Posted on 08/13/2004 6:48:18 AM PDT by quidnunc
Like father, like son?
George H.W. Bush blew his re-election chances in 1992 with a big tax increase and a lackluster campaign, never taking Bill Clinton seriously until it was too late. The lasting image of that campaign was of the president looking at his watch midway through the final debate. In more ways than one he didn't know what time it was.
George the junior hasn't blown his chances, not yet, but he shows signs of making the same fatal mistake, of scorning his base much in the way his daddy did 12 years ago.
Early on in the '92 campaign the Bush campaign chiefs openly scorned the social, or religious, conservatives and the issues important enough to get them out to vote. "Where else can they go?" his campaign chairman asked editors and reporters at a memorable luncheon interview at The Washington Times.
Sometimes the voters apply painful lessons, and millions of evangelical and other church-going Christians found somewhere to go, and it wasn't to the polls. Months later, the 41st president told me, with no small measure of rue: "I got good advice, and I got bad advice, and I took the bad advice."
George W. is getting similarly bad advice now, and the president's poll numbers show it. The numbers are not in free fall but are nonetheless slipping with discouraging speed. …
(Excerpt) Read more at burstnet.com ...
The president is bold only in the kisses he blows to the opposition. His gurus appear to think they can win only by shunning his natural base, by keeping a decorous distance from the controversial issues, and by peeling a few hundred thousand Hispanic votes away from the Democrats by pandering to illegal aliens, mostly Mexicans.
I was one of the first die-hard bush supporters on FR, and I've defended him in cases where his actions were all but indefensible, but I've reached my tipping point.
I won't be taken for granted and I won't stand for having my intelligence insulted.
Your link is broken...as is Pruden's logic...
Don't worry, there's not much there to insult.
The author makes a good point. I'm not a religious conservative but the more Bush panders to the left on various issues, the more he looks indecisive and weak.
Voters don't want a weak president. For example, Reagan was respected because he largely stuck to his guns.
Here's the link:
This is not his father's campaign and he is not ignoring domestic issues (like his father did).
Just because Bush doesn't follow what you consider your line, think before you vote. NO ONE is going to be exactly what you want. NO ONE! I don't agree with Bush on all issues, and it would be selfish not to mention pretty stupid to think that he should. But I sure agree with Bush ALOT more than I do with Kerry.
If you and people like you think that you are somehow going to 'blackmail' the President into doing exactly what you want....then the Clinton years will almost look good to what will happen in the next four...kerry won't stand up to the terrorist....remember he will let us be bombed before he does anything. I not only DON'T want another liar, money grabber etc. in the oval, I want someone who thinks about this nation's safety first thing every single morning, and Bush does that.
I am in basically the same boat. I am not at all pleased with GWB on many issues. I was even seriously considering whether or not I could for the first time in my life vote rat and support a moderate such as Lieberman. But when you look at sKerry you have to conclude, if you are any type of conservative at all, that he would be ten time worse then GWB could ever be. So for once more I am forced to vote fot the lessor of two evils and pray for better next time.
The Illinois GOP is The Marx Brothers Meet The Sopranos, so they have nobody but themselves to blame.
So essenmtially my vote is meaningless except that my congressman is Denny Hastert.
But where is he now that the campaign is in full swing?
Why, he's off on a book tour.
Pathetic!
And the conservatives (no longer the republicans) took control of congress and the senate by emphasizing their conservative goals.
But the RINO's (democrats who "went ot the dark side") inside the rnc are running it just like they did the democrat party.
They KISS BUTT to everyone except those who truly keep this country moving --- honest hard working Americans!
If you would look at Hastert's schedule he IS campaigning! In fact he is going to be in my state soon campaigning with a candidate that is running for our congressman's seat who retired. He has been in the swing states with running candidates, he is promoting his book along the way, but he is campaigning.
His father would have won if it wasn't for scumbag Perot. Klinton would have lost, 1996 would have been totally different, and maybe 9/11 would have never occurred. Thanks a lot, Ross, you bastage!
[shout on]THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT WHO WILL BE ON THE US SUPREME COURT FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. IT IS POSSIBLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN US HISTORY. IF BUSH LOSES, KERRY WILL PACK THE COURT WITH MARXISTS AND WE CAN KISS THE COUNTRY GOOD-BYE. [/shout off]
If he's maintaining such a low profile then he's concluded that :
1. Bush has the election in the bag, or…
2. Bush has lost the election and he needs to salvage what he can.
Perhaps. Had his father paid attention to the domestic agenda, I think he could've won even with Perot in the race.
In 1992, Bush41 acted like he just didn't give a d@mn.
Agreed!
Bush Jr. Also didn't say Read My Lips... and then change his mind.
And while the Press is clearly Pro Kerry... its not nearly as it was in 92 and 96!... During the 96 debates they went so far as to make sure Doles time in front of the camera were always out of frame etc...
This is the disclaimer: I am voting for Bush because Kerry is intolerable. Kerry has no foundation, no bearing, no integrity. Kerry is not a legitmate alternative.
HOWEVER, I'm in northern Ohio. I have many friends who are union members, or blue collar democrat oriented folks. They are not evil. They don't do drugs and try to figure out how to get the government to pay for things. They coach baseball with me. They go to High School sporting events. They are hard working folks who go to work everyday, and to the best of my knowledge do a good job. These are old line democrats. They really have no party, so they stick with democrats out of habit.
Old line democrats tend to be socially conservative, and economically liberal.
Here is what they think of the current election, (my own unscientific sampling gathered over many beers). Kerry is weak, he's pathetic, and a lousy choice. But, they need a change. The job market is lousy in northern Ohio. Offshore outsourcing is a big issue here. Kerry is advertising hard and striking a chord. Also, Bush is seen as a warmonger. Even those that would agree Afghanistan and Iraq were right, wonder about an administration that enumerates enemies, (axis of evil), and seems to be spoiling for more war. For a while it was Syria who needed taught a lesson, now it's Iran, and N. Korea is always on the table for discussion.
Bush is not reaching out to these folks. They aren't hearing anything reassuring. It's very much like Bush Sr. Bush Sr. lost on the economy.
A lot of folks I know, and I do mean a lot, are going to hold their nose and vote for Kerry.
Why do you think he has a low profile??? The local media covers where he is at...plus you guys are forgetting he IS the speaker of the house...IT IS HIS JOB to get more republicans voted into office!! He has more to do than run around after Bush...He HAS to get more congressmen in office.
And in what way has this been done?
Maybe so, but the executive branch doesn't tax, the legislative branch does.
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