[Hank Rearden]

We will continue to drift Leftwards as long we insist on accepting the "lesser of two evils" candidates for public office. Splitting the difference is simply not good enough. To obtain a Free Republic, we must actively roll government back.

Well, now you're in for it! You make a very good point - one that gets me hammered by the Bushbots every time I raise it.

Bush is growing government like crazy, happily signed off on the First Amendment assault, bought into Ted Kennedy's "education" boondoggle and set us up to squander at least a trillion dollars on "free" pills to buy votes. And more, and more.

But none of that matters to the "Bush at all costs" people. For me, the cost is too high, and if he doesn't shape up he gets no support from me.

[goldstategop]

To put it differently, if we have a President who governs like a Democrat on domestic policy why keep him? Granted he's doing a good job of keeping this country safe but its not terribly persuasive to people if they see we're winning the war. Winston Churchill got high marks for his wartime leadership but the British people still voted him out of office at war's end. President Bush in my considered view, needs to make the case to the country on how the next four years under him are going to be better than the last four. He will lose if he doesn't start making it as actively as he can.