This is not meant personally against youNo offense taken....but
I'm a conservative living in California and I see two issues crucial to the survival of my nation and my state. A well armed citizen populus and control of our borders.
From my perspective Bush has been pandering to the center on the former and to foreign nationals on the latter. Neither posture strikes me as conservative or showing character.
Within the scope of my personal experience I only have Regan to use as a political comparitor for a principaled conservative and I don't recall the pandering from that president. Regan was a politician but he never let his ambitions alienate his base. The same can't be said for George Bush.
"I'm a conservative living in California and I see two issues crucial to the survival of my nation and my state. A well armed citizen populus and control of our borders."
Hi! I am in CA too: LA.
I agree with the above.
But you are expecting Bush to perform miracles and then you are disappointed, when he doesn't. He can't change decades of problems in one minute. He has tightened up the borders considerably, and the Bush administration was the first in a very long time, who declared that the correct interpretation of the 2nd Amendment is indeed that individuals have a right to bear arms. That was a landmark decision.
Bush Backs Individual’s Right to Guns
Administration Reverses 2nd Amendment Interpretation
The Associated Press
W A S H I N G T O N, May 7 — The Bush administration has told the Supreme Court for the first time that it believes the Constitution protects an individual's right to possess guns, reversing the government's longstanding interpretation of the Second Amendment.
http://216.239.33.104/search?q=cache:13ea5Go85RAC:abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/guns_020507.html+2nd+Amendment+Bush+Administration+AShcroft&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 With Bush, I think what people have to keep in mind, is that he doesn't make big pronouncement, he tends to not say much, but DO things in the background, achieving a great deal, instead.
He had the courage to reverse the long standing interpretation of the 2nd Amendment, which pro-2nd amendment people should remember.
Just think of the Iraqi war -- the reason it was so "easy" was because there was a great deal of work went on behind the scenes.
Bush is focusing on the results, many steps ahead, and you may not see the intermediate steps.
Just as with the assault ban -- Bush had it worked out with Congress, and some people got all upset at Bush, without knowing the full story.
If you take a step back, you will see that Bush is accomplishing a lot of things, which aren't being trumpeted, but are definitely based on conservative principles.
Reagan was a politician but he never let his ambitions alienate his base. The same can't be said for George Bush.President Reagan also signed the first Brady Bill. Is that, or is it not, a form of "pandering".
Look, I live in CA too and see the same things you do and agree with your assessment of the threat. The real problem is, the Left doesn't politic on the "High Road" like conservatives, but take the "Low Road" just to win. What the Left wins, esp. in CA, is not as important as winning. For many of them it is their only job.
Conservatives take pride in military tactics, yet fear "treachery" when political tactics are necessary to win office or defeat a gun control bill.
From my perspective Bush has been pandering to the center on the former and to foreign nationals on the latter. Neither posture strikes me as conservative or showing character.
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But, . . . . According to a number of Bushbot posters in this forum, character on important issues is NOT the issue -- or, at least not of any significant relevance.
What is important is Bush's alleged "chess-player-like strategic political brilliance." (Somehow, I take it that you are less than dazzled by his latest "moves?" So am I.)
As for me: I wish Bush took the Henry Clay line on these and other issues of dire importance: "I'd rather be right than President."