Brad DeLong (via MY) zeros in on an Irving Kristol quote that, to me, is the essence of neocon:
Among the core social scientists around The Public Interest there were no economists…. This explains my own rather cavalier attitude toward the budget deficit and other monetary or fiscal problems. The task, as I saw it, was to create a new majority, which evidently would mean a conservative majority, which came to mean, in turn, a Republican majority – so political effectiveness was the priority, not the accounting deficiencies of government…
To my mind, the willingness to lie and go along with crazy ideas is what defines neoconservativism. I wouldn’t say this with paleocons and theocons — with them, I usually feel like they’re stupid enough to believe in supply side economics or creationism (think Dan Quayle or Jack Kemp) or such assholes that they honestly like the idea of screwing the powerless (think Newt Gingrich or Mary Matlin). Neocons are often quite charming and seemingly intellectual — Brooks and Irving Kristol are classic examples — but they’re quite willing to lie about economics or about the price of meals at chain restaurants if it helps them attain their ultimate goal of invading Middle Eastern countries and sending men to Mars.