Posted on 01/01/2006 12:32:44 PM PST by ncountylee
CRAWFORD, Texas — For six days, President Bush has stayed in nearly complete isolation on his ranch here — just mountain-biking and brush-clearing, the White House insisted daily, and seeing only one visitor, his mother-in-law, Jenna Welch. He never even ventured into this little town of 600, not even to the cheeseburger joint that he often uses as a political tool to show that he is in touch with his neighbors.
But on New Year's Day, after a brief stop at an Army hospital in San Antonio to visit wounded soldiers, Bush is scheduled to return to the White House earlier than usual from his break and start a campaign to set the tone for 2006 and, perhaps, the remainder of his presidency.
As part of an ambitious strategy the White House has mapped out for the next four weeks, Bush has scheduled two major speeches — one on the economy on Friday in Chicago, another on Iraq — ahead of the State of the Union address, which is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 31. By the time he appears before Congress, Bush's aides are hoping, two of the immediate challenges the president faces — the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. and the permanent renewal of the Patriot Act — will be behind him.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesargus.com ...
You nailed it. Nice turn. One suggestion. Stop wasting your time with idiots.
Thanks for the summary. On other threads, by other people, I have been called a Bush apologist for pointing out the difficulties involved with all these issues. I have also been ridiculed for the same, being called one who thinks all these problems are too hard to fix. Yet, I persevere because the alternative is unthinkable.
I will also be kind enough to summarize.
The danger we face from our external and internal enemies is a life and death situation. We have enormous odds against us conservatives in the nature of the unions, public and private, the MSM, the Democrats, loads of crooked and illegal money from inside and outside the U.S., and they all gleefully lie, deceive, and bully their way around the political spectrum. They break every rule while constantly searching every crook and cranny for the slightest thing they can twist into a violation by our side. We diligently try to follow the rules and the law. We are in a very intense battle for our existence and against the devil himself in the form of all of the above plus the Islamists who want to kill us by the thousands. This is no time for casual political discourse.
Hillary is a hard nosed Communist and is the likely Democrat candidate for 2008. The Republicans will have many candidates from which to choose. This means from the git go they will be unified and we will be fragmented.
It seems the strategy they have settled on is "The Republicans are a Culture of Corruption". They use all the dirty tricks in their trick bag like indicting Tom DeLay, calling Abramoff a Republican lobbyist, and a constant drumbeat from the MSM about Republican "misdeeds". There will be more of this as we progress down the trail to the election.
In light of that, I think our political discourse should be more on the issues and less on Bush and Republican bashing. You claim innocence on this and a careful reading of what you say may bear you out. However, the general tone and the use of the words "ignoring" and "ineffective" lean in that direction. Plus, they are flat out not true! Bush may seem to you to be ignoring this but he is not. He needs the help of many others, most of whom would rather ignore the problem than make the tough political decisions. The problem may be ignored but it is not Bush doing it!
Considerations on immigration: Job market. Logistics. Costs. Attitude of Mexico and other Latin America countries, all of whom are leaning toward Communism at the moment, manpower, other obligations, etc. In short it is not as simple a problem as some Internet Rambos (not you) like to pretend. Plus, there is an unreliable and often hostile Congress on this issue.
Considerations on Social Security: Long (70 + yrs) ingrained "entitlement" with a large constituency, the elderly. Easily demogogued by the left. The nonexistent trust fund is in reality a built in slush fund for politicians. The ups and downs of the stock market make privatizing a tough sell. Lack of unity by the Republicans against unity by the Democrats.
Taxes: The FairTax would solve the SS problem as well as be a much better system than any alternatives. Commissions are like committees, ways to not take responsibility for decisions. Like you, I am disappointed that Bush uses them. However, many in Congress want the cover of a commission. Unfortunately, commissions are like the Intelligence Commission said about the aministration, they lack imagination. However, the game is not over and even if the FairTax is not considered the changes Bush has made are significant. Look at the economy.
National defense: We now the Democrats will give the house away. They always have and their statements indicate they will again. They will put us all in grave danger.
Now more than ever we need to follow Reagan's 11th Commandment - Say no evil against fellow Republicans. The Dems do enough of that for all of us.
Tell it like it is! Good post.
I prefer to think of you as difficult and a total jerk. It's hard to imagine that anyone calling himself a conservative could be as completely stupid as you're being right now.
Try listening to Mozart. It's been known to raise IQ's. And if your problem is completely with your personality, it can't do you any harm to listen to it either.
Thanks. :-)
Try the Mozart. One way or the other, you need serious help.
He's there to watch the game.
The New York Slimes....
First cogent point you've made, RM.
I shall heretofore stop wasting my time with you.
Thanks for the tip. I'll sleep better tonight knowing that encountering you is not in my future. :)
GREAT PRESIDENT! GREAT LEGACY! GREAT MILITARY! GREAT COUNTRY!!
God BLESS President Bush, and confound his mindless detractors! Amen!
SS: a careful reading would bear out that I said that the dems defeated it in the face of Bush's best attempts. I further said that they'll use this in the upcoming elections - and i think they will. While so many were abusing me, they neglected to think about or ask about why I am against him ignoring it further: because he needs to be asserting that he has tried and saying that we must continue to push for reform... "it's costing us $3.2 billion dollars a day of delay"... or whatever the number is! He's not doing that. That's why I say he's ignoring the issue - not that he's ignored ss reform. Thanks for allowing a chance to say something besides defend unspoken words!
Tax reform: I am not pleased that the president prefers cover over substance. I am hopeful that he'll come out with something more. Tax cuts are good to be sure - but I am not satisfied with something the next guy can so easily reverse.
National defense: I didn't ever say anything about it, but i agree with what you said.
Reagan's 11th: We differ here. I don't think I said "evil" of Bush. I think criticized him wrt immigration, SS and tax reform - but I don't think that's trying to do evil to repubs...to the contrary! I think criticism is a way to shore up weaknesses in the party.
BTW I have never, ever, spent so much time trying to correct what I've said on any thread. I really think one poster or maybe two just decided I must be a basher and read nothing more but rather berated and harangued - truth be damned.
What has it come to when one fears criticizing?
Can't read. Can't think. Imaginary offenses. Childish name-calling.
If I didn't know better, I'd think we were either in an alternative universe, or took the wrong road and ended up on DU.
Conservatives aren't supposed to act like this, are they?? Sheesh! Time to leave this thread and find some grown-ups to discuss things with!
Me too. I retreated to the wife's Mom's for Christmas, used to think I visited but what does a stupid conservative know.
You're making stuff up again. Your imagination is running away with you.
But it really makes you look smart (and feel good too likely) when you call others, dumbest encountered in five years, total jerk, completely stupid etc. It really helps your argument too. LOL!
You're really smart! You're really the best ohioWcheerleader! We all really, really like you! Now run along.
BTW you are the most myopic poster I've seen in my time here. Don't get out much do you? Are you old enough to drive?
Would that everyone calling himself principled actually had them......
I've learned, as well, that demagogues who run out of all other arguments ALWAYS restort in the end to crying that their opponent is not a "real" conservative.
AMEN!
ohioWfan: Like here?
But please..........party on. You can get back to me when the hangover is over, KAY?
btw, you almost seemed rational for awhile. Fooled me good.
I'll let your own words be the rope that hangs you and your 'principles.'
OK, look. If it will make your day, I tell you what. You win. I will write on the board 100 times, "I called Principled a Bush hater." Promise.
Feel better now? I'm sure that will pay your bills this month. It will cure any medical and/or dental problems you or your family may be experiencing. It will get you in better with your boss. It will get you that new appliance, car or home you may need. Why, come to think of it, this will just make the rest of your life.
Glad to know I have such power and influence. (Of course, you do give the appearance of protesting a tad too much.)
If you ever turn rational again, give me a call.
(Try the Mozart......you'll feel better).
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