George W. Milhous Bush? - Is Dubya the new Nixon?

NRO ^ | May 03, 2006 | Jonah Goldberg

[neverdem]

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."

[Reagan Man]

Reagan had a GOP Senate led by Bob Dole from 1981-1986. It helped Reagan get a great deal of his economic recovery plan and military buildup passed into law. The Senate compromised with the Democrat controlled House and gave Reagan most of what he wanted. Speaker O'Neil knew that Reagan was more popular with the American people then he and Democrats were. Reagan made the most of what he had to work with.

[gondramB]

>>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)<<

Reagan tried for the nomination in 1968. It took the Nixon presidency and Carter backlash to catapult him to a landslide.


But let's not overdo the comparisons Bush43 won the war in Afghanistan where no foreigner had won a war in 1,000 years and he won the war in Iraq over someone even the liberals acknowledge was a tyrant. We're bogged down in the nation building, not the war.

The worst spin that could possibly come out of the NSA situation is that the law was broken for a genuine national security purpose -none of this spying on domestic enemies or civil rights leaders.

And the economy is far better than under Nixon or Carter.

There is no impeachment coming, only contested mid terms and a tough primary season - real challenges but nothing to compare with the Nixon situation.

[wrathof59]

My memory fades, thanks, great post, Bob Dole as leader of the Senate was a good conservative who had a dagger of a tongue.

IIRC President Reagan also killed the Fairness Doctrine. Best thing that happened long term.

In Lebanon, the Marines were under a UN action at the time they were sitting ducks in Beirut, President Reagan realized the mistake.

I miss Ronald Reagan.

[Sam Hill]

As you probably know, National Review didn't fire Coulter. They stopped carrying her column.

There's a big difference.

If the LA Times dropped Goldberg's column, would anyone say they had fired him?

[bray]

If the internet would have been around during Reagan he would have been hated by Conservatives too. His immigration bill was far more liberal than W's.

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters

[Nephi]

I've been comparing Bush to Nixon for weeks, now. I'm glad Goldberg has given the obvious Bush-big-government-Nixon similarities more visibility to minimize the blasphemous Reagan comparisons.

[devane617]

I don't see anyone "orgasmic" over Dims being in charge. However, I see many patriots that love America in total disgust with gw. Howlin, this is not a football game where the ultimate goal is to win. This is about the future of our America. I will not vote for Repubs unless we see big changes. I do not believe the current batch of Repubs cares about anything except retaining power, and I cite as an example the fact that the biggest damage done recently has occured with Repubs in control of congress and the WH. I for one am sick of our current President. I will not vote Dim, but will not vote for a Repub either.

[gondramB]

>>As you probably know, National Review didn't fire Coulter. They stopped carrying her column.

There's a big difference. <<

Didn't she lose the contributing editor title there?

[Sam Hill]

"Reagan had a GOP Senate led by Bob Dole from 1981-1986."

Howard Baker was the Majority leader from 1982-1985.

Dole was the leader of the Senate Republicans, serving as Majority Leader from 1985 until 1987 and again from 1995 to 1996.

[Sam Hill]

Mistyped, should be: Howard Baker was the Majority leader from 1981-1985.

[Sam Hill]

"Didn't she lose the contributing editor title there?"

They only carried her column. She received no other pay from that.

Maybe that's the a title they give to anybody whose columns they pick up.

[wrathof59]

That's right Baker did keep the GOP Senators more in line than Frist does, there were a lot of tight votes where the GOP held tight, I recall a lot of arm twisting, the Contra votes were cliff hangers.

[Sam Hill]

"This is about the future of our America. I will not vote for Repubs unless we see big changes."

Meet the next chairman of the House Judiciary Committee under a Democrat Congress:

John Conyers (D-Al Qaeda).

[gondramB]

>>They only carried her column. She received no other pay from that.

Maybe that's the a title they give to anybody whose columns they pick up.<<

I have no first knowledge - I was just looking going from memory and then looking up the internet record.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=4501

>>FrontPageMagazine.com | October 3, 2001

WE ARE PLEASED AND HONORED to welcome Ann Coulter to the FrontPage team. Many of our readers have long been fans of hers. I certainly have.

As a syndicated columnist, talk show pundit and bestselling author, Ann has distinguished herself as one of the most articulate, forceful – and cheeky – members of the Vast Rightwing Conspiracy.

Ann was recently dismissed from her position as contributing editor of National Review Online (NRO). The problem began with a September 12 column in which Ann declared (with regard to Islamic terrorists): "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity<<

[Txsleuth]

It is amazing what 20 years does to the memories of people regarding anyone.

I have had Reagan shoved down my throat as THE perfect President on many threads..and I won't say he wasn't to be respected...but the REVERENCE...is misplaced, IMHO..

Just like the VITRIOL for Bush is misplaced, also IMHO>

[gondramB]

Sorry for typos - should have been

"
I have no first HAND knowledge - I was just going from memory and then looking up the internet record. "

[Sam Hill]

Coulter received no money, had no position at the Natinal Review apart from them carrying her column. (For which they paid about $5.)

[Reagan Man]

You're right about Howard Baker. It was Baker from 1981 to early 1985 and Dole from 1985 to early 1987. However, Reagan had a GOP Senate from 1981-1986. No bout a doubt it.

[gusopol3]

I didn't know Howlin was a dwarf.

[swampmonster]

W is what passes for a conservative politician these days just like Nixon is what passed for a conservative politician in his time.