The Tour de France would be better named the Tour de Lance. France stands for socialism, egalitarianism, mediocrity. In the Tour de France, anyone who finishes ahead of the pack must have cheated. It's a race to the middle of the pack. Lance stands for competition, elitism, greatness. In the Tour de Lance, anyone who finishes ahead of the pack must have been better. It's a race to the finish line. Socialists don't get sports because they can't get behind a winner.

Congrats, again, to Lance. He owns that contest.

I like the Nike commercial in which they just show the clip of his press conference a few years back where he announced that he had cancer, but would defeat it and go on to compete. Cool.

I'm also glad to see you don't endorse the peculiar view of France espoused by fellow paleocons ("I respect and admire the French, who have been a far greater nation than we shall ever be, that is, if greatness means anything loftier than money and bombs." - Thomas Fleming, wackaloon)

Am I a paleocon?

On the one hand, I will be traveling to Europe next month ("booh!!!"). On the other hand, I will be avoiding "Old Europe" in favor of England, the Czech Republic, and Poland--all allies in the war in Iraq ("hurrah! hurrah!").

Dan, I've mentioned numerous times (both privately and publicly) that you often employ a double standard, shielding paleocons from your critiques. You argue against neoconservatism constantly -- which is cool, everyone is entitled to his own opinion -- but have scant words to say about the Old Right's innumerable faults.

Also, I'd say "huzzah" instead of "hurrah," because I am a 90 year old Englishman trapped inside an 18 year old's body.

I meant to say -- you argue against both leftism and neoconservatism constantly...

Was I shielding paleoconservatives from criticism in this post?
http://www.flynnfiles.com/archives/world_events2005/buchanan_asks_was_wwii_worth_it.html

The last time I used the word neoconservative on this blog was nearly five months ago on March 11. That particular post quoted various neoconservatives in an approving manner. Could your own obsessions and hobby horses be clouding your reason here?

I remembered that post, which is why I used the word "scant" instead of "no" in my above comment.

Is it really arguable that there exists a strong anti-neocon sentiment on this blog? That's fine and it's why I come here -- to debate people with whom I strongly disagree.

Consider the number of times you've argued with commenters on this site: how often did you enter the discussion to dissect a paleocon absurdity? Perhaps my biases are indeed clouding my judgment, but I think your tendency to criticize the Left and the neocons is far stronger than your tendency to criticize the Old Right (even when the same issue is involved as in the case of the "race traitor" comment).

I have no idea what you're talking about with regard to a "race traitor" comment. I try (and occassionally fail) to stay out of writing in the comments section unless specifically addressed (and even then I try to stay out).

Step outside your shoes for a moment, Ben. How might you view someone who responded to a post on the Tour de France by slamming neoconservatives? Now, do you see how others might view you? In other words, even when the debate has nothing to do with neoconservative-paleoconservative disagreements, you invoke them. You see me "argue[ing] against neoconservatism constantly," when the word "neoconservative" hasn't graced this blog since March. Forgive me if I find your outburst a bit random and strange, but isn't this a post on Lance Armstrong?

Yes you're right, it was an off-topic aside, and I apologize for bringing in a different issue. I'm just kind of sick of the fact that people like Joe Sobran and Sam Francis are elevated to hero status on this blog. Imagine if W.E.B. Du Bois spoke at Holocaust revisionist meetings, as Sobran has. You chastise him for saying "absolutely segregate the races," yet you make no mention of the strong white supremacist (or at the very least white separatist) views among the likes of Francis.

Here's the race traitor thing.

Also, Dan, I think it's funny to note that you link two seemingly unconnected items -- socialist government and a bike race -- but you find it outlandish that I'd add something else which is only partially related.

Uh, o.k., now back to the regularly scheduled thread . . .

Lance's achievement is just incredible. I find it fascinating enough that you can have 154 cyclists racing for 2300 miles over the course of 3 weeks and the differential between 1st and 2nd is less than 5 minutes. Clearly these athletes are demonstrating, and pushing at, the limits of human endurance and physical capability. But then to compete in such a competition and come out on top 7 times in a row, it's just amazing.

At least his competitors like Ullrich had nothing but praise for his achievements.

Ben,

Why not do us all a favor and start your own blog?

i've always found it bi*arre that liberals in general disdain the notion of a hero, or a champion, which is why i'm not a liberal ;). although it does make sense since liberalism denegrates the individual and individual liberty in favor of whatever they consider to be the common good (case in point the radically liberal Supreme Court abolishing property rights). the press, which until recently was nearly universally liberal, loves destroying anyone who could be construed as a hero.

Brilliant idea Eric. Ben, I believe your the only Flynnfile reader that responds to his own posts. Whether to add to one of your long winded theories or interject another viewpoint alien to your original comments. It's as if you think everyone on Flynnfiles holds there collective breathe to see what "Ben Litchman's" response or opinion will be.

Your self importance is quite humorous as you try to be ingenious in all topics when all that does is expose some massive insecurity that you harbour to be right, which seems to give you a feeling of self importance and acceptance. I am far from an expert on the wide range of topics discussed here at Flynnfiles but I also know that their are very bright people involved here who can see threw your BS (I am one of them). I think starting your own blog will give you more cause to write about what it is your passionate about, of which I have no idea.

To see an American dominate a sport that is hardly a blip on the U.S sports scene but is a huge passion threw out Europe is absolutely phenomenal.

The irony here is that Lance has owned the event that defines hard work, determination, integrity and courage in the country that those same qualities are hard to find.

"Brilliant idea Eric. Ben, I believe your the only Flynnfile reader that responds to his own posts. Whether to add to one of your long winded theories or interject another viewpoint alien to your original comments. It's as if you think everyone on Flynnfiles holds there collective breathe to see what "Ben Litchman's" response or opinion will be.

Your self importance is quite humorous as you try to be ingenious in all topics when all that does is expose some massive insecurity that you harbour to be right, which seems to give you a feeling of self importance and acceptance. I am far from an expert on the wide range of topics discussed here at Flynnfiles but I also know that their are very bright people involved here who can see threw your BS (I am one of them). I think starting your own blog will give you more cause to write about what it is your passionate about, of which I have no idea."

-David Brent

I can see that Ben L's comment was off topic Brent, but I am sure you guys will survive the assault on your fragile collective psyce. If Ben comes off a bit kookily in posting an off-topic comment in the Lace Armstrong thread, you guys come off a bit whiny.

My post was not a whine at all. Just a factual observation. You didn't have to copy and paste it into your response. The readers understand what your responding to. Anyway, coming to the aid of your friend is quite honorable, it's just not needed in this instance.

Enjoy your day.

Ben L: How often do paleocons making headlines? Neocons do quite often; paleos basically never do. Perhaps that explains partly why Flynn doesn't slam paleos as often as you'd like. For the same reason, he seems to quote and refer to neocons favorably more often than he does paleos. Mystery solved. No conspiracy.

I (and a lot of other FlynnFiles readers, I suspect) think you often make good points, and hope you keep posting... But do you really have to hijack posts with your obsession with paleocons? Peace.

Dan, Lance is a great athlete, but it is misleading to characterize France as simply something that "stands fo socialism, egalitarianism, mediocrity." As it is the most visited country in the world, France is a great country. It is also unfortunate that you have decided to avoid "Old Europe"- most parts of it are much nicer (and much less expensive) than the UK.

Ryan,

I think Dan was speaking tongue-very much-in cheek above when he was distinguishing "old" and "new" Europe. I particularly am enamored with the south of France myself.

Lance, goooooddddd!

Attachment to labels, like neo-, paleo-, hard right, whatever, bbbaaaadddddd!

Jeepers, these labels aren't even accurate! Keep posting, Ben, but look past labels. Your first post actually suggests the inaccuracy of paleoconservative for Dan.