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".

[NCPAC]

Define "Pure conservative."

If you're moderately right, rightwing, or libertarian right you must vote Bush - especially with terrorism being such a threat. How can so many self-proclaimed patriotic Americans miss this simple, HUGE, fact?

[Poser]

"I think Laura would make a better president than her husband."

Good evening Moby. Your music sucks.

[k2blader]

I voted for President Bush in 2000.

But his stupid stupid stupid amnesty for illegals proposal put me in the ranks of the undecided.

However, if he supports a constitutional amendment to protect marriage as being that between one man and one woman, he's got my vote for sure.

[Sloth]

And if you have already decided you aren't going to vote for him this time, why should he try to get your vote?

He shouldn't be trying to get my vote. He should be doing what is right and legal. If the people support that in the voting booth, they will be rewarded with a good leader. If they don't, they'll be punished with a bad one.

[deport]

Interesting take and thanks for sharing it.....

Look back at the 2000 exit polls:

8% of those that consider themselves Republicans voted for Gore
17% of those that consider themselves Conservatives voted for Gore
19% of those that consider themselves the Religious Right voted for Gore
45% of those that consider themselves Independents voted for Gore... 46% for Bush

I'm not sure that a Democrat will maintain those same numbers this time now that President Bush is a known quantity.

[nopardons]

By writing them snail mail. That's what they pay attention to, rather than E-mail and phone calls.

Voting fringe or staying home, just brands you a KOOK and irrelevant.

And what's a " TRUE CONSERVATIVE " ? Someone who is so pure,that he/she is the exemplar of what the FFs thought, said, wrote ? How would YOU know ? There used to be a lot of DEMOCRAT CONSERVATIVES. Were they less " conservative " that you? Were they and the paltry few who still exist, not " true conservatives "?

[skeeter]

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.

Dems appeal to their 'true believers' to stay, the GOP tells theirs to get bent.

They don't call it the 'stupid party' for nuthin.

[Scenic Sounds]

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.

That's a great line!

Very nice piece! I would add only that I think it's important to remain upbeat and cheerful. There will be lots of good news and bad news between now and election day and getting anxious, hysterical or paranoid just doesn't advance the ball. Focus and a good sense of humor are our friends.

I think it's important to remember that, for any one of us, winning or losing is going to be out of our hands and will turn on events (the war on terror) and circumstances (economic conditions) that are beyond our individual control. Let's be happy warriors and have some fun!! ;-)

[kitkat]

Is this screed meant to be a subtle jab at Bush:? If so, it failed.

***I'm sure this makes me a Bushbot.***

I know a Bushbot, and you, sir, and not a Bushbot. And all your attempts to make us believe you are just wasted your time.

I'm voting for Bush. There's absolutely no other choice.

[x]

But if you didn't vote for Bush last time, he didn't "betray" you.

I'm not sure about the logic. He's not a CEO of some company that you have to have an interest in, or the head of an ideological pack that only looks out for its own. Rather the presidency has a meaning and a significance to all of us as citizens, and the President has a responsibility to all of us as members of the body politic.

There's a tendency in many to give a new President the "benefit of the doubt," and someone might have expectations and illusions about a candidate that aren't strong enough to make one vote for him, but that do make one consider him a decent and honorable person and wish him well. Thus, someone who didn't vote for Clinton could still manage to feel "betrayed" by him. And the same could be true of Bush and those who couldn't quite bring themselves to vote for him.

The other presumption -- that those who are complaining didn't vote for Bush -- is also questionable. Indeed, the feelings of betrayal or manipulation may be stronger in those who did vote for him than in those who didn't. I suspect national security concerns may win President Bush a lot of votes from those who weren't in his camp the last time, but long-time Republicans who've been disillusioned by some of his actions have a legitimate gripe. It's not always a moderate/extremist split either, so a third party won't help.

G.W. Bush and his people has shown themselves to be quite astute politically, but time will tell whether he's made the right choices for conservatism, the Republican party or America.

[OpusatFR]

Hold that thought, Pardner, while I run and get my graphs.

Sincerely,

Ross Perot (thrid party candidate and Clinton facilitator)

[Your Nightmare]

A true conservative is someone who believes in traditional conservative beliefs, including limited government. I wouldn't consider Bush a "true conservative".

BTW, what are you suppose to say to your representatives when you write them. "I don't like what you're doing but I'm gonna vote for you anyway"?

[Southack]

Loved your post!

Presidency of George W. Bush -- the first 36 months

 

Banned Partial Birth Abortion

Reversed Clinton's move to strike Reagan's anti-abortion Mexico Policy

Killed the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty

Killed U.S. involvement in the International Criminal Court

Killed Clinton's CO2 rules that were choking off all of the electricity surplus to California.

Killed Clinton's "ergonomic" rules that OSHA was about to implement; rules that would have shut down every home business in America.

Killed the U.S. - CCCP ABM Treaty that was preventing the U.S. from deploying our ABM defenses

Has CONSTRUCTION in process on the first ten ABM silos in Alaska and California so that America has a defense against North Korean nukes

 

Pushed through THREE raises for our military.

Increased Defense Dept funding which had deteriorated during the previous 8 years

 

President Bush's Grand Strategy

Stopped foreign aid that would be used to fund abortions.

Supported and upheld the ban on abortions at military hospitals

Signed E.O. reversing Clinton's policy of not requiring parental consent for abortions under the Medical Privacy Act

Signed TWO bills into law that arm our pilots with handguns in the cockpit

Currently pushing for full immunity from lawsuits for our national gun manufacturers

Ordered Attorney-General Ashcroft to formally notify the Supreme Court that the OFFICIAL U.S. government position on the 2nd Amendment is that it supports INDIVIDUAL rights to own firearms, NOT a leftist-imagined *collective* right

Told the United Nations we weren't interested in their plans for gun control (i.e. the International Ban on Small Arms Trafficking Treaty)

Signed the 2004 Omnibus Budget 1/26/2004 that now MANDATES that gun buyers' background check information be fully and permanently destroyed within 24 hours of the completion of the check, no matter what.

Disarmed Libya of its Chemical, Nuclear, and biological WMD's without bribes or bloodshed

Won an agreement that U.S. Navy sailors may now freely board thousands of commercial ships in international waters to search for weapons of mass destruction under a landmark pact between the United States and Liberia, the world's No. 2 shipping registry (signed Feb 11, 2004).

Successfully executed 2 wars: Afghanistan and Iraq. 50 million people who had lived under tyrannical regimes now live in freedom

 

Executed a WAR ON TERROR by getting world-wide cooperation to track funds/terrorists (has cut off much of the terrorist's funding and captured or killed many key leaders of the al Qaeda network)

 

Brought back our EP-3 intel plane and crew from China without any bribes or bloodshed

Started withdrawing our troops from Bosnia and has announced withdrawal of our troops from Germany and the Korean DMZ.

Signed the LARGEST nuclear arms reduction in world history with Russia

Initiated comprehensive review of our military, which was completed just prior to 9/11/01, accurately reported that ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE was critical.

Changed the tone in the White House, restoring HONOR and DIGNITY to the Presidency

Reorganized bureaucracy...after 9/11, condensed 20+ overlapping agencies and their intelligence sectors into one agency: the Department of Homeland Security.

Initiated discussion on privatizing Social Security and individual investment accounts.

Improving govt. efficiency with .8 million jobs put up for bid...weakening unions and cutting undeserved pay raises. Wants merit based promotions/raises only.

Orchestrated Republican control of the White House, the House AND the Senate.

Killed the liberal ABA's role in vetting federal judges for Congress.

GWB signed an executive order enforcing the Supreme Court's Beck decision (re: union dues being used for political campaigns against individual's wishes)

Turned around an inherited economy that was in recession.

Passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account as a result of corporate scandals.

Signed 2 income tax cuts ---- 1 of which was the largest Dollar value tax cut in world history

Reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains

In process of eliminating IRS marriage penalty.

Increased small business incentives to expand and to hire new people

Signed into law the No Child Left Behind legislation delivering the most dramatic education reforms in a generation (challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations)

Reorganized the INS in an attempt to safeguard the borders and ports of America and to eliminate bureaucratic redundancies and lack of accountability.

Signed trade promotion authority

Committed US funds to purchase medicine for millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS in Africa

Passed Medicare Reform (authorized $39.5 Billion per year for preventive medicine such as drugs and doctor visits as well as included a ten year Privatization option)

Urging federal liability reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits

Supports class action reform bill which limits lawyer fees so that more settlement money goes to victims

Submitted comprehensive Energy Plan--awaits Congressional action (works to develop cleaner technology, produce more natural gas here at home, make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy, improve national grid, etc.)

Endorses and promotes The Responsibility Era ("In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. My hope is to change the culture from one that has said, if it feels good, do it; if you've got a problem, blame somebody else -- to one in which every single American understands that he or she are responsible for the decisions that you make; you're responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul; you're responsible for being involved with the quality of the education of your children; you're responsible for making sure the community in which you live is safe; you're responsible for loving your neighbor, just like you would like to be loved yourself. " -----this quote was too good to leave out)

Started the USA Freedom Corps

Initiated review of all federal agencies with a goal to eliminate federal jobs (completed September 2003) in an effort to reduce the size of federal gov while increasing private sector jobs.

Part of coalition (Russia, Israel, EU, Palestine, USA) for Israeli/Palestinian "Roadmap to Peace"

Challenged the United Nations to live up to their responsibilities and not become The League of Nations ( in other words, completely irrelevant)

Nominated strong, conservative judges to the judiciary.

Changed parts of the Forestry Management Act to allow necessary clean-up of the national forests in order to reduce fire danger.

As part of the national forests clean-up, the President restricted judicial challenges (based on the Endangered Species Act and other challenges) and removed the need for an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) before removing fuels/logging to reduce fire danger.

Significantly eased field-testing controls of genetically engineered crops.

President Bush signed the workplace verification bill to prevent hiring of illegal Aliens
S. 1685, the Basic Pilot Extension Act of 2003, was signed by President Bush on December 3, 2003.
It extends for five years the workplace employment eligibility authorization pilot programs created in 1996. It expands the pilot programs from the original five states to all 50 states.

President Bush signing a federal ban on Partial Birth Abortion

U.S. Forces In Baghdad

[21st Century Man]

***This thread will self-destruct in 3,2,1...***

[JmyBryan]

I didn't vote for Bush last time, but I will this time and am actively trying to convince others to do same.

There is no question that we are in a global war - and that we are winning - and that we must prosecute this war until it is won. Those who do not understand this argument understand little about 21st century technology, or recent history (eg George Soros).

[tet68]

The first objective is to secure his base. But who is his base?

All the base are belong to Bush.
Kerry! You on way to destruction.
No chance survive make your time.

All your base, all your base are.....

[Jeff Gordon]

I encourage all of those who think they should be his base but are being ignored to give money to the Green Party.

Nuts.

[Jaxter]

If you care about winning the war on terror, vote for Bush.

If you you'd rather see legalized same sex marriage, vote for anybody else. Kerry and Kennedy will thank you.

I guess that makes me a Bushbot too.

[gramho12]

Third Party = Ross Perot = Clinton. Need I say more?

[carenot]

". Instead, they are marginalizing themselves as easily dimissed "kooks".

I am a kook. I refuse to vote for a dem or a rep. President Bush has out demed the dems.

I am sure he will win anyway. I just want them to know I voted for neither of them.