Stay the Course (Why should we vote for Bush again? Good editorial.)

World Magazine ^ | 1/26/04 | Marvin Olasky

[SquirrelKing]

Stay the Course

For all of the Bush administration's faults, it's good to have a president who knows about a set of rules "bigger than government rules"

JOIN THE CLUB." THAT'S WHAT PRESIDENT-ELECT Bush said in December 2000, when I told him I was journalist first, Bush supporter second, and would probably be criticizing some of his decisions early and often. That's the way it has worked out, and it's easy to enumerate complaints. No vetoes of pork-barrel spending. No nationwide vouchers or tax credits to begin creating parental choice in education. Missed opportunities during the first year of the faith-based initiative. Etcetera.

This magazine and now www.worldmagblog.com have criticized the Bush administration and will keep trying to tell the truth, regardless of partisan considerations. But, as we keep in mind two speeches President Bush has given this month, and the beliefs underlying those talks, let's remember that we're better off now than we were four years ago (when Bill Clinton was in office) or than we will be a year from now, if millions of Christian conservatives stay home in November.

Much could be said about our war against terrorism, but I'll concentrate here on domestic policy and the way President Bush in the State of the Union address on Jan. 20 reemphasized his commitment to compassionate conservatism. He was right to ask Congress to act "so people of faith can know that the law will never discriminate against them again." The faith-based initiative's emphasis on grants has been frustrating—tax credits and vouchers would work better both practically and politically—but as long as we have big government Mr. Bush is right to fight against red-lining religion.

The other speech wasn't heard by many outside of the New Orleans church in which it was given, but President Bush's remarks at Union Bethel AME on Jan. 15 went much deeper than the nationally televised address that should be called the State of the Onion, because every president spends so much time slicing and dicing (the infamous "laundry list" of items) that many viewers begin to cry.

The church speech laid out a bottom-up political philosophy that is the opposite of the top-down approach demanded by Democrats and relished by liberal Republicans. President Bush spoke, sometimes reaching for words, of problems beyond the ability of government: "Intractable problems, problems that seem impossible to solve can be solved.... Miracles are possible in our society, one person at a time. But it requires a willingness to understand the origin of miracles. Miracles happen as a result of the love of the Almighty."

He stated well the problem for religious groups: "Government policy says, on the one hand, perhaps you can help; on the other hand, you can't practice your faith. Faith-based programs are only effective because they do practice faith. It's important for our government to understand that. Government oftentimes will say, yes, you can participate, but you've got to ... conform to our rules. The problem is, faith-based programs only conform to one set of rules, and it's bigger than government rules."

[cyncooper]

So weak? What is your evidence that your K-Mart is in disarray due to illegal immigration?

What is weak is flinging out the name "Jesse Jackson".

LOL

[skeeter]

Perhaps that was his whole objective - get the beliefs out on the table for all to see.

Whether or not that was his objective, I'm grateful for the strong response in opposition to his plan. He knows now just how popular any suggestion of legalization of illegals is.

Why some would suggest we keep our mouths shut I cannot fathom.

[Fawnn]

Strategery perhaps?

Too bad there are so many play-by-my-rules-or-I'm-gonna-take-my-ball-and-go-home types here who don't understand strategy and fail to see the big picture. ;)

[hoosiermama]

Just be careful you don't "shot the messenger".

Open your mouth and:
Contact your rep.
Contact your rep.
Contact your rep.
Contact your rep.

[The Toll]

Hey it was your argument Jesse not mine. My Kmart analogy is real life experience. The place is swamped with illigals as far as proof goes I just go by the yearly INS raids and the fact that I am part native american and constantly get bombarded for offers to forge documents for me.

[hoosiermama]

Have you contacted the INS and told them about the offers to forge documents? If not you aren't doing your part to close the borders. Maybe you could help them set up a sting!

[skeeter]

But... Bush was the one who proposed it.

Wouldn't it be more logical to slap HIS proposal down AND contact my rep?

[hoosiermama]

His proposal is just rhetoric. He just want to get the subject out in the open.....It's been ignored for years and is getting worse. Something must be done. So he presents a solution that no one will buy. The D must get to the left of or come up with something acceptable. The country raves! Therefore: They're not going to go further left....We get something acceptable. CHeck and checkmate!

[cyncooper]

My dear Toll, you claimed your K-Mart is a urine drenched 3rd world hell hole (we get it..."those dirty Mexicans") due to illegal immigrants.

You have not demonstrated this is a fact-based complaint.

[The Toll]

No I did not contact the INS but my wife did for the both of us. The first time it happened it was outside of the front of the store and I went and told the cops parked permanetly in the parking lot. They said "we know thats why we're here". The problem is it continued and I just stopped going to the store all together.

[ostephani]

Did your logic precede you over that cliff?

[AFPhys]

Great post regarding the immigration issue, though that is not the focus of the article... I'll deal with that first. I am ecstatic about the President bringing up the immigration issue, and proposing a solution. I'm not real crazy about the whole thing, but I'm unable to figure out a better solution, and the more I actually hear about the part that these "illegals" play in our economy, the tougher the issue becomes. I suspect the lowest wage would be more on the order of $15/hr if they weren't available and willing, and that would result in a HUGE price increase and many of us who are now simply "making ends meet" would be in bankrupt territory. I now think that the president's approach which essentially tries to refocus our government's resources on the nastier elements of protecting our border is the best thing for now.

Judges are also critical to our present plight. Those who would say that "R" presidents have chosen some pretty liberal judges have a long way to go to convince me that they have not done a whole lot better than the "D" presidents. Compare the voting record of Ginsberg(D) with O'Conner(R) (as poor as she is) and tell me straight you prefer Ginsberg! Dubya will do far better than that, and we all know it. We have to give him the chance.

It would be irresponsible to vote third party or Demodog at a time like this in our history, just given the terrorism issue and the importance of reinvigorating the effectiveness of religious organizations in solving the problems of our country. I pray that those on this board who make such threats in the final analysis realize just how irresponsible such a thing would be, and I hope their "squeaky wheel" tactics are simply that, tactics, and that they eventually realize just how destructive carrying out such threats would be.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Thanks!

[The Toll]

You are the one making the accusations of racism Jesse, you are the one that needs to provide proof. If you need me to show you the difference between Portand and Port-a-Prince you have more problems than I can attend to on this board. By the way (Port-a-Prince) is not in Mexico before you go there.

[cyncooper]

LOL
You're a hoot.

[hoosiermama]

Well said!

[SquirrelKing]

Re: #68

Man, I gotta have that on a bumper sticker! Nice post.

[The Toll]

To be honest all logic was lost the minute the President proposed this nonsence.

[b9]

wow. Thank you!

[Consort]

A Democrat president can expect even stiffer opposition from a Republican-controlled Senate.

The last Democrat President got a lot of opposition, even impeachment, but he still managed to do a lot of damage.

The next President will likely be nominating more than one person to the US Supreme Court.