Conservatives Riled Over Bush Activities

FOX ^ | 1-27-04 | Kelley Beaucar Vlahos

[JustPiper]

WASHINGTON

[.cnI redruM]

>>>>>>>>>Your strong-arming and intimidating people that don't want to see a democrat in office,

1) He is debating. Strong-arming involves sticking an Uzi up someone's nose and telling them they will like a certain set of policies. Janet Reno strong-arms, just ask the Weavers. Dane debates.

>>>>>>by calling them democrat supporters is disturbing.

2) He probably shouldn't call you names, but after you called him a "yes-man" and started in with the ad hominem yourself, you put yourself in the position of a man throwing rocks from inside a glass house.

[diotima]

Where is the bashing? I never said I wasn't QUOTED in the article, I said I never bashed Bush in the name of FR. Give me the quote where I bash the president. (I only have one quote in the article by the way.) Let me help you out. Here is my quote:

“There is a growing grumbling, a measure, if you will, of unhappiness with domestic policies,” said Free Republic Network (search) chairwoman Elizabeth Sheld. “It’s been building to the point where people are talking out, people are a little fidgety."

In case you missed this:

Even as Sheld and Swalley complained about some of the president's recent actions, Sheld manned a booth in the CPAC exhibition hall that bore a poster featuring Bush’s face juxtaposed with a muscle-bound Uncle Sam.

[.cnI redruM]

No, FRN should occasionally attack Bush. For logical reasons. I hated his Steal Tariff and his Prescription Drug Panderation Act. I'm uncertain over his immigration proposal.

The rest of his agenda is vastly better than that of his opposition. We keep acting as if GWB has the next election wrapped up. We need to logically suggest alternatives where Bush screws up and leave the cheap, populist ad hominems to John Deadwards and The Green Mountain Nut-Job.

[diotima]

I called him a "yes man" because, in my opinion, refusing to address a growing problem is akin to telling the Emperor he has on a fabulous outfit.

Alienating otherwise supporters with that "Where else you going to go" or "You want Dean in the White House?" does not bring people back to the party. If people want to continue that sort of behavior on-line, they can go ahead, but it isn't going to help.

[ConservativeGadfly]

Oh, I see now. You actually believe, that in the name of Free Republic, that Dio, et.al., bashed the President?

You really think that was bashing the President?

Please.

She was saying that there is grumbling in the base. You don't think there is grumbling in the base? She didn't say whether or not she agreed with it, just that the base wasn't happy.

Would you prefer that she say, "You know, Bush is the most perfect President ever to grace the White House and everyone is completely united on that one undeniable fact. Not one person has complained because of his sheer perfection. It is that perfection that all recognize that will propel Bush back into the White House with 92% of the vote in November. Everyone just couldn't be happier!"

Come off it, Ben. People in the base aren't happy and everyone -- except you -- knows it.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

You can be Pres., Secretary, bookeeper, inner and outer door Seargent at Arms for the Constitution Party because nobody else is crossing the street.

[diotima]

FRN is non-partisan (501c4), no one made a statement in the name of any organization. I was asked my opinion, it was the same as many other people quoted in that article. It was true, there is grumbling.

It is precisely because this isn't all wrapped up for President Bush, is what has me concerned.

[RiflemanSharpe]

I will hold true to my beliefes whether I am one of many or just one.

[.cnI redruM]

>>>>>>refusing to address a growing problem is akin to telling the Emperor he has on a fabulous outfit.

Sure. You make a logical point. However, it would be remiss of me not to point out it's converse. To criticize Bush in constructive manner, requires a good, workable counterproposal.

Eg. Saying that Bush is a traitor for letting illegal aliens enter a guest worker program is just name calling. Saying that GWB should massively fund the border patrol and assiduously hunt down anyone who enters our country illegally is getting warmer. Saying that he should massively fund the BP by reprogramming funds from programs X, Y, and Z at least demonstrates that some thought went into the posting.

I'd be interested in hearing who ever told you that failing to vote for Bush would automatically put Dean in the White House. Considering that Dean came in 3rd in Iowa and trails Bush handily in every poll I've seen that isn't commissioned by Sauceby or Newspeak, I'd file that statement in the statistically unlikely category.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Everyone has to choose if they want to change it from the inside or the outside. If you care about your country you have to try and change it from the inside because standing in the corner by yourself doesn't provide much opportunity to make a change in the system.

For instance I left the Navy. There were a lot of things good about the Navy and a lot that were wrong. I didn't care enough about the Navy to want to stay in and change it from the inside. My country, that's a different story.

I have to work from inside the system. Even the 60s commies learned you have to work from the inside to make change.

[Consort]

Though the dissension has picked up...

We're going to be seeing a lot of this stuff, so get used to it.

A bunch on the Left are trying to drive a wedge into the Republican Party......and a bunch on the Right are trying to drive a stake in it.

[Stone Mountain]

Almost 300 million of the 360 million went to corporations, not farmers. Corporations do not vote.

Nope, but they sure do contribute... :)

[Map Kernow]

LOL! Now "Free Republic" honchos have joined the blacklist of "fringe extremists"! The "faithful remnant" of "mainstream conservatives" supporting Bush's "conservative policies" is dwindling away!

[k2blader]

"[Bush] has been sacrificing the conservatives to get to the middle,” said Brandon Swalley, director of the Free Republic Network.

Exactly correct!

Thanks for pointing this out, fellow FReeper.

[RiflemanSharpe]

I have tried from the inside since Bush 41 proposed the first assault weapons ban, it is not working to well. Recently I came to the conclusion that if I was tired of politics as usual (I AM!!!), then why should I vote for the usual politicians? It is time to follow my conscience and see what happens.

[k2blader]

Great post.

[RiflemanSharpe]

Ok I will concede that point.

[Stone Mountain]

Recently I came to the conclusion that if I was tired of politics as usual (I AM!!!), then why should I vote for the usual politicians? It is time to follow my conscience and see what happens.

I have to agreee with this...

[RiflemanSharpe]

Thank you.

[diotima]

I was just using Dean as an example. Clearly Dean isn't doing too well. I'd love to see him as the nominee for obvious reasons.

I believe in constructive and information and arguments, not namecalling. So I agree with you. It is up to us convince and persuade other freepers of our positions.