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I don't think the president feels especially beholden to the far right because so many of them (including posters here on this thread) actively worked against his election as supporters of Keyes and/or Buchanan.

And most of whom worked for and voted for him after he got the nomination. So he is beholden to them, whether he "feels" that way or not.

And evidence to the contrary (that is, he knows he is beholden) is: Ashcroft over Racicot, faith-based intiative, signing partial-birth abortion, naming conservative judges.

Bush knows he needs Christian conservatives to go to the polls in November, which is why this move is utterly baffling.

Very few "moderates" vote based on which way a candidate chooses to address the NEA. However, Christian conservatives, who are insulted, denigrated, mocked, etc. by NEA-supported "art", quite likely will.

And most of whom worked for and voted for him after he got the nomination. So he is beholden to them, whether he "feels" that way or not

That's why he has 91% of the Republicans. FR is not the conservative universe and just because some people who have disliked Bush post criticism of every single issue and post loudly, doesn't mean you are the base.

Screaming and kneejerking does not make it so.

You are correct. However, he got all those conservative things done, even when for two years he did not have a majority in the Senate, and even last year got a very thin majority.

Yet, did the far right stop to appreciate what he had accomplished? No. On this forum I have seen complaints that the Partial Birth Abortion bill was a sham and he should do more, that the tax increases weren't good enough, that he was weak when dealing with China, that he should have vetoed the farm bill, etc. etc....all the while telling us that they won't vote for him again.

Now, as far as the NEA, it seems to me that there was a change in its direction a couple of years ago, and a new director appointed. The really insulting stuff from the NEA was several years ago, and I haven't read anything lately that got me riled. Perhaps without our knowing the NEA has gone back to what was originally intended...a funding of arts programs for areas that don't have those types of opportunities. I can't say that I know, and perhaps this merits some investigation on my part.

Let's wait and see what's actually going on. It could be far different from what many are assuming.