETRAYAL

4 HOW THE GOP WENT SOUTH

The Southern Strategy Southern Domination A “Stupid” Stereotype Rural Deification Free Market Dynamists versus Populist Catastrophists The New South

5 LIVING ON A PRAYER

Rise of the Christian Right The Moral Majority Ideological Immigrants The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind Is Evangelicalism Destined to be Dumb? The Rise of Anti-intellectualism (and Its Notable Exceptions) The Moral Majority Meets Highly Educated Americans The Problem for Politicians

6 SURRENDERING THE CULTURE

All Politics, All the Time The Anti-Intellectual Strain in Evangelicalism Then They Came for Sports… Checking Out of Politics

PART THREE WHAT A MESS

7 TOO SMART TO WIN

1. The Death of Experience and Knowledge 2. The Death of Compromise 3. The Death of Political Institutions

8 MEET THE VULTURES

Sounding the Alarm Interestingly, It’s Almost Always Legal The Pander and the Damage Done When You’re a Celebrity Almost Famous Playing the Game

9 THE CONSERVATIVE ECHO CHAMBER

The Rise of Conservative Media Media and the Dumbing Down of Politics How to Succeed as a Pundit (without Really Knowing Anything) The Sexy and the Superficial Technology and the “Sophisticated” Twenty-First-Century Voter

PART FOUR HOW TO FIX IT

10 ACCEPTANCE 11 MODERNIZE, DON’T MODERATE

1. Appeal to Younger, More Cosmopolitan Americans 2. Appeal to Hispanics 3. Change the Culture 4. Get Our House in Order 5. Cast a Positive and Inclusive Vision 6. Reconciling Conservative Philosophy with Science 7. Let Go of Cultural Identity Preferences That Have Nothing to Do with Conservatism Growing the Tent without Burning It Down

12 WHAT CAN I DO?

For All of Us…

1. Be a Happy Warrior 2. Reject Anger 3. Find Your Calling 4. Stay Humble 5. Go to School 6. Teach Your Children Well

For Leaders…

1. Politicians 2. Strategists and Political Operatives 3. Conservative Writers 4. Talk Radio Hosts

Conclusion AFTERWORD Arthur Brooks Dr. Russell Moore Koch Industries and the Charles Koch Institute Ross Douthat Dr. Francis Collins and BioLogus Eric Metaxas The Faith Angle Forum Tim Keller Too Dumb to Fail Reading List

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS NOTES