[gcruse]

Eliminating the deficit by reducing the size of the federal government would have been moving to the right. And since the constitution enumerates no medical or scientific powers to the feds, vetoing a federal bill outlawing research into these areas would be moving to the right. We are so used to ignoring the Tenth Amendment, we don't even think in those terms anymore.

[Scenic Sounds]

Eliminating the deficit by reducing the size of the federal government would have been moving to the right.

Well, that's of course true, but I'm not sure that it's one of the President's options. Similarly, I guess the "right" way for a President to solve the abortion problem is to just go on TV and successfully convince every American that they should not participate in abortions. Again, though, I'm not sure that's one of his options.

More often than not, I see issues that seem to involve a resolution of tension between competing conservative principles.

And since the constitution enumerates no medical or scientific powers to the feds, vetoing a federal bill outlawing research into these areas would be moving to the right. We are so used to ignoring the Tenth Amendment, we don't even think in those terms anymore.

I think you're right about that. I don't think too many people in either party pay much attention to "enumerated powers" anymore. Both parties seem to be competing for federal power in order to exercise federal power. ;-)

[optimistically_conservative]

Eliminating the deficit by reducing the size of the federal government would have been moving to the right.

Actually, Clinton did a pretty good job at that by emasculating the military, don't you think?