Bush's Base Betrayal

The Washington Post ^ | Sunday, May 21, 2006 | Richard A. Viguerie

[gwb43_2004]

As a candidate in 2000, George W. Bush was a Rorschach test. Country Club Republicans saw him as another George H.W. Bush; some conservatives, thinking wishfully, saw him as another Ronald Reagan. He called himself a "compassionate conservative," which meant whatever one wanted it to mean. Experts from across the party's spectrum were flown to Austin to brief Bush and reported back: "He's one of us."

Republicans were desperate to retake the White House, conservatives were desperate to get the Clinton liberals out and there was no direct heir to Reagan running for president. So most conservatives supported Bush as the strongest candidate -- some enthusiastically and some, like me, reluctantly. After the disastrous presidency of his father, our support for the son was a triumph of hope over experience.

[raybbr]

Bush will be President until 08 and the success or failure of his presidency will not be decided by the Dubai port issue or Harriet Meiers --it will be decided by the fate of Iraq..

That's pretty narrow-minded. Even if Iraq were a complete success Bush's lack of leadership and vision for a conservative America are down the tubes. Bush has governed at home for a just-left-of-center position and has never fought a battle against the dems in congress even though the base and conservative congressmen begged him to.

[unseen]

I really don't care how history views Bush. I care how America is doing today. The low Bush numbers means two things. First Bush as reached in 06 lame duck status and he did this by moving away from his base. Second the low numbers has caused the Congress to become in play. Which is not a good thing. However if the dems get one house in 06 the chance for a dem president goes down. Bush has taken a strong vibrate party and shot it dead. Look for a renewal of the Dixie Democrats (Miller for president or someone like him)in the coming years IMO. It is sad that a southern Democrat gave a more Conservative speech at the convention then any republican.

[HitmanLV]

I agree. The 'better or worse' vow is not a license to be 'worse' and get 'worse.' While both sexes are utterly capable of sucking, in all fairness I do think women are overrepresented in that worldview that the 'better or worse' vow is an indemnification against them becoming loathsome, overbearing, and browbeating creatures. :-)

You are right, too many people find this horrifying. Men & women should just work on being as good a spouse as they can practically be. Being mindful of that tends to minimize problems down the line. But, a lot of people resist that very straightforward advice.

[HitmanLV]

Ed's oldschool and aok in my book.

Good take on the political landscape. Wait and see!

[muawiyah]

The piece is from the Washington Post. Never believe a thing they say about Republican party politics, or Republicans, or the religious right, or the honesty and integrity of our enemies, or of morality, or of economics, or of......

Anyway, it's from the Washington Post. Ignore it!

[HitmanLV]

Never married and no Battle Axes in my life. I do like the idea of marriage and hope to be married someday. Not soon. I'm a young 38 after all, and see no reason to rush things! ;-)

[muawiyah]

Actually, in "W"'s case, the little donors got behind him fast, and pulled the big donors with them.

[durasell]

There's a story Ed used to tell (alot) about meeting two old jewish women out on the boardwalk near coney island..."Mr. Mayor, please make the city the way it used to be," one of the old ladies says. And Koch answers, "I don't think it ever was the way it used to be, but I'll try."

More pols should take a page out of that book.

[Irene Adler]

"I was just saying there is a lot worse a person can do that dump a lousy spouse. Even dumping two lousy spouses. The truth is, leaving a loathsome spouse is a good thing and not a bad thing."

Two questions occur. First, how does one marry a "loathsome" spouse in the first place? It's pretty hard for a person to become loathsome overnight. Second, how do you know Newt's wives were loathsome? Seems rather a rush to judgement on your part against two women you don't know at all.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

My 'betrayal moment'?

When he referred to the Minutemen as 'vigilantes.'

Agreed!

[HitmanLV]

I'd vote for Ed in a NY second. Good story and good insight from Mayor Ed!

[Tribune7]

I still must face the fact that he has divided our party

How do you figure that?

[muawiyah]

The Republican party has two major factions. Recently it's grafted on the Roman Catholic middle-class, and although they are a faction in and of themselves, they tend to support the two traditional groups on different issues.

That "glue" has given them the edge in placing their candidates in strategic appointive positions.

[FairOpinion]

When conservatives are starting to take their cue from the MSM, about who is "conservative enough" for them, they better watch the motive.

HINT: "divide and conquer" strategy of the Dems is pushed by the MSM -- get conservatives to stay home or vote third party in November, so DEMOCRATS CAN WIN AND TAKE OVER.

[muawiyah]

At the time "W" mischaracterized the Minutemen a more aggressive ~ even violent ~ group was being taken out of business. I suspect he simply misunderstood what the reference was to.

He hasn't made that mistake again.

[BW2221]

Don't underestimate immigration. It's the sleeping giant that just woke up the average American. Think of the effect that the dependents of 12 million illegals will have. And, you think 6,000 guardsmen serving in a "support" capacity is going to stem the tide? Plus Bush still wants a guest worker program. Check with the Germans to see if "guest workers" ever go home.

Think of the effect it has already had (and the greater effect it will have in the future) on employment, social services, education, Social Security, etc. It's going to be an even greater problem for our children.

Polls, which I know FReepers don't like -particularly if they don't agree with them, say the #1 concern of U.S. citizens is immigration and border security, not Iraq.

The immigration issue may have a bright spot in uniting conservative Republicans and "Reagan Democrats"

[durasell]

Guy basically told me this week, "Know what my town is? It's a single mother working 50 hours a week at a convenience store driving a 15 year old car."

She won't be voting Republican this time around.

[Libloather]

Republicans were desperate to retake the White House, conservatives were desperate to get the Clinton liberals out and there was no direct heir to Reagan running for president.

Wasn't the Washington Post desperate enough to endorse John 'Effin Kerry? I didn't hear too much bitchin' from them when the *Crinton's ruled the world.

Just wondering - who is the leftist extremist heir to *Bubba Crinton? Algore?

[ichabod1]

People tend to forget that it would be exponentially worse if the Democrats were in power.

Yeah, that gives me pause. I fear the Republic is in too much danger at this moment to survive much more democrat rule.

[BW2221]

I live in the Detroit area and outside of his basketball ability, there wasn't a lot of pluses. Management couldn't stand him and neither could his teamamtes. Though he was a great player and instrumental in the Pistons winning two NBA championships, no one was sorry to see him leave.