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Conservatives remain loyal to Bush but question depth of his conservatism
Las Vegas Sun ^ | February.11, 2006 | WILL LESTER

Posted on 02/11/2006 12:49:16 PM PST by Reagan Man

Hardline conservatives, among President Bush's staunchest supporters, question whether he is conservative enough when it comes to government spending and growth, leaders of the movement say.

"What conservatives have realized during the last five years is that we have not elected a conservative president," said Bill Lauderback, executive vice president of the American Conservative Union. "Nor do we have a conservative majority in either the House or Senate."

Conservatives gathered at a Washington hotel this weekend for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, where they assess the status of their movement and what they think of government policies. President Reagan remains the champion of low-tax, small-government supporters even after Bush's re-election and the dominance of GOP lawmakers.

They are quite unhappy with Bush administration initiatives - for example, the multibillion-dollar prescription drug program and the No Child Left Behind education law - and special spending projects from Congress that have ballooned the cost and scope of the federal government.

"We are in danger of becoming the party of big government," said Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee.

Pence said he and his allies in Congress plan to make sure that trend is reversed.

"The era of big Republican government is over," Pence said, adding the word "Republican" to the memorable phrase used by President Clinton in his 1996 State of the Union address.

Many conference participants feel that limited government overrides all other issues such as gun rights, pro-life policies and conservative judges. Yet, despite their unhappiness, Bush remains popular with this group, especially for his court appointments and handling of terrorism.

"They like Bush," said David Keene, chairman of the ACU, which runs the conference. "But they are frustrated and disappointed with some things the administration has done. And the frustration is deep because government spending and growth of government are at the core of beliefs of many people here."

Keene said conservatives are starting to look ahead at future leaders, accepting that they've gotten some of what they want from Bush.

Some at the conservatives' conference measure the success of the Bush administration purely on their own specific issues. As National Rifle Association President Sandra Froman put it, "At the NRA, we're at the height of our power right now."

The campaign against terror has become the glue that binds the conservative movement, said Brent Bozell, founder and president of the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog group.

"If the fight against terror weren't part of the political equation, the focus would be on economic policy and if the focus were on economic policy, there would be an upheaval," Bozell said.

"We're ready for a candidate to assume the Reagan mantle," he said. "Bush has done an extraordinary job on the war on terror. But on economic policy, he fiddles while Rome burns."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: acu; aphack; bush; cpac; term2
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To: Nova442
Like these "true conservatives" are going to sit home and let Hillary Clinton and the Dims be elected ^^;

I know there is no reason for them to, but you're sadly mistaken if you think they won't. They've done it before and they threaten to do it every single election.

21 posted on 02/11/2006 1:07:10 PM PST by Howlin (Why don't you just report the news, instead of what might be the news? - Donald Rumsfeld 1/25/2006)
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To: MNJohnnie
Conservatives question the sanity of those who spend all their time whining at their own side.

I'm curious. How much did discretionary spending increase during Reagan's tenure over the first five years versus how much it has increased under Bush.

And we all saw how Reagan's amnesty was one of the worst failures of his term. How has Bush done better than Reagan at addressing illegal immigration?

One can still support Bush over the Democrats while still questioning the specifics of Bush's agenda. Those who wish that it be all or nothing offer nothing.

22 posted on 02/11/2006 1:09:05 PM PST by dirtboy (I'm fat, I sleep most of the winter and I saw my shadow yesterday. Does that make me a groundhog?)
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To: Reagan Man
Hardline conservatives...

One would probably search Nexis-Lexis in vain for "hardline liberals", or "the hardline Left."

23 posted on 02/11/2006 1:11:12 PM PST by Plutarch
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To: sinkspur
Conservatives at CPAC seem to prefer junk-yard dogs like Ann Coulter, who uses the racial epithet of "raghead" to describe Muslims.

Coulter is an idiot, sink. You know that and I know that. Her main concern is not about creating more conservatives. Her main concern is promoting Ann Coulter.

But at the end of the day, there are two glaring holes in the Bush Admin - spending and illegal immigration. And conservatives should complain about these problems. One does not have to engage in Coulteresque bombast to recognize these problem areas.

24 posted on 02/11/2006 1:11:58 PM PST by dirtboy (I'm fat, I sleep most of the winter and I saw my shadow yesterday. Does that make me a groundhog?)
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To: Howlin

I have to admit rationality does not sit well with the right wing extremists anymore than it does with their left wing counterparts. Still, if we reasonable conservatives force them to choose between abandoning their agenda altogether for at least 8 years or making baby steps I think they'll make the right decision. The important thing is NOT to alienate the center. The deep reds are ours, the purples determine who governs.


25 posted on 02/11/2006 1:12:22 PM PST by Nova442 ("Cry Havoc and let slip the Dogs of War.")
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To: Itzlzha; flashbunny; Travis McGee; montag813; Black Tooth; TXBSAFH; Conservative Coulter Fan; ...

"but she gives a definite jihadi tinge to everything she touches. "

ping to #18.....the "deacon" now comparing ann coulter to terrorists. these phonies never stop trying to discredit conservatives....


26 posted on 02/11/2006 1:12:50 PM PST by Stellar Dendrite (There's nothing "Mainstream" about the Orwellian Media!!!)
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To: Reagan Man
The most conservative government we have had recently is with a Democrat President and a Republican Congress. Gridlock is the best government since it provides checks and balances.

Vote for Conservativism, vote for Gridlock.

27 posted on 02/11/2006 1:13:40 PM PST by ex-snook (God of the Universe, God of Creation, God of Love, thank you for life.)
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To: sinkspur

I would rather read her writing than listen to her speak.

There's something about her voice, delivery, inflections, etc, that don't get it done for me.

Old curmudgeons are hard to please. >:-}


28 posted on 02/11/2006 1:13:43 PM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Howlin
It's Howlin the plagiarist and Bush sycophant, whose biggest contribution to conservatism is posting on the internets primier conservative website. Period. That's it! You never post anything to do with conservatism or about conservatism.

CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Committee, supported by the American Conservative Union, the Young Americans Foundation and Human Events magazine, just to name a few and all those organizations with links on FR`s Homepage, [CPAC 2006] is having their annual get together in WashDC this weekend. Bringing together conservatives from VP Cheney, Cong Mike Pence, Brett Bozell of the Media Research Center, Sen John Cornyn, Sen Rick Santorum, Representatives Tom Tancredo and Sam Johnson, Oliver North, Phyllis Schlafly of Eagle Forum and many more conservatives. And all you and a few others can do is whine and complain. Have at it. LOL

29 posted on 02/11/2006 1:13:50 PM PST by Reagan Man (Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
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To: Nova442
Sounds kind of whiney to me, the public won't elect someone who is far more conservative

the public thinks W is a conservative, or at the very least thought he was when originally elected. Therefore, there is no reason not to nominate a candidate who is an actual conservative in addition to being a perceived conservative.

30 posted on 02/11/2006 1:14:18 PM PST by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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To: ex-snook

Vote third party and join the .05% losers club. >:-}


31 posted on 02/11/2006 1:14:56 PM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Reagan Man

What would conservatives like Bush to do? "Big government" is here to stay and I don't see anyone being able to change that.


32 posted on 02/11/2006 1:15:05 PM PST by mlc9852
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To: Reagan Man

Must not criticize Bush, must not criticize Bush, write it as many times as you must until the big government nausea fades :)


33 posted on 02/11/2006 1:15:52 PM PST by NeoCaveman (When they asked me if I wanted it Super Sized, I didn't think they were asking about the federal gov)
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To: coconutt2000
He has succeeded in peeing off the both leftists and conservatives all at the same time; that takes a special kind of "talent". If he governed conservative, his lack of ability for the job would be forgivable; but he doesn't. The vast majority of his decisions consist of pandering to some element of the electorate, for a lame duck thats just laughable. When all is said and done, history records his term in office as average to mediocre. Do I miss Ronald...!
34 posted on 02/11/2006 1:15:57 PM PST by brainstem223
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To: Nova442

Welcome to Free Republic!!!


35 posted on 02/11/2006 1:16:10 PM PST by Stellar Dendrite (There's nothing "Mainstream" about the Orwellian Media!!!)
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To: Nova442
if we reasonable conservatives force them to choose between abandoning their agenda altogether for at least 8 years or making baby steps I think they'll make the right decision.

I'm all for the baby steps. Hell, I don't expect that a president or congress could cut the budget the way I want. However, we are not making baby steps.. we are making massive leaps toward bigger government.

36 posted on 02/11/2006 1:16:15 PM PST by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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To: mlc9852
What would conservatives like Bush to do? "Big government" is here to stay and I don't see anyone being able to change that.

Now that is defeatist thinking if I've ever read it.

37 posted on 02/11/2006 1:16:46 PM PST by NeoCaveman (When they asked me if I wanted it Super Sized, I didn't think they were asking about the federal gov)
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To: Stellar Dendrite

The RINOs have arrived. Next we'll here that conservatives are "evil doers".


38 posted on 02/11/2006 1:20:00 PM PST by afnamvet
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To: Reagan Man

Bush will be with us for three more years, like it or not, unless conservatives join with liberals to impeach him.

Sometimes that doesn't seem like such a far-fetched notion.

Never before has a basically good man been hated so univerally by both sides.


39 posted on 02/11/2006 1:20:08 PM PST by Columbine
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To: Nova442
"Yeah right. Like these "true conservatives" are going to sit home and let Hillary Clinton and the Dims be elected ^^; "

We'll see. The border and spending may just keep many home this next cycle. Plenty out there wondering if there really is a difference anymore.

"There's no reason for the GOP to move right at this stage ideologically."

There's reason to, just no motivation to. Motivation to move right only matters to them if it comes from the other side, it's ignored when it comes from party members.

40 posted on 02/11/2006 1:20:24 PM PST by moehoward
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