[Southack]

"To bad Bush didn't do his and say he "wouldn't" sign any unconstitutional laws and would have those already on the books thrown out."

That's the same as saying that "I wish Al Gore had won, Leiberman resigned, and Hillary was appointed to Gore's VP, followed shortly thereafter by an accident that took Gore out and promoted Hillary into the Presidency."

Why?

Because George Bush was precisely as far to the Right as our nation would allow to be elected in 2000. Even the slightest bit more Right Wing, and those 577 winning votes in Florida would have gone for Gore.

Over 100 million Americans voted in 2000, but 577 people made the difference. The slightest change in policies would have given the election to Gore. There was simply NO MARGIN FOR ERROR.

With Bush, you get what you see. He keeps his promises. Don't fault the first politician in decades for keeping his campaign promises. Disagree with him on that one issue, fine.

But this constant bickering and childish whining about how Bush should be more Conservative than a Southern Baptist preacher at a Church of Christ social function is pure grade A bunk.

Being more Conservative in 2002 was acceptable. In 2004 it will be even more acceptable, but back in 2000 Bush was as far to the Right as we could legally elect.

It was even worse in 1996. Back then our choices were Clinton, Perot, and poor old Bob Dole (hardly a right-winger, as Dole gave us the original 1968 gun control act that registered machine guns, as well as gave us the Americans with Disabilities Act, among other things).

But as Bush piles up success on top of success, you'll see the whole nation shift over more towards the Right. Each year we'll be able to elect slightly more Conservative politicians, presuming that we don't get stupid by jumping ahead of the curve (e.g. Goldwater circa 1968) going after some "ideal" right-wing candidate.

This culture shift will only work if we move the nation in baby-steps. If we pull a Hillary and try to make the right-wing equivilent of her plan to nationalize healthcare, then all bets are off.

[wardaddy]

Reasonable post.

The 1968 GCA is the foundation from which the notion to outlaw gunowners if you can't get the guns too is based.

[Dan from Michigan]

Over 100 million Americans voted in 2000, but 577 people made the difference. The slightest change in policies would have given the election to Gore. There was simply NO MARGIN FOR ERROR. You forgot one thing.

Centrists aren't all sucker moms. There's a group known in the strategy circles in some states as union independents. They are less likely to be Republican than the other independent vote in my state. These are your Macomb County Michigan voters. They are socially conservative, and carry a union card.

And many of them retire down in Florida, particulary Tampa and Orlando.

[Dog Gone]

This culture shift will only work if we move the nation in baby-steps.

Amen. It will take years to peel back the layers of liberalism which began with FDR. It can't be done overnight. The checks and balances deliberately written into our Constitution to provide stability also serve to prevent sudden reversals in any direction.