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."

[The Toll]

Howling is what I'm doing jackass. If you want amnesty then run on it in November.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I don't need amnesty jagoff. I was born here.

[kitkat]

***This will not fade.***

Not if YOU can help it.

Go ahead, tear down the best president we've had in many years, and get a democrat elected. Perhaps you'd rather that the US join the International Criminal Court; stop defending our country; cut down on the pay of the service people; and let the UN tell us that we can't defend ourselves. Well, that's what you're gonna get if you don't vote for Bush.

[The Toll]

So you are a citizen. Your lucky, for now that still has a little meaning. This spit fight has no bearing on the original argument that the President has proposed a destructive plan (according to many)and this fire will not go away. Regardless of the cheerleaders.

[kevao]

They already pay taxes, they might as well be citizens.

Any foreign tourist who shops here pays taxes, as do I when I visit another country. Is that really a basis for handing out citizenship?

[sonofatpatcher2]

When any Republican or Conservative says they are thinking of not voting for Bush, just say this: "William H. Rehnquist, 80 John Paul Stevens, 84 Sandra Day O'Connor, Ariz., 74 Antonin Scalia, 68 DC Anthony M. Kennedy, 68 David H. Souter, 65 Clarence Thomas, 56 Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 71 Stephen G. Breyer, Mass. 66"

[The Toll]

What I'm fighting is the fact that it looks like a Democrat was elected. (by that I mean Bush, not some insaino Fla. refference)

[BigSkyFreeper]

Well, they aren't exactly tourists and visiting the country. They're earning a wage and paying FICA. A bit different than seeing the sights, and buying trinkets.

[The Toll]

If someone illegal is paying FICA then some employer needs to be in prison.

[BigSkyFreeper]

So you do agree with Bush's plan. I thought so.

[The Toll]

Bush doesn't have a plan. "Illegals, what Illegals?" is not a plan.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Unlike you, most of us know what the whole encompassing proposal is. You're myopic view has you trained on the words "illegal alien".

[TruthNtegrity]

When any Republican or Conservative says they are thinking of not voting for Bush, just say this: "William H. Rehnquist, 80 John Paul Stevens, 84 Sandra Day O'Connor, Ariz., 74 Antonin Scalia, 68 DC Anthony M. Kennedy, 68 David H. Souter, 65 Clarence Thomas, 56 Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 71 Stephen G. Breyer, Mass. 66".

And we need to put Judges on the SCOTUS who are Constitutionalists. We've had enough of creative, "the Constitution is a living document" Judges.

And "The Toll", someone may have already asked this question, but did you leave out an "R" when creating your nic? (Troll) Sounds to me like you have all the arguments of those who have begun to visit us here at FR.

[The Toll]

As for as your comment goes about the "R" ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Man you kill me really, how can this world continue without your comedic genious. I've been around a while, long enough to see these precious Rino's aren't going to get us any judges.

[The Toll]

I suppose you and Mr. Daschel prefer "Undocumented Worker". Please accept my lapse into thought crime.

[kevao]

They're earning a wage and paying FICA.

They are earning an ILLEGAL wage. And they're using stolen Social Security numbers (did you see the story the other day about how that elderly woman's social security checks keep decreasing every month because the government thinks she iss working?). These facts should not be ignored when granting citizenship.

Frankly, I'd rather grant citizenship to a law-abiding, sight-seeing, trinket-buying tourist than an illegal who has broken our laws and is effectively robbing seniors of the social security they put into the system.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Nope. Sorry. If I preferred undocumented worker, that'd be the first time I agreed with Mr. Daschle.

[BigSkyFreeper]

What do you care? You said you were staying home in November, right?

[The Toll]

"staying home in November...." finally your right about something.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I do have that reputation of being right, in more ways than one.