Jonah Goldberg sometimes says stupid things. For example:
Definitions of patriotism proliferate, but in the American context patriotism must involve not only devotion to American texts (something that distinguishes our patriotism from European nationalism) but also an abiding belief in the inherent and enduring goodness of the American nation. We might need to change this or that policy or law, fix this or that problem, but at the end of the day the patriotic American believes that America is fundamentally good as it is.
It's the "good as it is" part that has vexed many on the left since at least the Progressive era. Marxists and other revolutionaries obviously don't believe entrepreneurial and religious America is good as it is. But even more mainstream figures have a problem distinguishing patriotic reform from reformation.
"Conservatives" conceive of "patriotism" as a stick with which to assault people who point out, say, that a particular war is stupid and is likely to get lots of people killed for no real purpose or benefit.
But it's even worse than that. "An abiding belief in the inherent and enduring goodness of the American nation" -- sounds pretty much like a secular religion, as it posits an abstract entity beyond even "a devotion to American texts," which I presume means, say, more or less tangible stuff like the constitution and laws and the Department of the Interior and so forth. The goodness of such an entity is to be accepted as just as much an article of faith as its very existence. Hence, patriotism is quite clearly fascism. Omigod!
It ought to be pointed out also that if conservatives believe in the "inherent good of the American nation," they sure spend a lot of time and effort bitching about how we're all going to hell one way or another. Why, drag queens are poised to rape housewives in Colorado bathrooms, you know. (Or see here et passim.)
But, credit where it's due -- Goldberg is perfectly correct in pointing out that European nationalism is not devoted to American texts. Can't argue with that!