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The more I study this president, the more he reminds me of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln had huge fights with his own party, which, because half the country left the Congress, controlled the Congress with a large majority. But the abolitionists were constantly nipping at his heels.

Lincoln knew that he had to first win the war, keep the French and English from recogizing the Confederacy, THEN worry about emancipation...and even then, making sure to only emancipate the slaves in areas NOT under federal control so as to keep the border states from seceding. It was a political decision.

Bush realizes that he must do certain things in order to keep the country moving in the right direction:

1) Win re-election after a photo-finish election last time--otherwise, his "positions" are irrelevant. Can anyone doubt that any of the Democratic candidates (except perhaps Lieberman) won't have drastically different policies on the important issues involving all the areas that are causing ulcers amongst the conservatives on this board? Will Kerry, or Edwards, Dean, whomever be better than Bush? So why would you want to "stay home" and help elect them by your "protest?"

2) Add to the Republican majority in both houses. Especially the Senate. I know I sound like a broken record, but those judges are key to almost every issue Freepers are concerned about. Don't we need more conservative judges to rule constitutionally on school prayer, immigration, health-care initiatives, gun control, abortion, campaign finance "reform", and almost every issue we are debating here?

3) Bush knows that the more "centrist" he is perceived by the electorate, the more "leftist" the Dems will have to be to separate themselves. The Dems know that only by being able to portray themselves as being vastly different on issues from Bush, can they persuade voters to make a change. His positioning himself on several issues as a "centrist" leaves them nowhere to go but further left. That is electoral suicide for them. And in a Bush second term, with a more Republican congress, he can get more judges through and probably make two or three Supreme Court choices. Look at the difference Breyer and Ginsburg's votes on recent issues have made! It's Clinton's legacy which we will have to live with for years! Let's not let Kerry or Edwards make those next few appointments.

Bush and Rove realize this. I wish more Freepers did. Hold your nose if you have to, but...read my tagline...

"Bush realizes that he must do certain things in order to keep the country moving in the right direction"

SO TRUE!!!!!

After eight years of an ADD president, (except when it came to women or other self-serving interests) GWB inherited a total disaster, IMHO.

He has had a KILLER juggling act, trying to put this country back on track, and he's done it facing some uphill battles. I was delighted to see the Pickering recess appointment.......done I'm sure with the firm belief that he (Pickering) will be permanently installed when GWB wins re-election and the Senate will become a bigger Republican majority!!

Bush realizes that he must do certain things in order to keep the country moving in the right direction:

Since this is a two party system (will be for some time) there are but two choices. Like it or not, that's reality. Since the Left has had decades to steer us in the 'wrong' direction, I expect it'll take a while 'till a 'true' conservative ever makes it to the top of the ticket.

The socialist inertia that exists in the minds of the masses today will not be overcome in one election or two elections. It'll take many. A Bush defeat in '04 only adds another layer to the Left's predominance in keeping us from the chewy nugget at the center of the lollipop-- otherwise known as Liberty. The notion that one of the two parties ought to win from time to time (say every eight years) is puzzling. We should be in this to control the ship-of-state for at least another 40 years consecutively to counter the leftist inertia that has been our condition for many years. Now that would be a level playing field.

The democrat party used to stand for the working man, the little guy, and created programs that helped them obtain educations and housing, for instance. Today, they stand for something quite different: pro-homosexuality, high taxes, enviornmental wackism, anti-capitalism, reverse discrimination, UNism, and blatant socialism. This is a party I don't need to be invited to.

The plan to deal with illegals is partly an admission of defeat- the failure to secure our southern border. Hopefully, this administration is thinking ahead when they can hand-off to a more conservative candidate whose chances of success will reside with some of the minor victories they will acheive.

Who knows, in '08 we could have a candidate pushing for English only as the official language. If a flood of immigrants results in higher crime statistics, perhaps a renewed interest in the 2nd ammendment will take root.

And like you say, judges will prevail, however, they are only one leg of the stool and an energized executive and legislative branch could overwhelm them with changes so badly needed in our time. The time for our President and Congress to rub the liberal court's faces in their own mess has been long overdue. Lead, follow, or get out of the way should be our message to liberals who wish to thwart the constitution.