[hellinahandcart]

It really doesn't matter what is solved or not solved here on the forum. I wish people would get that. There is trouble in River City. And I don't mean on FR, I mean out there in the three-dimensional world.

My conservative parents are mad as hell about the immigration debacle and are not going to give a dime to the party. My much-more moderate brothers are so mad about the spending that one of them is also considering sitting out the election, as I am. My aunt and uncle are typical New York Republicans, meaning socially liberal, and even they are sputtering about the legalization of millions of illegals. Conversations with my real-world Republican friends now consist solely of "WHY is he doing this? WHY? It's not going to work!"

We ALL support the war and yet we all feel betrayed now, and are all extremely worried about what a second term is going to look like if this is his big finish for the first. None of us would ever vote for a Democrat. None of us would vote for a third party. The only options out there are either against the war or for open borders, and that is definitely NOT the message I want to send! The message *I* want to send to Bush is that he does not want to receive the same message his father got in 1992. And I fear that it's going to happen, unless he starts throwing bones at us with both hands, and soon.

It really doesn't matter what the "tone" is on FR, because out of all the people I mentioned above, I am the only one that comes here, or goes to any online political forums at all. And they are all disappointed and dispirited. That's just my circle; there could literally be millions out there who feel the same way right now. That may change, or not. But the only real power most of us have is our vote, and the motivation to vote for Bush has got to come from Bush.

Isn't it better that this is dealt with now, in the winter and spring of 2004, rather than pretending to wonder what went wrong next November?

[EternalVigilance]

I have to tell you that the feelings of folks where I am currently is no different than what you describe. And I'm almost literally in GW's backyard in Texas.

That's what makes this statement from Alan so incredibly important.

We have to get our act together, and I mean right now.

Hang together, or hang separately.

But unity is a two-way street, politically.

[George W. Bush]

Isn't it better that this is dealt with now, in the winter and spring of 2004, rather than pretending to wonder what went wrong next November?

Exactly so. The GOP can still win our hearts and votes.

There is still time. We're not impossible to please.

Your remarks about your own friends and family ring true. I know people who feel the same way.

[Badray]

Thank you.

(And BTW, it was great meeting you at CPAC.)

Your post was eloquent and right on the money. I just got signatures for to get on the ballot for a local committee position and NONE of the Republicans who signed were planning on voting for Bush this time.

At my discussion group, only about a third of those in attendance planned on voting for him and that was based on 'the lesser of two evils' and not anything like principle, trust, or admiration.

You just have to wonder who Bush is listening to.