[raybbr]

I realized this man has been around the Washington scene for so long, he knows how the game is played.

Is that all it is now? A game?

I don't know what you said but Bush, in my eyes, has been nothing more than mediocre.

Without 9-11 I shudder to think how far his "compassionate conservative" ideas would have taken us toward socialism.

I have had a problem with who he has surrounded himself with in his administration. For the most part they have been retreads from his father's and Reagan's administrations. How does that attract young, budding conservatives? The old guy network is dying and where are the replacements? His penchant for nepotism has really turned me off.

[7thson]

I think you need to look at past Presidential administrations, especially in recent times. They almost always seem to select people from past administrations of when their party was last in.

Check out Haig from Reagan's tenure - SECSTATE - who had connections to the Nixon White House. Schultz had conncetions to Ike and the Nixon White House. James Baker was connected with the Ford White House.

The young people will be those working under the older and experienced people. Hey, one of these days Mark Levin, who worked int he Reagan White House, may be appointed by some future Republican President when he is in his 60's. You never know. Anyway, both parties do it - draw from past administrations.