Bush Finds Party Faithful In an Ugly Mood

WSJ ^ | 2/12/04 | JACKIE CALMES

[TomServo]

WASHINGTON -- For all the attention paid to partisanship in this town, the more interesting -- and consequential -- fights here in this election year will pit Republicans against Republicans.

A new level of tension is emerging between President Bush and the congressional Republicans he expects to deliver his election-year agenda. Among the sore points, Mr. Bush's initiative to give legal status to immigrant workers who are here illegally, a bid to attract Latino voters, instead has roiled the party's conservative faithful. Republicans have been put on the defensive over the President's policies on Iraq. And record deficits and spending suddenly have Republicans questioning his fiscal stewardship.

[TomServo]

Speaking as a former Canadian, now U.S. citizen,..

I didn't know that about you, Blu. Thanks ever so much for doing it the right way - and especially for your service to our Nation.

[zip]

From an ultra conservative that is 100% behind President Bush's foreign policy: IF I VOTE, I will have to hold my nose and pull the Bush lever. His domestic policies suck, to put it mildly. How a "conservative" can do all of the idiotic things that Bush is doing is beyond my comprehension, i.e. Budget busting, CFR, Kennedy's Education crap, BENDING OVER AND GRABBING HIS ANKLES FOR ILLEGALimmigrants and on and on and on. What part of illegal doesn't he understand?

Can anyone explain this idiocy?

[steve50]

Well, not exactly, Ed. Rove and Co got an ear full of complaining from the Congressmen recently in a party meeting.

And iirc, these congressmen said they were catching 3 kinds of hades from their constituents, not the "think tanks".

[Swanks]

Anyone in the GOP who turns on Bush and makes life easier for Kerry is a traitor IMO

Bull. Bush is the traitor. You (and I) are taken advantage of election after election by these RINOs. And they know they can get away with it becuase most people take your view: Well, we have to kepp the other guys out. So the Pubs live and spend like Dems knowing they will wisper just enough of what you need to hear at election time. And the cycle of ignoring the Convervative base goes on for another four years.

better to blew 'em out of office for the longer view. If they realize their strategy has a price tag they will sober up for the next cycle. I will not vote for Bush if he walks on water between now and election day.

[DManA]

Maybe his budget was more honest. Bush's record of estimating cost is not too good.

[DM1]

"Anyone in the GOP who turns on Bush and makes life easier for Kerry is a traitor IMO. Lives hang in the balance here, as well the future of America. The stakes are huge and I have no use for idiot turncoats."
Well said! though i would ammend GOP to any conservative and real American who turns on Bush.
You have Liberals then you have real Americans ;)

[Dane]

The future of America ? Your great-granchildren will be speaking Spanish ! LOL !

As English becomes the world language.

You guys really have to get over your fear and hyperbole.

[veronica]

STAB IN THE BACK...

(Dems stabbing Bush and the US in the back in war time) AND NOT JUST DEMS apparently.

[zip]

'Hold your nose and vote' crowd.

There a he!! of a lot more of us than the WH understands (and maybe more of the "I am not going to vote" crowd). WAKE UP, ROVE.

[Dane]

BTW susuhiman, since you are such an English language defender shouldn't you change your screen name to "rawfishman".

Can't have any foreign words corrupt English you know.

[Dane]

Bull. Bush is the traitor

And you are an idiot. See I can also throw out ad hominems. It's really easy, no wonder you like using them.

[sauropod]

Told ya the Jacobin Jackals would show up.

[Ramcat]

Bush in trouble with conservatives?
Who and where are these conservatives?
Yesterday I followed a thread here on Free Republic about who the 2008 Republican Presidential candidate should be.
I think the overwhelming majority of posts favored moderate to liberal Republicans.

[Jim Cane]

He definitely needs to back off this, regardless of what Karl Rove tells him.

He needs to fire that turkey out of a circus cannon and hire Keyes as an advisor.

[Liberty Valance]

I had not heard about this. Has this been discussed on FR before? /Sarcasm squared/

[Dane]

Budget busting, CFR, Kennedy's Education crap, BENDING OVER AND GRABBING HIS ANKLES FOR ILLEGALimmigrants and on and on and on.

Big old yawn zippy. The Education bill is hated by the demos because of the standards and isn't amnesty for illegals no matter how much you the Goebbel's technique of the "tell a lie long enough".

And let's also go on and on about the partial birth abortion ban, tax cuts, loosenung regulations on business.

[Ima Lurker]

"There is frustration among some conservatives, but mostly it is focused in the think tanks here," says Ed Gillespie, the Republican Party chairman. "I'm keeping my ear to the ground. But I do not believe we're at a point where concern translates into turnout problems."

EARTH TO ED.....maybe you need to get out more.

[AGreatPer]

I am leaving at this moment to go and watch Air Force 1 land at the Harrisburg airport. He is talking at our school this morning.

Worts and all, it is so good to have a grown up in the White House.

[jimt]

From an ultra conservative that is 100% behind President Bush's foreign policy: IF I VOTE, I will have to hold my nose and pull the Bush lever. His domestic policies suck, to put it mildly. How a "conservative" can do all of the idiotic things that Bush is doing is beyond my comprehension, i.e. Budget busting, CFR, Kennedy's Education crap, BENDING OVER AND GRABBING HIS ANKLES FOR ILLEGALimmigrants and on and on and on. What part of illegal doesn't he understand?

I think you've exemplified the problems nicely. The amnesty thing is the lightning rod issue for me.

[Swanks]

STAB IN THE BACK...

Exactly right. What Bush has done to the Conservative base. AND, on the front end of an election. Imagine how 'left' he will turn with four years as a lame duck. Go ahead with the rest of the lemmings and rush of the cliff. I'll vote Conservate or Libertarian.