Replies

First some perspective and then I'll attempt to address the questions/observations.

Settling for less is a second place finish at best. We have a man in the White House who is as honest and as straight forward as the office will allow. It's our responsibility to inform him and shape his opinions and we do neither if we don't challenge his excursions off the reservation.

The changes occurring in the Southwestern United States are not evolutionary, they are revolutionary. It is difficult for those not residing in California to appreciate the changes the state has undergone in the past 15 years and is currently undergoing at an accelerating rate. The current tide and recent consequences of unregulated immigration are bankrupting the state, swamping the public schools and straining both county and municipal public safety budgets to their limits. The state can't simply absorb any more unregulated immigrants.

The long running "Day in the Life ..." serial thread is an asset to this forum and will be a priceless record of events for our posterity. But it is also the political promotion of a particular candidate and as such it is subject to legitimate challenge. It is neither a sacred cow nor a message from God. In respect to its promotional value it is simply another partisan thread among the thousands posted each month.

Now to some responses:

AmericanMade1776 wrote: you are fully aware of the many things he has accomplished during his term, under very trying circumstances.

Yes I am. But I am also aware that he has, along the way, done some things and implemented some policies that are far from conservative and not the result of "trying times". To many they appear to be unnecessary political appeasement. Some appear to be down right pandering which is out of character for the man. Overkill if you will in an attempt to make reelection a certainty (read Rove's influence). An unnecessary abandonment of traditional conservative core principals. The farm bill was an excellent example.

Here is where I and Republican Party loyalist part company. They appear willing to overlook these fax paus either because they are outweighed by the positives or for fear of rocking the boat which might lead to defeat in November. All conservatives, Republicans included, had a chance to send a non lethal message to Bush this spring but instead many decided to blindly support his primary bid. I would have wished that he had faired not so well in the primaries and been forced to shore up his base for example by returning to the center (enforce existing law) or moving right (introduce new legislation to combat the rising tide) on the illegal immigration issue.

AmericanMade1776 wrote: I wonder why you chose this thread to voice your discontent.

Because it was the first time in a great while that it showed up on the California Topic and it was posted to the topic in a spam style. The author has since explained the anomaly and I accept his explanation.

If the thread appears on the California Topic again the author can again expect a challenge to the promotion of a his candidate. It is still early enough in the election cycle that Bush could be pursuaded/forced back to the center on critical issues and not jeopardize his chances for reelection. I, in turn, would expect a reasoned response with the grace that your reply contained. Thank you.

Ride the whirlwind wrote:.I'm wondering if our visitor, Amerigomag, has ever seen this thread:

Yes I have. I am a political junkie who is well aware of President Bush's successes and his failures. I seldom engage outside the California Topic because there is so much work to be done in my state. Lately that work is being complicated by Republican loyalists who have promoted an openly "closet liberal" into the highest elected office in the state. Hopefully you can appreciate the rancor from the far right in California.