Bush upsets part of conservative base

Boston Globe ^ | 1/9/04 | Wayne Washington

[RJCogburn]

President Bush bolstered his "compassionate" credentials among moderates with his proposal to offer millions of undocumented workers guest worker cards. But even as supporters were cheering the president's announcement from the East Room on Wednesday, angry calls were already pouring into the office of US Representative Elton Gallegly, a conservative Republican from the heart of Bush country.

[RJCogburn]

all this raises the critical question of whether Bush can keep the base of his party excited -- a factor his own strategist has called the key to his reelection.

Right. Fewer people willing to take on that broken glass.

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[ckilmer]

The trouble with the president's policy is that it means that there will be a wave of illegals coming over the border in the next ten years that is twice the size of the one that came over in the last ten years.

This will be seen--and rightly so--as a surrender.

[MJY1288]

"Bush upsets part of conservative base"

That part is always upset

[sinkspur]

"Bush upsets part of conservative base"

There's a part of the conservative base that would squeal if there was nothing to squeal about.

Squealing is what they do.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

That part is always upset

This part wasn't upset.

I am now.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Believe me, sinkspur, nobody squeals for Bush louder than you.

[Constitution Day]

That part is always upset

That's true for SOME.
I've been a supporter of Bush and most of his policies, but this still has me incensed.

[sinkspur]

Believe me, sinkspur, nobody squeals for Bush louder than you.

I'm a realist. The 24-hour-a-day-nothing-Bush-does-is-worth-a-damn-and-I-ain't-votin'-for-him-ever-but-I-don't-have-an-alternative-one-issue-voters never get what they want.

[Russ]

I don't see this as a "policy", it's a proposal. Congress has the final say in this matter so if you are opposed to it see that the legislation is defeated. After all, contrary to what the Democrats are saying, Bush isn't a dictator and can't pass laws. Only congress can do that.

Those of us who are opposed to this proposal should spend our energy on lobbying our senators and representatives to defeat it instead of just carping about the person who put it out there for debate.

Actually, if conservatives are opposed to it and Democrats don't think it goes far enough or don't want to give Bush a legislative victory, I think the chances of passage is slim.

[RJCogburn]

"There's a part of the conservative base that would squeal if there was nothing to squeal about."

I agree. I think that is true with any large 'group' be it political or otherwise. Politics can get pretty intense for a lot of people.

Still, I continue to believe that Bush may have a 'problem' with a significant part of the group that should be expected to vote for him. I can't imagine them voting for the Dem but as this fellow says,

"They're not going to vote Democratic," said Karlyn H. Bowman, a polling specialist at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C. "Staying home in a close election is what the Republicans would be worried about."

Now, if the Dem is a bizarre guy like Dean, more conservatives may get energized to get out and vote against him, but that isn't quite the same as being energized to vote for GWB.

Who knows.

[RiflemanSharpe]

That part is always upset
This part wasn't upset.

I am now.



I am too!!!

[The_Eaglet]

bump for later review

[MJY1288]

"I've been a supporter of Bush and most of his policies, but this still has me incensed."

Maybe he should have just ignored the problem, that would have been the easy way. But instead he has chosen to address the problem and opened up debate with this proposal and maybe a sensible policy will be the result. I call it leadership.

I'll do my part by sending letters to my elected Representative's

[GrandMoM]

BUMP

[Constitution Day]

Of course I realize it's a proposal.

You can bet your bottom dollar I'll be sending letters to my representatives.

[spookycc]

That part is always upset

I wasn't. I thought I was a Bushbot until this came along. That said, I'm not mad enough to vote for a cRAT.

[Coop]

I am too!!!

I don't believe I've ever seen you say anything positive, Rifleman. LOL

[BlackbirdSST]

Right. Fewer people willing to take on that broken glass.

I can't be bought, but just you wait till the next round of Tax Cut's roll out, our open borders will be relegated to the back burner once again. Within 30 day's. Blackbird.

[KEVLAR]

It is real easy to make statements like that and dismiss anyone who disagrees, however I think you are wrong.
There is a long list of items that Mr. Bush has upset some of those who voted for him with.