GOP is in 'deep funk' over Bush spending

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/12/6 | Carolyn Lochhead

[SmithL]

Washington -- The Republican rebellion that President Bush smacked into with the Dubai ports deal was the tip of an iceberg of Republican discontent that is much deeper and more dangerous to the White House than a talk radio tempest over Arabs running U.S. ports.

A Republican pushback on Capitol Hill and smoldering conservative dissatisfaction have already killed not just the ports deal but key elements of Bush's domestic agenda, and threaten GOP control of Congress if unhappy conservatives sit out the November midterm elections.

The apostasy in some quarters runs to heretofore unthinkable depths.

"If I had a choice and Bush were running today against (Democratic President) Bill Clinton, I'd vote for Bill Clinton," said Bruce Bartlett, a former Reagan administration Treasury Department official whose book, "Impostor: How George Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy," is making the rounds of conservative think tanks and talk shows. "He was clearly a much better president in a great many ways that matter to me."

Bartlett may lie at the extreme, but his critique taps into a strong undertow -- reflected in a sharp drop in Bush's support among his typically solid Republican base, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Friday.

"Bush's compassionate conservatism has morphed into big government conservatism, and that isn't what the base is looking for," said David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union. "The White House and the congressional leadership have got to reinvigorate the Republican base. In off-year elections ... if your base isn't energized, particularly in a relatively evenly divided electorate, you've got more problems than you think you have."

[mountainfolk]

All current political roads lead to the 2006 elections, which lessens the validity of anti-Bush rhetoric from vested interests such as the media and candidates from any political party. The big worry for Republicans this cycle is quality of candidates. Give the voters a solid candidate for any particular office and Republicans will likely win. The candidate who relies on a constant bashing of the best leader they have had since Ronald Reagan will be defeated.

[ShandaLear]

Just one more article written by a liberal to try to influence the 2006 elections.

[LibLieSlayer]

You know, we really are speaking the same language. I want more Conservatism, and I know it wins elections. I also know incremental-ism is the way to achieve a truly Conservative government. We need to use the methods the dims successfully used to attain abortion rights, welfare, high taxes, affirmative action etc etc etc, against them (and roll back THEIR gains). A frog will sit in a pot without escaping if you raise the temperature of the water slowly, until it reaches the boiling point.

We need to shape our message. We need to continually strive for real Social Security Reform, Lower Taxes, abolishing the Death Tax, cut spending on entitlements, and more.

Supporting Bush over those that would strip hard earned gains from us by using the dissent within our Party, is our only path to victory. Far too many here on FR think that talk of unity to win, and to continue to shape society in a positive manner, is "selling out". I see it as a strategic defense.

Have a good day friend, and thank you for a vibrant chat. I hope that you see we are not on opposite ends in this fight.

I'm going for a walk in the woods, and plink a bit with my Ruger .22. I have a new "dean" poster to play with!
;-)

LLS

[eskimo]

You mean themselves? Are you that naive?

Funny about the naivete thing, those most susceptible are those who believe it is exhibited only by others.

[Lancey Howard]

"If I had a choice and Bush were running today against (Democratic President) Bill Clinton, I'd vote for Bill Clinton," said Bruce Bartlett

Surprise, surprise! The first person quoted in this piece (out of a San Fransicko newspaper, btw) is the latest media darling, a scumbag named Bruce Bartlett, who has been all over the TV lately as the leatest version of David Brock, John Dean, et al - - you know, "conservatives" who have "seen the light".... The liberals glom onto these former "Republicans" like flies to dog crap.

The liberal scumbags of the dying, dinosaur "mainstream" socialist newsrooms are in full Democrat campaign mode.
Expect a whole lot more of this.

[Soul Seeker]

So much for Truth.

GOP in a funk over BUSH's spending? I may be wrong....I'm not...but Congress writes the damn budget.

yeah, he could VETO it and he's proposed some big ticket items, but Congress is the one that came up with that beautiful pork baby known as the Highway Bill.

[Zack Nguyen]

"If I had a choice and Bush were running today against (Democratic President) Bill Clinton, I'd vote for Bill Clinton," said Bruce Bartlett...

This man would rather have a skirt chaser and perjurer in the Oval Office than George W. Bush. I have no respect for that. None at all.

[LibLieSlayer]

You are dead-on right! I am surprised we have not heard that statement here on FR yet. It is still early on Sunday, however!

LLS

[jd777]

From 2002 to 2006:::: A 34% INCREASE in GOVERNMENT SPENDING

[SUSSA]

So much for Truth.

GOP in a funk over BUSH's spending? I may be wrong....I'm not...but Congress writes the damn budget.

###

Then they are congress's tax cuts too, not Bush's.

[eskimo]

This man would rather have a skirt chaser and perjurer in the Oval Office than George W. Bush. I have no respect for that. None at all.

Not particularly fond of the Clintoon; but, perhaps this guy thinks that if the presidential puppet is busy chasing shirts and fabricating lies to offer Congress that there would be less time to champion the expansion of government and monumental socialist programs. Just a thought.

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[ketelone]

Hmm... there must be some way to get in on all this action... ;)

[Republican Wildcat]

The Congress has no business criticizing anyone over "spending." They control the purse strings.

[Luke21]

"If I had a choice and Bush were running today against (Democratic President) Bill Clinton, I'd vote for Bill Clinton," said Bruce Bartlett....

This Bartlett guy is a loon and a traitor. The fights and punching matches we have here on FR are like family fights. I criticize Bush and bushbotism like crazy, but that is a truly foolish statement. Does this man Bartlett actually prefer Breyer and Ginzburg to Alito and Roberts? Bartlett is worse than a Rino.

[ketelone]

"There must be some way to get in on all this action"

And, Ive found it!

This is really a great article: I reccomend you ALL read it!

Confessions of a welfare queen:

http://www.reason.com/0403/fe.js.confessions.shtml

[eskimo]

This Bartlett guy is a loon and a traitor.

Or, he is a true patriot depending on his intent.

See #191.

[Luke21]

You are onto it. We are facing a full court press to keep our voters from showing up. The Dems aren't going to run on an impeach Bush ticket, but that's their desire. That's what they did to Reagan after re-taking the senate in 1986. They shot down Bork and stopped the country for daily Iran-Contra hearings they hoped would lead to impeachment.

Both sides of this port deal need to stop it and drop it. We won, okay...Great. Good. Wonderful. But this president is certainly worth defending and fighting for despite his mistakes. The list you provided is the tip of the iceberg if the Dems get back in power with their mitts on our money.

Which way is it, conservatives?

[Just A Nobody]

Ahhh come on Gond.....it's Sunday for heaven's sake. LOL!

I have read the entire thread, but now I have no time to comment...maybe later. ;*)

[ketelone]

I suddenly realise this HAS been posted on FR before. but if you havent read it, read it!!