An Open letter to Jim Robinson: Can the Bush-Bashers

none ^ | today | me

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

Dear Mr. Robinson,

I have been a loyal member of the Free Republic since before the 2000 election. I have been a Conservative since the early days of Clinton. When I found this site, I thought "Thank God, people who think like me." I have continued to think this until the more recent days. Now, it seems that there are threads left and right bashing our President.

Why? There are things the President has done which I don't agree with but my loyality still lies with him. I am not sure if these "Bush-Bashers" fail to see the reality that with politics comes comprimise or it is something worse. I feel there is a cancer in the Free Republic. Some are eating their own.

I feel that some of these people are members of the dreaded democratic underground disguised as disgruntled conservatives. They are only here to stir up trouble. What's worse, they are doing just that. I am not sure what I think you should do.

As a conservative, I believe in our moral code but I also realize the reality of politics. I back our President but if he were doing something unsavory (like lying under oath,) I could not support him. This is unlike the left's clintonista dogma. What President Bush is doing is not betraying the conservative cause. He is using politics to confound the left. Those who do not understand this are either leftists themself or unable to separate themselves from their zealousness.

This is your show. You choose who gets to be a member and who does not. Those who break your rules are banished from the kingdom. I am not discouraging free speech, but this is free speech in your forum. These Bush-Bashers are brining us down. When this infighting happened in 1992, Bill Clinton got elected. let's not let that happen again.

Yours,

Big Guy and Rusty 99

[thrcanbonly1]

Now, had "us" conservative had put down the beer, turned off the TV and voted with the same enthusiasm we did in the primaries, then "we" would have delivered him a clear mandate and could demand complete fealty to "our" cause. Get it?

Turned off the TV long ago, but you will have to pry my beer from my cold dead hands! LOL

[VRWC_minion]

Everything he expresses about himself is made up. He invented himself with the help of political handlers. This is who he is. A construction. A hollow man. We called clintoon poll directed. Well Bush is poll created.

Thanks for an example of superior logic and reason. How will us bushbots every compete.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Well, can I?

DO IT...DO IT...DO IT < /VOICES IN YOUR HEAD >

Well, what's the worst thing that can happen? (Don't answer that)

[sauropod]

I hope FR continues to be the haven of free thinkers. I am beginning to wonder, tho....

[Lazamataz]

I hope FR continues to be the haven of free thinkers. I am beginning to wonder, tho....

Lots of us are wondering.

[NMC EXP]

For some of us "Bush-bashers," our political loyalty lies with the founders and the Constitution they gave us.

This deserves being repeated.

Regards

J.R.

[sixmil]

I am one of those guys who is critical of Bush, and did not vote for him even though the last thing I wanted to see was Gore as President. But, one of the things that most distinguishes us from the left is that we (constructively, hopefully) criticize our own. We seem to be at a disadvantage for doing this, but I think that in the long run it makes us stronger since we air our faults and try to fix them, which makes us better and stronger. It seems like the left will never get this, but we can only lead by example and hope that eventually they will see the light.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

maybe they're so right, they're left? hmmmm . . . doubtful

[Stand Watch Listen]

My posting obectives for these 4 1/2 years has always kept in mind the FR mission statement. Though, it seems the forum periodically gets away from the stated goals.

I posted that article Wednesday for debate, discusion and clarification. It accomplished that and much (I regret) more. Many valid observations, facts, reasonings were presented from both sides of the Bush question. I was reminded of the Adminstration's accomplishments and some of its disappointments. The personal attacks I ignore, but there were many discussions of the Administration's actions/inactions, developments that enabled me to compose a detailed 'Ben Franklin' list.

Luis, many times you have presented your stance, on other threads, other subjects in an articulate, scholarly way. But this subject appears to bring either your frustation, oneupmanship, anger or self defense mode to the surface. I expected different. Watch out for the 'dark side' it's seducing.

As for my own post on this thread being insulting...I apologize for not presenting it in a more clear way. Though, I have received numerous FReepmails ascertaining that others did comprehend my meaning.

Reread and discern what I did. I merely took your aggreived phrase and substituted what many opposed to your position have stated numerous times these past few months. I merely intended to illustrate that the opposing side can state a similar phrase with equal conviction.

And my statement

"I envision that some first time FR visitor may equate:

Bush-bot = Clinton enablers/apologists
Bush Bashers = Clinton haters.

was in reference to what lurkers, first time FR visitors may equate/perceive. You somehow decided that it is my stance....it is not. I merely endeavored to present an objective and evenhanded examination on the subject. Seems I failed.

FReegards

[texlok]

Good example, you and I disagree over Iraq. I see Iraq as a smokescreen. They want to whip us up for a war with Iraq. A year ago, Bush and Co. rarely commented on Iraq, other than to talk about sanctions or discuss the region.

What has changed between a year ago and now to cause Bush and Co. to commit us to war with Iraq? Think about it! 9/11? No, all roads from 9/11 lead back to Saudi Arabia and/or Afghanistan.

Clinton used Iraq as a whipping boy and ratings boost. GWB is doing the same. Our vaunted war on terrorism is only partially successful, and even then we haven't gotten the two or three top dogs. Why stretch our military thin, or publicly discuss action months before, to give Hussein time to prepare, over something that had nothing to do with 9/11. Something does need to be done about Iraq I admit, but in that region, Iraq is not the biggest danger to us right now.

These are the types of things that need to be discussed, from both angles, not from one side.

[Liberal Classic]

``That goes for people on BOTH sides of the fence.''

A BIG BUMP to that.

[Sir Gawain]

I believe you were banned once. Isn't there a rule that says banned posters shouldn't come back?

[texlok]

I wonder if its our original expectations that divides us on how we see Bush more than anything.

I believe you are correct. Those of us who have been exposed to and supported him for years held him to incredibly high standards and felt he could do no wrong, especially after clintoon. We are probably the ones most disturbed or upset by his actions, because we had such high hopes and regards, and we feel let down or betrayed.

[al_possum39]

Well I kept waiting to be reply number 999 but the thread may not make it to that. So....Sometimes I'm a "Bush-Basher" and sometimes I'm a "Bush-Bot"; will I be semi-banned are what?

[Sir Gawain]

Post it on the GI forum. Nobody goes there.

[VRWC_minion]

and sometimes I'm a "Bush-Bot"; will I be semi-banned are what?

You will be limited to posting to even numbered posts only.

[texlok]

I would like to ask you two serious questions, yes or no types

1)Has this country moved more towards the type of government originally outlined in the Constitution since Bush took office.

2)Has this country moved farther to the left, than when Bush took office.

[palo verde]

I think Bush is a fine person, we could not have a finer person as President
however I do not agree with some of his decisions
I did move heaven and earth to get him and GOP in Office in 2000
it was clear billclinton would have been our dictator if we did not succeed (Al Gore was merely a puppet)

I did not want McCain and fought hard for Bush in Primaries
I thought McCain was in it for his ego, plus he wanted ground troops in clinton's brutal senseless bombing of Yugoslavia (he also genuinely supported clinton's bombing of aspirin factory in the Sudan, he is mentally unbalanced warmonger)
During the Primaries he let Dems use him to sabotage Bush

I continue to think Bush is man of personal integrity
but my focus has switched to stopping war on drugs
I will vote Libertarian in future
if this is grounds for being banned from FR, so be it
Love, Palo

[al_possum39]

But I think on even numbers I'm in Basher mode.

[thinden]

I've made it to # 604 so far.