Replies

Deport, what you wrote here could have been written in January 1992 as well. Only twelve years have come and gone.

I think the columnist is saying that G.W. Bush could have already lost reelection though the process has not yet really begun in earnest. I know that such a scenario seems unlikely at this point, but Bush is making many wrong moves from the standpoint of "movement" conservatives. The recess appointment of Judge Pickering seems an aberration on the president's part from his otherwise liberal stances.

As John Adams said of the American Revolution, "it began in the hearts and minds of the people" before the first shots were fired at Lexington.

So, it could be that discontent with G.W. Bush has already set in. There are tens of millions of avowed Democrats determined to defeat him at all costs. They consider him an interloper in the office. And there are tens of thousands of conservatives who are totally uninterested in the Bush campaign. Many of these may not even bother to watch the presidential debates in the fall. He just does not excite such voters, whom you consider malcontents but who believe that Bush is not the conservative that they (perhaps falsely) led themselves to believe that he was.

For some, it is going to be much harder to pull the Bush lever than it has been in the past to support the Republican candidate. No, I am not talking about conservatives voting Democrat. That won't happen. But many will just skip the presidential part of the ballot or not vote at all. Bush needs to give his base a reason to come to the polls, other than saying "I am not Kerry" or "I am not Edwards" or whoever the Democrats run.

It may be that conservatives finally decide to vote for Bush in the fall solely over the Supreme Court appointments. Then many fear that his first court vacancy will go to Judge Gonzales, who has said that David Souter is one of the justices now sitting on the court whom he most admires.

I think Bush needs to get in touch with his base, but maybe those disillusioned with the administration are a small minority of malcontents, as you and many on the forum seem to think.

The recess appointment of Judge Pickering seems an aberration on the president's part from his otherwise liberal stances

If you truly believe that then there is NOTHING Bush can do. If you can not objectively see a stellar conservative record then why should this "base" ever be listed to again. My lord man, the conservative "base" makes up 20% of the GOP and they have been given 75% of the agenda to date, from taxes, to foreign policy,to national security, to the UN, to court nominations, to abortion, to cabinet positions, to Congressional leaders to economic policy and to every conservative social issue to date. For crying out loud, how much consideration for 20% of the population is enough. I thought that conservatives were against affirmative action. I guess when it come to conservative issues affirmative action is not only good it is demanded.

You are good at bringing out crap from times past..... Can you accept that they are past and we are in the present.... Sure President Bush can lose. Lots of things can happen, some good some bad....

Today the young voters in the age bracket 18 to 29 are supporting President Bush at some 62%.... This is very refreshing, not normal of past trends and if the democrats are to win the Presidency they must have this group..... They've never won the Presidency without them. Look for a post from CPAC and the info posted about the young groups there that are all enthuased about President Bush.

The dynamics of Presidential elections have changed and are changing..... I personally don't think the base has left him at this stage... Polls don't show that. Yes they show some dissatisfaction with some of his proposals...... but the discontent you see on this forum isn't representative of the public at large, imo. Where you here in 1999 and 2000?

You maybe correct in the final analysis but based upon your history of predicting election outcomes as posted here on FR I have little faith in them. You've never met a democrat you didn't like, think that would win, or sing the praises of or so it seems to me. We'll see.

I think Bush needs to get in touch with his base, but maybe those disillusioned with the administration are a small minority of malcontents, as you and many on the forum seem to think.

They are an insignificant, but vociferous little swarm of so-called "true" conservatives. Trouble is, each has his own criteria of what comprises a "true" conservative.

Ninety-one percent (91%) of Republican voters, support the re-election of POTUS.