I love President Bush and I'd vote for him again if I could, but the party is in sorry shape right now mostly because Bush has more or less abdicated on any meaningful domestic agenda for the last five months. It's as if after Social Security failed, Katrina hit, and scandals entered the media, the White House has been shell shocked. His free-spending has annoyed the party, and you can't organize Republicans around big government spending in an election year.
The other problem is that Bush has not groomed a successor for 2008. No one in the Party, so far as I can see, has the guts, intelligence, and communication ability to square off against Senator Clinton. She will do absolutely whatever it takes to win.
Bush is no different than any other politician in this regard. It is all about him, and he gives little thought to the care of his movement after he is gone. Part of the problem is that Bush has probably never considered himself to be part of a movement.
The first is a damn lie. If it were all about him he wouldn't have helped Republcans gain consecutive majorities in 2002 and 2004 and intent on helping them with fundraising and campaigns in 2006. He's built this majority, it wasn't accidental. He even fired the guy that had the job Melhman and Gillespie previously held because he produced poor results in 2000 with Reps losing seats. he's given great consideration to retaining and growing the Republican party. That isn't the mark of someone that cares solely about himself, especially when he could have only concentrated on his own election and possibibly picked up a couple other of states rather then flying around helping vulnerable Reps in "red" states.
Now, by movement, if you mean conservative movement, no he's never considered himself a part of it...at least in terms of rhetoric. He's practiced some conservative philosophies, but in that sense he wasn't like Reagan who devoted himself to growing the conservative movement but didn't grow the Party. I suppose the ideal would be someone that grows both, but the argument could be made the conservative movement needed Reagan's help more at the time. The conservative movement is big enough now to grow itself, G.W.'s turned his eye to growing the Republican Party instead. Whatever one's opinion of the decision, he can't be held responsible for not being a rhetorical movement conservative when everyone knew that when he was first nominated. He lived up to what he said he would do, or has tried, and in some areas exceeded expectations (national security).
"The other problem is that Bush has not groomed a successor for 2008. No one in the Party, so far as I can see, has the guts, intelligence, and communication ability to square off against Senator Clinton."
I think Tancredo could give her a run for her money. He has the guts to speak out against illegal immigration, despite the threats against him and the public villification.
"She will do absolutely whatever it takes to win."
Without a doubt. That is why the Republican candidate will have to have nerves of steel and very skilled bodyguards. Not to mention a vigorous campaign team to successfully counter any smearing done by Hillary.
"The other problem is that Bush has not groomed a successor for 2008. No one in the Party, so far as I can see, has the guts, intelligence, and communication ability to square off against Senator Clinton."
I think Tancredo could give her a run for her money. He has the guts to speak out against illegal immigration, despite the threats against him and the public villification.
"She will do absolutely whatever it takes to win."
Without a doubt. That is why the Republican candidate will have to have nerves of steel and very skilled bodyguards. Not to mention a vigorous campaign team to successfully counter any smearing done by Hillary.
"The other problem is that Bush has not groomed a successor for 2008. No one in the Party, so far as I can see, has the guts, intelligence, and communication ability to square off against Senator Clinton."
I think Tancredo could give her a run for her money. He has the guts to speak out against illegal immigration, despite the threats against him and the public villification.
"She will do absolutely whatever it takes to win."
Without a doubt. That is why the Republican candidate will have to have nerves of steel and very skilled bodyguards. Not to mention a vigorous campaign team to successfully counter any smearing done by Hillary.
"Bush has more or less abdicated on any meaningful domestic agenda for the last five months."
I've noticed. Sadly he seems to spend time vacationing or simply spending money. He's become incredibly apathetic, it's sad to see the liberal press seemingly feasting on him.
"The other problem is that Bush has not groomed a successor for 2008. No one in the Party, so far as I can see, has the guts, intelligence, and communication ability to square off against Senator Clinton."
I think Tancredo could give her a run for her money. He has the guts to speak out against illegal immigration, despite the threats against him and the public villification.
"She will do absolutely whatever it takes to win."
Without a doubt. That is why the Republican candidate will have to have nerves of steel and very skilled bodyguards. Not to mention a vigorous campaign team to successfully counter any smearing done by Hillary.
"Bush has more or less abdicated on any meaningful domestic agenda for the last five months."
I've noticed. Sadly he seems to spend time vacationing or simply spending money. He's become incredibly apathetic, like he's fallen apart.