Bushbots, or why a third party is needed

ASB | 02/19/04 | Anitius Severinus Boethius

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

As we head into this election, Bush has to do a few things to become re-elected.

First, he must secure his base.
Second, he must construct the debate.
Third, he must play a mistake-free hand.

The first objective is to secure his base. But who is his base? Many people like to think they are his base, but if they voted for Pat Buchanan last time, or the Constitution Party candidates or, held their breath and turned blue, or even voted Libertarian, they are not his base.

His base are moderate to conservative Republicans who are for lower taxes, less government involvement in everyday life, and more morality in society as a whole. Pretty broad definitions, but most people who aren't daily invested in politics hold pretty broad views. Those who would close our borders completely, who worry about the price of Gold in Botswana, or read the Congressional Record highlighting every "UnConstitutional" act or statement are not the target for his "securing the base" step.

Second, President Bush, not the Democrats, must construct the debate. If the election is going to be about Iraq, it needs to be the President who makes it about Iraq. If it's about immigration, President Bush should be the one pushing the Democrats on what they do or do not want to do.

He had better be able to throw off lines like, "Well, I understand that we have some differences on the Iraq situation, but what this election is about is the security of our Nation as a whole, not a simple matter of when elections will be held in Mosul."

Controlling the debate means focusing on issues that the majority of politically disinterested voters want to hear about. This means broad areas like the Economy (not H-1B Visas), National Security (not whether a single member of the House of Saud is still sympathetic to Bin Laden), and Size of Government (not whether the NEA is getting a 4% increase).

Third, he must remain scandal free. This means keeping your distance from corruption and being open to investigations of even imagined impropriety. The more open he is with his records and private data, the more it will look like his opponents have to hide. Perception is the key here, and not making a mistake means not looking like you have something to hide.

If he can do these three steps he can then rely upon the money and organization of his key political people to work towards the 269 he needs.

Having a third party wouldn't hurt either. I encourage all of those who think they should be his base but are being ignored to give money to the Green Party. With the Green Party in the race, you won't have to vote "Republicrat".

[MrB]

I'm not so much voting for Bush

as I am voting to keep ANY DemocRat out of power.

[Your Nightmare]

I know most people here will vote for Bush, but how should true conservatives get the message to Bush and the Republicans in Congress that they are not pleased with the way they are governing.

If not the vote, then what?

[Lance Romance]

Moby, is that you?

[PhiKapMom]

But if you didn't vote for Bush last time, he didn't "betray" you. And if you have already decided you aren't going to vote for him this time, why should he try to get your vote?

Outstanding post!

The funniest thing to me after I found my list of anti-Bush people from 2000 a few weeks ago is to see them post that he lost their vote. You cannot lose something you never had.

Been supporting Pres Bush since he ran in 1994 and am still part of his base! If that is a Bushbot count me in as a charter member.

[livius]

Just shows the Dems are smarter than we are. Deanie baby, who's at the extreme edge of their party, urged extreme left Dems not to vote 3rd party, because every vote is needed to get even a moderate leftist - er, Dem - into office.

We have to remember this, too. The extreme right of the GOP - or even those on the right with no party membership - have to avoid being swayed by seductive visions of a 3rd party triumph (which ain't gonna happen) or of "showing the GOP," which essentially means cutting off their nose to spite their face.

So some folks on Free Republic may be making a might effort (probably Dem agitators) to get conservatives to go off and throw their votes away, but - sorry, no cigar.

[Judith Anne]

President Bush has my vote.

[Digger]

I voted for him the first time, will vote for him again because overall he's done a good job. Imagine Kerry or the 'slip and fall' attorney as prez.

Imagine to have an option besides these two. How about a candidate that is pure conservative on both social & spending that will stand up to any opposition to those things. Bottom line GW will be re-elected if only because in a 2-party cartel with a vermin running in one party it doesn't take rocket science to see the outcome. No I didn't vote for GW last time. I didn't his father the 2nd time nor any since in this cartel. But the way these commie vermin dems are stinking up the country he probably will get mine. IMO he wants to trump the dems so he spends our money quicker than ever BUT if he really wants to take away a rallying cause of the commies he would dump Cheney. That won't happen but when it's a liberal cause watch him take it on & pass it such as prescription drugs. See how those elites, who are all libs, succeed when you only have two to chose from.

[Docbarleypop]

Too bad my vote for him probally didnt count last time since i absenteed in florida while stationed overseas, this time i will pull the knob myself!

[kesg]

Here here...

[Docbarleypop]

So what you are saying, Laura Bush in 08?

[cyborg]

If someone better than Bush comes along before November then fine. I'll reconsider but I've not seen anyone yet.

[woerm]

>>I'm not so much voting for Bush

>>as I am voting to keep ANY DemocRat out of power.

as this monkey business progresses it looks like that is a good summary of where I stand, since I can't stand John fondle Kerri or Te-Ray-suh much less the professional liar/I mean lawyer, that appear to make the demonrat field so far.

[Jackson Brown]

There is plenty that Bush and the republicans have done to pi$$ me off. (The same can be said with Reagan, at that time).

HOWEVER, we are faced with a real and IMMINENT danger to the country. The the choice of a flawed Bush or the cancer that is the democratic party is what we have...period!!!

If we had a parliamentary system, where multiple parties can hold power, then I might be sympathetic to the idea of supporting a third party...but that is NOT the case.

ANY vote by conservatives for anyone but Bush is a vote FOR the most left wing element in our country to take the White house!

It's a plain and undeniable FACT.

Make noise now to get the Republican's attention...I'm all for that.

However, when it comes time to vote in November...it's BUSH or KERRY...period!

[Chris Talk]

Yeah, I really think she has the intuition for what ought to be done. She would be a good president for America.
Might well be able to counter Hillary better than any male Republican candidate in view.

[StoneColdGOP]

Wonder if Washington ever had to secure his base?

Only during the War.

[Truth29]

I voted for Bush in 2000 and was a significant supporter (2K), but unless he does something more effective about controlling illegal alien immigration and not proposing amnesty, there won't be a country to lead. His efforts have been worse than ineffective; they have actually motivated more illegal immigration.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Yeah, nice try.

[alnick]

Imagine to have an option besides these two.

That's what primaries are for.

[alnick]

BUT if he really wants to take away a rallying cause of the commies he would dump Cheney. That won't happen

I'd be disappointed in him if he did that. He won't, though.

[Naspino]

I for one love Bush!