George W. Bush Flashback: Listen to his words three years ago

“[E]ight years ago [Clinton-Gore] campaigned on prescription drugs for seniors. And four years ago they campaigned on prescription drugs for seniors. And now they're campaigning on getting prescription drugs for seniors. It seems like they can't get it done. Now, they may blame other folks, but it's time to get somebody in Washington who is going to work with both Republicans and Democrats to get some positive things done when it comes to our seniors.”

“I want all seniors to have prescription drugs in Medicare. We need to reform Medicare. This administration has failed to do it. Seniors will have not only a Medicare plan where the poor seniors will have prescription drugs paid for it, but there will be a variety of options.”

“Let me make sure the seniors hear me loud and clear. They have had their chance to get something done. I'm going to work with Democrats and Republicans to reform the system. All seniors will be covered, all seniors will have their prescription drugs paid for, and in the meantime, we'll have a plan to help poor seniors and in the meantime it could be one or two years.”

“I know we need to ban partial birth abortions. This is a place where my opponent and I have strong disagreement. I believe banning partial birth abortions would be a positive step to reducing the number of abortions in America. It is an issue that will require a new attitude.”

“[I would use force] if it's in our vital national interest, and that means whether our territory is threatened or people could be harmed, whether or not... our defense alliances are threatened, whether or not our friends in the Middle East are threatened.”

“The vice president and I have a disagreement about the use of troops. He believes in nation building. I would be very careful about using our troops as nation builders. I believe the role of the military is to fight and win war and therefore prevent war from happening in the first place.”

“Under Vice President Gore's plan, he is going to grow the federal government in the largest increase since Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1965. We're talking about a massive government, folks.”

“[The Vice President] says he's for voluntary testing [in schools]. You can't have voluntary testing. You must have mandatory testing. You must say that if you receive money you must show us whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. That's the difference... Testing is the cornerstone of reform.”

“...[O]ne of the things that we have to be careful about in politics is throwing money at a system that has not yet been reformed. More money is needed and I spend more money, but step one is to make sure we reform the system to have the system in place that leaves no child behind.”

“...A lot of folks are still waiting for that 1992 middle-class tax cut. I remember the vice president saying, 'Just give us a chance to get up there, we're going to make sure you get tax cuts.' It didn't happen. Now he's having to say that again. They've had their chance to deliver a tax cut to you.”

“I would support an effort to ban corporate soft money and labor union soft money so long as there was dues check-off. I've campaigned on this since the primaries. I believe there needs to be an instant disclosure on the Internet as to who has given to who.”

“I want to finally get something done on Medicare. I want to make sure prescription drugs are available for all seniors. And I want seniors to have additional choices when it comes to choosing their health care plans... I don't want to be the world's policeman, I want to be the world's peacemaker by having a military of high morale and a military that is well-equipped... I understand the limited role of the federal government, but it could be a constructive role when it comes to reform, by insisting that there be a strong accountability system.”

"Those that refuse to vote, or go third party, will be giving the finger to our brave soldiers, abandoning them in the middle of of a war." Sounds great. "Not true."

Absoultely True IMO.

If you give the vote to the Democrat by going awol on Bush for 2004, A Dem becomes their CIC and they are all pretty much antiwar. Would you trust any one of them to direct the WOT or the War in Iraq? Or anything for that matter?

I hope not.

The reality is No 3rd party has a chance this late. Even if they did they would Not give me every victory in politics i desire. No one can. Of course, Not voting at all is shirking responsibility.

This reply really made me think and begin to re-evaluate my take on the President.

Having you say that certainly makes the time I spent on the reply seem worthwhile. Thanks.

There are no perfect answers, of course. But we've got to keep searching and thinking....

I thought the Republican Party was supposed to be the party of conservatism. And, if I recall correctly, the president is considered to be the leader of the party. And, I seem to recall the phrase "compassionate conservative" at some point. Am I missing something, here?

The Republican Party base probably has more liberals and moderates combined than conservatives....so they would get the most attention if that is the case. Conservatives are the ones who tend to differentiate between conservatives and republicans. They are more Ideologically Correct, just like their counterparts on the Left are Politically Correct. Not too good, IMO.

Neo, paleo, compassionate....is he or isn't he a compassionate conservative? He's doing what he wants to do; he is following his agenda, for better or worse and whether or not it agrees with your agenda. Maybe that's what you're missing.

He's doing what he wants to do; he is following his agenda, for better or worse and whether or not it agrees with your agenda. Maybe that's what you're missing.

I'm not missing a thing. See what I said here.

See what I said...

Well stated, but the challenge is to find that "better alternative" without incurring "the risk of inadvertantly giving control to Democrats" while we're searching and experimenting with those "alternatives". The Democrats must not be allowed to control any part of (big or small) government. If you are not happy with either party, then you are going to be unhappy for the rest of your life.

If you are not happy with either party, then you are going to be unhappy for the rest of your life.

I fear this is true. It depresses me. But it also motivates me to keep looking for constructive alternatives that I work for.

"Going nowhere. I'll vote for lower offices but sit out the Presidential. No way I can vote, again, for a man who expanded government more than anyone since LBJ."

Perhaps down the road you may reconsider?

Frankly, I am amazed GWB & Co. have been able to do anything at all with the "human waste" that makes up Congress and the courts.

Perhaps down the road you may reconsider?

I can give a Hillary type answer.....I am currently not reconsidering. ;^)

Seriously, maybe, but I doubt it at this point, but things change. A couple of years ago I did not think I'd be planning to sit our my first presidential election since I started voting in the 60s.

"Seriously, maybe, but I doubt it at this point, but things change. A couple of years ago I did not think I'd be planning to sit our my first presidential election since I started voting in the 60s."

I have "held my nose", but I have voted in every election I have been elegible to vote in.

When Barry Goldwater went down in flames to LBJ, I was disheartened, but it made me a political realist. [ I still see that little girl picking flowers, and then the nuke going off ]

We've seen a lot of hypocrisy in "our" voting life. We'll see a lot more.

Regards

I agree, the only issue where Bush flip-flopped was on Campaign Finance Reform.

I think that part of the anger/confusion is due to the media (with a little help from Bush) labeling Bush as a conservative. In the media's mind Repub = conservative.

Bush actually is an old-time moderate. He takes the conservative side on some issues, the liberal side on others.

Bush is still better than the alternatives, and if he can Reform social security, then he would have accomplished some great things. But Bush had a chance to be a great President, to be loved the way Reagan is loved by the American people. But he's lost that opportunity, not because he made compromises, but because he compromised when he did not have to. I am thinking of campaign finance reform, medicare drug coverage (he could have kept his campaign promise by presenting a conservative plan, e.g. making drug coverage part of medical savings accouts for example).

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