Posted on 03/03/2006 3:26:40 AM PST by Cannoneer No. 4
An old acquaintance in Washington - a former member of Republican administrations whose foreign policy views are decidedly hard-line - recently had this to say to a friend about the Bush administration: This might be the most inept administration in American history.
But it should come as no surprise that President George W. Bush has fallen to an approval rating of 34 percent in a recent national poll. Just look at the events in this winter of his discontent:
Members of his own party have turned against him on the issues of whether a company owned by the United Arab Emirates should control six major ports in the United States.
As more and more information leaks out about the unauthorized and very likely illegal eavesdropping by the National Security Administration, there is more talk - only whispered at the moment - that there ought to be an impeachment inquiry into Bush's behavior.
But I fear we are now seeing the other side of the coin with Bush. His lack of historical perspective, his crusading religiousness, his Texas-style shoot-first-ask-questions-later approach to complex problems - that is, all the shortcomings that were obvious from the beginning of his presidency - seem to be catching up with him now. It's one thing to be a decisive leader. It is quite another to be consistently making the wrong decisions.
This is a presidency coming unraveled before our eyes. It is not a pretty sight, and it is not good for the country. What a difference a year makes. After his re-election, Bush said that he would use his political capital.
Soon he won't have any left. Then what?
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Sorry, but the GOP should be well aware of what the base wants over spending and illegal immigration. We've bit our tongues for over five years and voted for him in 2004 despite his disregard for those two issues.
And if Bush had functioned within those core values, guess what? There would be much less opposition now to the ports deal from the right.
A party that ignores it base does so at its own peril. I really, REALLY do not want to have to move to another party. But, as Reagan once said, he didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left him. And with the GOP agenda on spending and illegal immigration, I feel they have left me as well.
Reagan at least could move to the right to the other major party. There is no major party to my right. So if the GOP continues their leftward lurch, there is no other option than to try and start a new party to their right.
I think there is blame to go all around here, and hopefully all the parties involved will take the 45-day investigation period to also look at the dynamics of how this story came to this point.
But anybody is free to attack them.
But when y'all do it, it's not an attack, it's "constructive criticism."
And it makes the Republican Party stronger.
Outside of the 9-11 aftermath, when the press and Bush were on the same page for awhile, I don't ever remember Bush being ahead of the press. Ever. One of my pet peeves with Bush administration, total lack of public relations. It all starts at the top. I know some people would like to overlook the press completely, but that isn't possible. Ignoring them doesn't help either. Bush and Cheney have been poor communicators in many respects, failing to advance their message and keep pounding it home. Overall, however, nothing approaching total failure.
This from a guy who engaged in a lewd personal attack against me on this thread?
That's the entire point. There is debate and then there is attack. You have tried several lines of attack on this thread - claiming that freepers wanted Hillary as president, attacking me personally, demanding that I fall into an either/or approach to debate - which means you don't have a clue as to what is constructive criticism. So I'm really not going to listen to your attempts to lecture me about such.
I agree it is not fatal. But it does weaken the ol' political immune system to where other problems become more virulent.
I should have had my smiley face after...I agree completely, of course...perhaps we can clone him...:)
I don't know of one.
Fact is, I don't any conservative that pays any attention to the witch, or takes her seriously right now. She is mostly insignificant. Come 2007-2008 that may change.
Lewd personal attack?
Sure does. I think were in the early stages of the Presidential Fatigue Factor. Happens to every two term POTUS. Happened to Ike, Reagan and Slick. Seems to be coming on a bit early with Bush. Usually the first signs don't appear until sometime in the last two years of the second term. Hope things turn around. The GOP can't afford to lose seats in the mid-term election this November, or worse lose control of Congress entirely. Bush coattails are important. The 2006 election, sets up the 2008 election season.
Yeah, your post #88 that got deleted, dude - or have you forgotten that one?
That would be the best outcome, for sure.
Me, too. When the Democrats and the MSM skewered Clarence Thomas, I knew I was associating with an ill-intentioned party.
How quickly we forget Jimmy Carter.
I agree. But there is one area where the Bush administration has been inept -- communications. Too many times, by keeping their silence and refusing to defend themselves, they've allowed their opponents to define the issues.
Some folks get a grip and step back from the 24 hour news cycle.
This might be the most inept administration in American history.
"Inept" as far as a socialist front, he's got a point. What a maroon.
History shows now Reagan brought an end to the Cold War, spurred economic growth during peace time that was unparalleled, and created millions of new jobs for this country. This from an Administration that was viewed as floundering.
Touche'. Reagan got it from all ends during his administration, and the more he laughed in their face and proved them wrong, the more it ticked off the liberal left and media.
Keep thinking this way and let the left keep overplaying everything and we will see who is laughing last.
That said, better to have a small, trustworthy posse, than a huge wimpy one.
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