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Bush-Bashing Conservatives Should Focus on the Big Picture
GOPUSA.com ^ | Januray.26,2004 | Bobby Eberle

Posted on 01/26/2004 1:47:29 PM PST by Reagan Man

The 2004 campaign season is well at hand. Following the dramatic turn-around from earlier polling results, the strong showing by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and John Edwards (D-NC) has brought renewed focus by the media on the possibilities of President Bush not only facing formidable opposition, but also losing his bid for reelection. A newly released Newsweek poll shows Kerry defeating President Bush if the election were held today. Of course, the poll is meaningless in the sense that President Bush has not yet begun to campaign, but it does add fuel to the fire that 2004 could be as close as the historic elections of 2000. With that in mind, it's time for conservatives across the country to focus on the big picture and realize that a Bush loss is far worse than a Bush victory.

The Newsweek poll garnering so much media attention shows Sen. Kerry defeating President Bush by 49%-46%. The result is understandable considering the endless attacks on President Bush by the Democrats challenging him for the White House. These attacks, levied during debates, stump speeches, and television commercials have largely gone unanswered by the president or the Republican Party. If the public is only getting one side of the story, then there should be no surprise when the president's numbers head south. The true test of public opinion will come once President Bush begins his campaign and America hears both sides of the story. Of course, the ultimate public opinion poll will be the 2004 presidential election itself.

In addition to the hits being taken by the president from the Democrats, President Bush has also sustained damage from those on his side of the political aisle: Republicans and conservatives who vote Republican. The anger expressed by conservatives toward President Bush is primarily focused on two issues: border security/immigration and federal spending.

President Bush's recent announcement of a "temporary worker" program has drawn harsh criticism from conservatives across the country. The volume of feedback I have received on this issue has been almost unanimously one-sided and in opposition to the president's plan -- a plan which conservatives feel is synonymous with "amnesty" for illegal immigrants. Under the Bush plan, illegal immigrants could apply for a 3-year temporary worker designation which would grant them legal status to remain in the U.S. provided they have employment or have a job waiting for them. In addition to the illegal immigrant being allowed to gain the benefits of residency in America, the worker's family would also be allowed to join the worker inside the U.S.

The other "stick in the eye" for conservatives is the massive increases in federal spending which have occurred over the past three years. Increases in the rate of growth of non-defense, discretionary spending in the current Bush administration are double that of the Clinton administration. Republicans have gone on a spending spree, and there appears to be no end in sight. Despite the fact that smaller, limited government is one of the tenets of conservative, Republican philosophy, congressional Republicans have shown over the last several years that they can spend with the best of them. To President Bush's credit, the budgets presented to the Congress by the administration have included modest increases in non-defense, discretionary spending by most observations. However, the budgets returned to the president for final approval have shown no restraint and are loaded with excess pork.

As a conservative, I share the philosophical concerns of friends and colleagues. Following the events of September 11, 2001, border security should be of the utmost concern, and promoting programs that not only potentially weaken security but also reward illegal behavior is just plain wrong. In addition, one of my core beliefs in which I identify myself as a conservative and as a Republican is my belief in smaller, limited government. If one of our core values is no longer being observed by our elected officials, then feelings of anger and betrayal are understandable and justified.

The key question going into the 2004 presidential election is "What is a conservative to do?"

The answer to this question is simple: conservatives must wake up and smell the coffee. The best choice for conservatives; the best candidate to advance our agenda; and the best person in which to put our hope and faith is President George W. Bush.

On the two previously mentioned issues of immigration policy and federal spending, conservatives only need to look at the alternatives to see that President Bush is the right person for the job. Regarding immigration policy, if Sen. Kerry were to become America's next president, there would be no need to debate the merits of granting legal status to a portion of illegal immigrants, because wide spread amnesty would be the policy of choice. Both Kerry and Edwards favor amnesty for illegal immigrants and would open the flood gates on America's already porous borders. According to campaign information, both Kerry and Edwards favor legalizing the status of illegal immigrants who have worked in the U.S. for a certain period of time.

The best hope for the immigration issue and border security is for conservatives to work diligently for President Bush's reelection and to demand sensible immigration reform from members of Congress. The real work on immigration will be done in Congress. Conservatives must push for meaningful reform, while working to ensure that the candidate who most closely shares our views wins in November. That person is President George W. Bush.

In regards to federal spending, one can only imagine the budgets that would be submitted by Kerry, Edwards, or Dean. A score card of liberal votes in Congress maintained by Americans for Democratic Action shows that Sen. Kerry actually has a more liberal voting record (93%-88%) than his Massachusetts counterpart: Sen. Ted Kennedy. Thus, a Kerry presidency means spending restraint by the Executive Branch goes right out the window. Conservatives have a right to be angry over spending, but the way to fight for our cause is to demand that our Republican legislators trim the pork. It is also up to us to push for presidential leadership in this area. We should support President Bush in his call for fiscal responsibility. We should also call on the president to unleash his veto pen if fiscal responsibility is not what he gets.

Much has been written in recent weeks in op-eds, letters to the editor, Internet discussion boards, and so on regarding conservative dissatisfaction with the current administration. The Bush administration should listen to their concerns, and the conservative community should work for positive solutions. Staying home on Election Day is not the answer. Voting for a third party candidate is not the answer. Writing in a protest vote is not the answer. Had just a small percentage of liberal voters stood with Al Gore in Florida rather than voting for Ralph Nader, the entire outcome of the 2000 presidential election could have been different. Conservatives cannot stay home in November. We must be on the ground working for President Bush and advancing our agenda in the process.

The conservative movement needs a voice, and it needs a leader. President Bush is that leader, and he has stood by conservatives on many of the issues we hold dear. The president is a stalwart on life issues and has been unwavering in his support of a ban on partial birth abortions. The president has been equally strong in putting forward judicial nominees who respect the Constitution and who will not legislate from the bench. The president is a leader in the war on terror, and I can think of no one better suited to occupy the oval office in this time of turmoil. The best way to fight for the conservative agenda is to fight for the reelection of President George W. Bush.

---

Bobby Eberle is President and CEO of GOPUSA (www.GOPUSA.com), a news, information, and commentary company based in Houston, TX. He holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Rice University.


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: gwb2004
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To: motzman; PhiKapMom; Mo1; My2Cents
Good post.

Ping
61 posted on 01/26/2004 3:02:22 PM PST by prairiebreeze (WMD's in Iraq -- The absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence.)
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To: Sloth
Why would you argue for something (Majority DNC control of the house and/or senate) that doesn't jive with the will of the people?

Where did you get that? From your #15, I quote: "In other words, why didn't Clinton overspend as much as Bush? Because he had to push budgets through an adversarial Congress. Gridlock rules!"

Question #1: Why is the reality that the DNC sucks at winning elections a conservative problem ?

Question #2: You argue to me, a rock-ribbed-republican, that my opposition party having more power is a good thing ? Why ?

62 posted on 01/26/2004 3:03:54 PM PST by ChadGore (<a href="http://www.michaelmoore.com/">Miserable Failure</a>)
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To: Reagan Man
Nothing at all wrong with bashing incredibly stupid ideas such as Prez Bush's (yes, he was the one who proposed it) illegal amnesty plan.
63 posted on 01/26/2004 3:05:19 PM PST by k2blader (Folks who deny the President's proposal is an amnesty are being intellectually dishonest.)
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To: PhiKapMom
Hey, Mom, thanks for the ping. Yes, I will vote for George Bush. I will hold my nose as I do it. He's as out of touch with reality as most politicians. And he will do as much harm as his supporters allow him to do.
64 posted on 01/26/2004 3:05:57 PM PST by AuntB (REFORM SS DISABILITY: http://www.petitiononline.com/SSDC/petition.html)
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To: Reagan Man
Conservatives need to work together to steer the party in the write direction and debate and compromies on issues of disagreement.

But kavetchin and bold stubborness will only lead tot he marganalization of your voice across the whole party. I think we all need to prioritize our concerns to see which is most important to us and to form sub groups within FR to actively participate in concerted efforts to get our representatives to hear us.
65 posted on 01/26/2004 3:06:19 PM PST by Tempest
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To: Reagan Man
The conservative movement needs a voice, and it needs a leader. President Bush is that leader, and he has stood by conservatives on many of the issues we hold dear.

Which ones would those be ?
Campaign Finance Reform ? Taking away free speach isn't Conservative !
Illegal aliens ? Allowing law breakers to become citizens isn't Conservative even if Ron Reagan did it before him !

He talks a great talk and does good during war no problems there for that i give him my upmost respect but some of these issues go far beyond people being one issue voters and he keeps giving reasons not to vote for him!

Ive been voting the issues and heavily conservative all my life and frankly Bush is scaring the hell out of me and a lot of others Ive never voted for a democrat for Presidential office and im not about to start now

I think 90% of them are scum but the republican party is starting to look alot like a gathering socialist storm waiting to erupt

And appointing a judge to throw us a bone dont fool anyone i guess were all just too damn stupid to see it coming !

66 posted on 01/26/2004 3:10:10 PM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK (I may never have the Courage to say some words but i will always have it to say what i believe !!!)
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To: motzman
"If Republicans and conservatives don't understand or refuse to admit that the only way to defeat "liberalism" is incrementally, we're doomed.............Do we as a nation have the wisdom to understand this and stay the course?"

I hope so, motzman! You've made some very good points.
67 posted on 01/26/2004 3:11:17 PM PST by windchime (Podesta about Bush: "He's got four years to try to undo all the stuff we've done." (TIME-1/22/01))
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To: k2blader
Nothing at all wrong with bashing incredibly stupid ideas such as Prez Bush's (yes, he was the one who proposed it) illegal amnesty plan.

America needs to stop Bush from bashing the Constitution as we have seen him do with so-called "Campaign Finance Reform" limits on the freedom of speech and socialistic spending.

68 posted on 01/26/2004 3:14:04 PM PST by The_Eaglet (Conservative chat on IRC: http://searchirc.com/search.php?F=exact&T=chan&N=33&I=conservative)
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To: Reagan Man
I don't vote for third party candidates and don't believe in protest votes. They serve no good purpose.

And those votes have serious consequences.


69 posted on 01/26/2004 3:17:22 PM PST by arasina (So there.)
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To: Capitalist Eric
You argue for, your words, and I quote: "sealing the borders" as a goal you hold dear. That, with respect, is the very definition of isolationism.

Building up our troops in our own country along the border of a country that wishes us neither harm, nor bad tidings, is just plain wrong.

To my mind, there is no redeaming quality in performing a military build up along the borders of either Mexico or Canada.

You're demanding an action from the President that this country has not performed since the Mexican war (and/or the war of 1812), and then chastizing him when he doesn't deliver on this diplomatic and military impossibility.

Instead of listing all of this out, I prefer the simpler, broader truth that isolationism (in all of it's ugly forms) simply doesn't work.

70 posted on 01/26/2004 3:18:28 PM PST by ChadGore (<a href="http://www.michaelmoore.com/">Miserable Failure</a>)
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To: ZGuy
Pulling the lever for the lesser of the evils is still pulling the lever for evil.
71 posted on 01/26/2004 3:21:11 PM PST by basil (pro gun Mother's Day 2004! www.2asisters.org)
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To: ChadGore
"Isolation doesn't work".


Odd Statement....since when has upholding the laws and rules of our beloved Constitution been deemed "isolationist".

Please name time, date and location when we drove that bus over the cliff......
72 posted on 01/26/2004 3:22:12 PM PST by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
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To: PhiKapMom
Well what do you know....... Two positive articles in one day from two that normally take the President to task often.. Bobby Earle and Pat Buchanan

Bookmarking........
73 posted on 01/26/2004 3:24:03 PM PST by deport (BUSH - CHENEY 2004.........)
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To: PhiKapMom
Well said PhiKapMom!

The RATS Are In Disarray ~ Eradicate The Rodents!

Fire Democrats ~ Hire Republicans!

74 posted on 01/26/2004 3:24:35 PM PST by blackie ((Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!))
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To: Reagan Man; Ahban
IF Bush looses in November, it won't be because conservatives have turned their backs on Bush, it will be because Bush turned his back on Conservatives.
75 posted on 01/26/2004 3:28:03 PM PST by TheBattman (Miserable failure = http://www.michaelmoore.com)
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To: taxed2death
Re: since when has upholding the laws and rules of our beloved Constitution been deemed "isolationist".

You argued for sealing our borders.

Assuming worlds mean things, this means nobody in or out.

Why is this a good thing?

76 posted on 01/26/2004 3:28:35 PM PST by ChadGore (<a href="http://www.michaelmoore.com/">Miserable Failure</a>)
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To: ChadGore
The big Poobah wants to pi$$ 15 billion away on "Aids in Africa"......a National health care (Hillary) policy....a feakin' dog and pony show on the surface of Mars...and he spends money faster than ex DC mayor Marion Barry in a crackhouse....and you think for one minute we couldn't cut the number of illegals by 30% a year, from traipsing across our borders?

Hell, if he wants to start a gub-mint jobs program, please let it do us some good, protect the borders.....

Keep on drinkin' the Bush Koolaid....
77 posted on 01/26/2004 3:29:49 PM PST by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
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To: ChadGore
Oppps: Assuming words mean things, this means nobody in or out.

Why is this a good thing?

78 posted on 01/26/2004 3:29:54 PM PST by ChadGore (<a href="http://www.michaelmoore.com/">Miserable Failure</a>)
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To: Ahban
Particularly good reply
79 posted on 01/26/2004 3:30:42 PM PST by TheBattman (Miserable failure = http://www.michaelmoore.com)
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To: ChadGore
Sure, no one in or out BETWEEN LEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS....absolutely....not too far fetched a thing to do...from a man who spends money faster than a testosterone jacked teen for cab fare to his last booty call of the evening...YUP.
80 posted on 01/26/2004 3:32:27 PM PST by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
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