Choice and Accountability: "Bush has redefined conservatism." (Barone)

U.S. News & World Report | 12/15/03 | Michael Barone

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Republicans can do no wrong.
Republicans can do no wrong.
Republicans can do no wrong."

[IronJack]

Gillespie characterizes fiscal conservs as extremists.

Yeah, funny that. We used to be the heart of the party. I guess a party without a heart doesn't need us anymore. We're just dinosaurs, amigo.

Just one question: since I haven't changed my orientation, but I'm now so far to the right that my own colleagues consider me an extremist, wouldn't that mean that they have shifted to the left? And isn't that the same as saying that they've betrayed the very principles that used to define them?

Oh, that's right. They have to do whatever it takes to win. Mea culpa. I'll say 50 "Hail George's" and pray for salvation.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

The rep party shifted to the center, and the Dems shifted to 'progressivism'.

In other words, there are two new parties: The Socialist Democrats and the Liberal Republicans.

The con game is over now. This is the reality.

The only solution is to not vote for the bastards that sold us out. A round of Hil or Dean and more socialists in Congress are the only answer for reversing this new reality within the next 10 years. I am sick of fighting. If we want socialism, let's try it in earnest for a few years, and let the voters decide in 2008 if they want to keep it or elect conservatives.

I, and family members I spoke to today, will not be an accessory to a silent coup. No checks to the RNC for 2004, either.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

...The Republicans have charged ahead of the herd, in order to declare themselves leaders...

All that is required to be considered centrist, is to stand between Marx and Engles and wave the flag.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I'm with you.

[William McKinley]

Are you still babbling? You're like an endless stream.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

...I am sick of fighting...

I have not yet begun to fight!

-Some old, dead, hatemongering, elderly starving, homophobic, rabble rousing, gun loving, ultimate weapon possessing, white guy, ancestor, defender of freedom and the Republic.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Growing the budget and creating new entitlements and increasing the existing ones is not conservatism. It may be Republicanism, but that's not the same thing any more. In fact, it's liberalism. President Bush and the Republicans are buying votes, plain and simple. I still support Bush because the alternatives are so horrible, but I won't pretend that this is some new kind of conservatism. Conservatism is what it is, and you don't redefine it to fit your agenda, at least not if you're honest.

I share these sentiments. What I cannot understand, is why anyone who does not buy into this new "liberalism" here on FR is tarred and feathered as an anti-Bush/just-as-good-as-a-Democrat/carpetbagger. Counter arguments speak of things such as: "this is all part of a strategery" or "we have to give a little now so we can get the whole barn later" or even better "its not Bush's fault, its the fault of (X)". I thought conservatism was about reducing the size of the government largesse...not increasing it; and certainly not increasing it in order to get votes from a special interest group, or even worse...in order to get votes from the left. Is this what conservatism has been reduced to? A battle pandering for votes with socialism instead of receiving votes because of conservative ideaology! Have we given up the battle for the minds of America? I wonder.

Unfortunately, I have no other choice but to vote (R) when election time comes around...I will never vote (D); but this is reaching the point of futility IMHO. Within the next 20 years, I'll be raising my children, maybe put them through college, plan to retire, hope to have grandchildren, etc., etc. It angers me when I think of the type of America my children and grandchildren will have to live in if the present course continues. It angers me even more to know that I'm paying for all this increased socialism and my kids will prolly have it worse. My criticism and anger towards president Bush (as I'm sure most other anti-Bots) stems from those sentiments, not from some evil hatred for the man. I do thank God that he is a man of faith, is faithful to his very lovely wife, and has brought more character and integrity back into WH than X42, however...while that may be good enough for the Republican party right now...it may not be good enough for America now, and in the future. /rant off

[William McKinley]

Anarchists just aren't what they used to be.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

I blame the public(government) schools.

Today's aspiring anarchist couldn't ever even learn to spell "Czolgosz."

[William McKinley]

That's just as well. Anarchists are so last century anyways.

[IronJack]

Anarchists just aren't what they used to be.

Yeah. Neither are Republicans.

[STARWISE]

Pretty much the whole post was a putdown of one of my posts, in case you didn't read back. But, no matter. My emphasis is on the BIG PICTURE .. not dissecting every little turn of a phrase or speech pattern. FReep on.

[William Wallace]

Anarchists are so last century anyways.

They call themselves “principled conservatives” nowadays.

[Batrachian]

I have been one of President Bush's biggest fans, but with the new Medicare entitlement and with the signing of the Campign Finance Reform abomination and with the massive growth of domestic spending in the last 3 years and with his pandering to Hispanics by supporting illegal immigration I can no longer pretend that this is a conservative president. He may be a conservative man but he sure as heck isn't running a conservative administration. He's disappointed us so many times now. It's heartbreaking. Honest people will have to admit that he's betrayed everything conservatives hold dear.

None of that means that I hate Bush or plan to run out and vote Democratic, I'll die first, but, to quote a certain midwest politician: "I'm deeply saddened".