Mark Steyn: Has Bush blown it?

The Spectator (U.K.) ^ | 10/08/05 | Mark Steyn

[speekinout]

Saying "bush is a good man and I like him and trust him" is, by definition, the emotional position.

This argument always makes me laugh. Of course we have to vote for candidates we trust. We don't know what is going to occur (at any level of gov't). Did we know when we voted in 2000 that 9/11 would happen? Did the people who voted for Jeb, Blanco, or Haley Barbour know that there would be devastating hurricanes?

In our system, we don't get to throw out the office holder if some new situation arises - we have to stick with who we elected.
Some people *are* one-issue voters - they pick because of their favorite issue, but they're the ones who are usually disappointed when something unforeseen arises.

[beckett]

Steyn could have chosen not to report Frum's views at all. He included them because he's keeping his powder dry on Miers, not quite blasting her yet, but not giving her a ringing endorsement either. He's uneasy about her. Within a few weeks, I predict he'll make up his mind because the hearings will reveal a lost little lamb before the wolves the Senate. At that time Steyn'll empty his potent rhetorical arsenal on her head.

Lambchops anyone?

[proud American in Canada]

His wife, Danielle Crittendon, did something (can't recall what) which took the lustre off Frum's star at the WH, after which he left voluntarily. He wasn't fired, and the "forced to leave" argument is debatable.

Thank you. :)

Now you're refreshing my memory--I think she spoke to the press, or someone, and it got out, about details about which parts of Bush's speech could be attributed to him--such as the phrase, "the Axis of Evil."

[proud American in Canada]

It is for sure that Reagan's commandment is not being heeded!

LOL! So very true.

Can you imagine Democrat pundits trashing fellow conservatives in public like this? It would never happen.

[MEG33]

My crystal ball needs polishing..I think I'll wait on the hearings before I predict the outcome..or judge her abilities to handle the esteemed members of the Senate.

[proud American in Canada]

Steyn could have chosen not to report Frum's views at all. He included them because he's keeping his powder dry on Miers

I think he reported Frum's comments because other conservative commentators have been so viciously negative, and he had to reply to that. He is the lone wolf in this situation.

It may be true that he's hedging his bets, but I take Steyn at his word. I think he believes what he wrote today, something he wrote after a couple of days to think about things.

And judging from his past writings, he will admit it if he is ultimately proven wrong.

As will I, and, I'm sure, other Freepers who are starting to think that this might be a very good nominee.

[Revolting cat!]

Bush blowed it! (Father and son, your choice!)

[AntiGuv]

So another "barking moonbat" joins the ranks of Noonan, Krauthammer, Will, Norquist, Weyrich, Coulter, Levin, Bauer, Malkin, Goldberg, Kristol, Savage, Hannity, Limbaugh, Ingraham, Novak, Buchanan, the Eagle Forum, Operation Rescue, et al! </s>

[proud American in Canada]

I think I'll wait on the hearings before I predict the outcome..or judge her abilities to handle the esteemed members of the Senate.

Amen! :)

I gotta say, I am relishing the prospect of watching a through-and-through red stater, a "pit bull in size six shoes", take on the arrogant members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Wasn't it Biden who was so incredibly insulting to Roberts? It was disgraceful.

[NixonsAngryGhost]

I have no problem with Evangelical Christians, though I am from the CS Lewis school of philosophy and theology. The thought of a well educated woman exposed to all the information she would wish for and still believing in the literal interpretation of Genesis and other biblical accounts is not the kind of intellect I want making huge decisions.In fact I have little in common with anyone thinking that the world is 6,000 years old. This willful ignorance often indicates a fear of reality.

[Pondman88]

Priceless. Absolute brilliance.

"Tony Blair with a ranch"

Incredible.

[Victoria Delsoul]

The President is a religio-cultural conservative who believes in big government and big spending and paternalistic federal intervention in areas where few conservatives have ever previously thought it wise. Not my bag but, that said, every time I or anybody else has predicted he’s blown it, he manages to produce another victory.

Looking forward to his next victory –Harriet Miers-

[mississippi red-neck]

I have seen the kind of of country and the documents that those people who believed in the Bible gave us.

I have also seen what those intellectual elites who don't believe in the Bible and think they know better have done to our country.

It doesn't take any more faith to believe in the Bible than it does to believe that some guy can pick up a hand full of dirt and tell you what everything was like 10 billion years ago.

I would much rather have someone who believes in God and His Bible making the huge decisions than someone who thinks he is God making them.

[finnigan2]

Bella Pelosi ???? - Very Good!
I hadn't realized that she was boasting about stopping SS reform but if so, she has misunderestimated Bush once again. She's another politician who thinks in the moment and believes that short term town hall meeting tactics can trump a longer term strategy based on task forces and committees who burrow away quietly for months on the issues before producing a series of SS reports that are soundly based and can be debated in an informed manner.
I think that's the stage we're at right now. Once Bush revives the issue he will be able to recite chapter and verse about the true nature of the problem and give the real pros and cons of alternative solutions. With such ammo, he can blow little Bella's "town hall meeting" amateur hour attacks right out of the water.

[Rockpile]

From It Could Never Happen World

Be kind of fun if Hillary Rodham was nominated by Bush and was relentlessly interrogated on her views and previous actions....

....but that kind of questioning would require Republican Senators who actually had some backbone.

[HighWheeler]

Thanks for the continued Steyn pings, Pokey. I wish I could write as well as he does.

[Constitution1st]

Hey Julie; I'm with you! Thanks for the link to the blog. Wonderful analysis.

The more important point here is twofold: the president has not let us down on the judges he has appointed to the benches in America. They are all conservative. Dr. Dobson also pointed this out.

The president also does not change his stripes. I do know that he worked with Davod Horowitz concerning war with the dems, and that MOOSEMUSS analysis sounds like something Horowitz would approve.

Now if the so-called base conservatives do not hurt him; it would be tragic if they did him in, and caused him to lose all the ground he has covered in his war on the dems.

[JulieRNR21]

Thanks for your response.

Bottom line....I trust Dubya on Miers.

I have no trouble with Miers because GWB has known her for 10 years and he believes that she will interpret the Constitution as he would.....without legislating from the bench.

I think he chose her because it is hard for the Dems to filibuster her nomination and the whimps like Voinovich, Collins, Snow, Chafee, etc. would cave under a Dem assault if he had nominated a well known conservative judge with a huge paper trail.

Simply put....the votes are not there to exercise the 'nuclear option'.

Under the circumstances, the President's doing the best he can to get a true conservative on the Court.

[okie01]

but there is no question that Bush is an honorable man - something that can't be said of any Democrat that is spoken of as a Presidential contender.

May I suggest a minor edit...???

but there is no question that Bush is an honorable man - something that can't be said of any Democrat that is spoken of as a Presidential contender except Joe Lieberman...maybe.

[Once-Ler]

And, I didn't know Mark Steyn was a closet Communist! You outed yourself Mark!

Sophistry.

If you don't agree with Bush and the GOP Congress 100%, go back to DU

No. If you don't Disagree with Bush and the GOP Congress 100%, go back to DU.

Acts...go back to DU.