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George W. Milhous Bush? - Is Dubya the new Nixon?
NRO ^ | May 03, 2006 | Jonah Goldberg

Posted on 05/06/2006 4:53:38 PM PDT by neverdem

Edited on 05/06/2006 7:01:08 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

That cackling you're hearing comes from the chorus of Bush critics (an all-inclusive term that accounts for spittle-flecked bloggers and moderate liberal finger-waggers alike) giddy over Bush's basement-level poll numbers. Several bloggers have gone to the trouble of showing side-by-side charts of Bush's approval rating following close behind former President Richard Nixon's. At the end of the trail is the X-marks-the-spot treasure trove "Nixon resigns."


(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: bush; georgewbush; nixon; rn; term2
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1 posted on 05/06/2006 4:53:40 PM PDT by neverdem
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To: neverdem
His compassionate conservatism shares with Nixon's moderate Republicanism a core faith that not only can the government love you, but it should spend money to prove its love.

Ain't that the truth. (and the problem)

2 posted on 05/06/2006 4:57:04 PM PDT by inquest (If you favor any legal status for illegal aliens, then do not claim to be in favor of secure borders)
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To: neverdem

Bush's low poll numbers come from conservative disappointment in a number of his positions. Democrat hatred of him has been unchanged since his first day in office, a solid wall of noise that never varies, neither more nor less, and consequently can be safely ignored.

Democrats may thrill to his low numbers, but they shouldn't. They gain nothing from the fact that conservatives are mad at him. Conservatives are mad because he's too much like them, too willing to compromise with them, too many of his values align too easily with them. Conservative anger will not translate into a single vote for their side.

We want a conservative who will fight, who will spit in their eyes. Bush is never stronger than on those rare occasions when he's up for a fight. He wins almost every time. Its the rest of the time, when he's trying to woo the other side, when he's trying to split the difference with them, that his numbers fall to the point of disappearing.

So let that be a lesson to anyone planning to succeed Bush in the White House. I want bold. I want someone who is conservative, who understands conservative principle and isn't afraid to explain it and defend it. I want someone who isn't afraid of a fight; we'll be there with you, don't worry.

I want bold.


3 posted on 05/06/2006 5:04:08 PM PDT by marron
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To: neverdem
You missed one Jonah.

>>>>Bush rejects limited government and many of the philosophical assumptions that underlie that position. He favors instead strong BIG government.

Nothing wrong with favoring a strong government. Just cut the overall expectations down to size.

4 posted on 05/06/2006 5:04:33 PM PDT by Reagan Man (Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
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To: marron
I want bold.

You'll get Hillary

5 posted on 05/06/2006 5:06:06 PM PDT by bnelson44 (Proud parent of a tanker! (Charlie Mike, son))
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To: neverdem

Here is a story I remember from decades ago. It pertains to Nixon when he got started in politics.

He said it didn 't matter. He could be a Democrat or Republican.

Now go back in time. California was probably MORE Republican, then. Hence Nixon became a Republican.

But give Nixon credit. He was willing to confront totalitarianism; then called "communism." His democrat opponents were less willing to.

Likewise Bush today seems willing to confront islam's worst side. His opponents seem less willing.

Nixon led a fascinating life. Like him or hate him, he was "In the Arena."


6 posted on 05/06/2006 5:06:52 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: neverdem
PBS is on board... local PBS station is screening "All The Presidents Men" right now. They don't usually show movies in Saturday prime time.

All the President's Men 8:00 PM, 2 hrs 30 min Sat 05/06/2006 WPTD 16 Other/Drama PG, Strong Language, English, 1976 Alan J. Pakula's account of the Watergate scandal as uncovered by Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman). Jason Robards (Best Supporting Actor), Martin Balsam, Jack Warden, Hal Holbrook, Jane Alexander. Oscar-winning script by William Goldman, who adapted Woodward and Bernstein's book. Cast & Credits: Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Robards, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam

7 posted on 05/06/2006 5:08:59 PM PDT by operation clinton cleanup
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To: bnelson44

At least we'll recognize Hillary as the enemy.


8 posted on 05/06/2006 5:09:41 PM PDT by wrathof59
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To: wrathof59
At least we'll recognize Hillary as the enemy.

Oh, now that's a reason to throw your vote away if I ever heard one ;)

9 posted on 05/06/2006 5:12:40 PM PDT by bnelson44 (Proud parent of a tanker! (Charlie Mike, son))
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To: neverdem

Yawn ... yet another calculated attempt to disenchant the base. This will increase in fervor as we get closer to November.


10 posted on 05/06/2006 5:13:04 PM PDT by plain talk
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To: wrathof59; bnelson44
At least we'll recognize Hillary as the enemy.

I don't suppose there's a chance that, if she is elected, you'll leave FR, is there?

Are will you have the nerve to sit here for 8 years whining about what a B*T*H she is and how she's ruining the country?

11 posted on 05/06/2006 5:14:54 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: truth_seeker
In historic perspective, Nixon was a better VPOTUS then he was a POTUS.

I think one day Bush43 will get credit for standing strong in the face of terrorism and for advancing a tough foreign policy agenda. Likewise, Bush will also be remembered for a failed domestic policy agenda. Spending like a liberal, expanding the federal bureaucracy and promoting a liberal policy of open borders and illegal immigration, shows how far Bush and the GOP Congress have strayed from the conservative agenda.

12 posted on 05/06/2006 5:15:39 PM PDT by Reagan Man (Secure our borders;punish employers who hire illegals;stop all welfare to illegals)
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To: bnelson44

Very true - if you want "bold" you really need to go with a lefty; they really know how to stay in goosestep and on-message while our conservative coalition always fight each other like wildcats.


13 posted on 05/06/2006 5:16:17 PM PDT by Chi-townChief
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To: neverdem

Ah, Jonah...another Bot falls by the wayside. Have you taken down your altar yet?


14 posted on 05/06/2006 5:19:58 PM PDT by jammer
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To: neverdem
Perhaps this unnoticed fact explains part of Bush's falling poll numbers more than most observers are willing to admit.

And perhaps Johah is twisting history to try to make a point.

15 posted on 05/06/2006 5:22:01 PM PDT by oldbrowser (We must act today in order to preserve tomorrow......R.R)
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To: marron
I want bold.

I want effective. Bold and ineffective stinks. They are not mutually exclusive, though. If it's one or the other, I'd pick effective.

16 posted on 05/06/2006 5:22:23 PM PDT by HitmanLV ("5 Minute Penalty for #40, Ann Theresa Calvello!" - RIP 1929-2006)
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To: Howlin

My post is obviously way over your head.


17 posted on 05/06/2006 5:24:43 PM PDT by wrathof59
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To: truth_seeker
But give Nixon credit. He was willing to confront totalitarianism; then called "communism." His democrat opponents were less willing to.

Really? Prior to 1966 or 1967, I don't think so. Bobby Kennedy was on Joe McCarthy's staff. Kennedy and, mainly, Johnson, got us into the shooting war in Vietnam. George Kennan, the author of the containment doctrine, was a democrat.

Sure, Nixon was an anticommunist (I disagree with confronting "totalitarianism", but debates about Chile, etc., aren't for this thread). But, until Bush II, Democrats were the ones who got us into wars.

18 posted on 05/06/2006 5:24:51 PM PDT by jammer
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To: wrathof59
My post is obviously way over your head.

Don't kid yourself.

It most certainly is not.

Ignorance is just that not hard to spot.

19 posted on 05/06/2006 5:26:17 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: marron

And the solid wall of noise will never end until RATS are back in control of everything.

You want bold? That's not do-able without a solid wall of noise. No matter who gets in, if they are a Republican, the media will pump out that solid wall of noise night and day until we want someone else.

It seems to be a stratagy that works.


20 posted on 05/06/2006 5:26:23 PM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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