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."
That's very true, but lets be fair. Bush was in office for only eight months when 9-11 happened. Terrorism was a growing problem for 30 years, becoming a serious problem during the 1990`s. We had some major attacks during the Clinton years. The first WTC bombing, the Khobar Towers, the 1998 twin US embassy bombings in Africa and the attack on the USS Cole. They all happened on Clinton's watch. Bush reacted swiftly and with conviction after 9-11. The US military was in Afghanistan quickly, destroying the Taliban and sending Al Qaeda running for cover to Pakistan and Iran.
The above comments pretty much sum it up for me regarding president Bush. I'd love to see the GOP nominate a Reagan conservative as the GOP candidate for president, but it is doubtful it will happen.
However, almost anyone they nominate (and I hope it's not Guilianni or someone of his ilk) will be more conservative than who the Democrats nominate.
And no I won't be sitting home for the presidential election, and have NEVER sat home for an election. There is always a first time, however, but not at the presidential level.
Do you think government will get smaller any time soon?
How do you define a right-wing extremist?
Not with the amount of defeatists out there. It appears we are trapped in a self fulfilling prophecy.
Reforming the Budget Act of 1976, as suggested by Congressman Mike Pence would be a good start to reducing the size of government, Medicare reform is an even bigger and more important obstacle, as is to a lesser degree Social Security. As for discretionary spending, a House that didn't outspend even the president's bloated proprosals would be nice too. I guess the problem is that we do not expect enough, as long as "our team" wins.
But they are not cutting spending, they are cutting the outrageous increases in spending... outrageous increases that were, by they way, done by a GOP President and Congress.
You are joking, right?
Antonin Scalia, along with Clarence Thomas, are the two most conservative justices on the USSC. Why would any conservative in his right mind, call for Scalia to resign? That is stupid talk. I don't know of any conservative who wants to see J Scalia step aside. Not one. Scalia is healthy and probably has at least 10-15 years left before he considers retiring. The USSC is on the verge of getting a fifth conservative justice. That could led to overturning Roe v Wade and other bad decisions of the last 35 years made by the USSC.
They are Conservatives...unlike the current crop of "Cult of Bush" folk here.
I so agree the above is defeatist thinking. And Fred Barnes, most disturbingly and disappointingly has been talking up that idea all over the place including in his new book. There is and will continue to be a fight among conservatives about which brand of conservatism we will push to employ, Reagan's or Bush's.
I, of course, am a die hard fan of Reagan's vision for America, and will support the conservatism of Ronald Reagan 'til the day I die.
A civil little war is necessary once in a while.
What's that famous saying: "some blood must be spilled to keep the tree of liberty in bloom?"
That might not even be close, what was it ex-?
"What conservatives have realized during the last five years is that we have not elected a conservative president,"
Dont get me wrong I like SCalia. But next month he will turn 70 years old. If we retain the white House and the chambers of congress perhaps it would be best if he resigned then at the nice age of 74. Despite appearances Supreme Court Justices are not guaranteed life spans beyond the average American. The American people run in moods. We will have another Democractic President. I rather replace him at 74 than have to worry that for instance he can hang on till he is 82 or 83 if the Dems recaptured the Prez.
Wonder why so many supposed Reagan Fans forget his 11th Commandment.
Well I already said that the label and how I define it makes very little difference but:
1. Overzealousness (!!!!)
2. Failure to recognize we're governing on essentially a 51-49% majority in this country.
2b. Despite 2, accepting nothing less than the immediate realization of conservative ideals instead of incremental steps in that direction.
In my view believing in all the traditional conservative values does not make you an extremist. It's really the failure to be pragmatic about it by trying to force public policy decisions that can't pass (yet) and being quite angry at whoever is in charge without offering a congress passable solution.
There's a million miles between what the government should do and what it can do right now. We need to win more elections to make more aggressive changes.
If there has to be a civil war, then Lets have the civil war after we retain the office of Commander in Chief. That is whats most important now for our very survival just as Americans.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.