Bush's Base Betrayal

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

[HitmanLV]

First, how does one marry a "loathsome" spouse in the first place? It's pretty hard for a person to become loathsome overnight.

That question would be meaningful if that was the entire range of options, and it's not. A person can marry another person who, over time becomes a poorer and poorer companion. Maybe they started out fine, and became more loathsome over time. This change need not happen overnight.

Also some people just marry a poor choice for a spouse from the beginning, and come to realize it years later, after a lot of angst and aching.

Also, someone can be a good spouse and things can deteriorate quickly - they can become smitten with a coworker, for example, and have no interest in cultivating their relationship with their spouse.

Someone can be a good spouse and because of increasing work demands neglect their spouse. Often they don't intend to do it, it just happens over time. They make the series of decisions at the expense of their marriage and the alienated spouse finally calls them on it, and finds someone better.

Second, how do you know Newt's wives were loathsome? Seems rather a rush to judgment on your part against two women you don't know at all.

My comments were not regarding Newt at all, but against the general principle that leaving a spouse inexorably makes for a lousy person. I don't think leaving a spouse, or cheating on a spouse (in a certain set of circumstances) necessarily makes a person bad. Indeed, there are some conditions where it can be a good thing.

[unseen]

it might have started for me during the reelection in the second debate. Who was that man in the debate against Kerry I wondered. the one that couldn't put two words together who tried to left lean the dem? Well after the election I found out it was the real Bush not an impostor. to my dismay. But like I said before it was a series of events that led my to look at Bush as a failed President. The images of 9/11 on standing on the pile of debris clouded my reasoning I guess. Still wondering how long it will take for others to see what our leaders are doing to our country. Hopefully the alarm bells will go off in their heads too soon before its too late.

[HitmanLV]

She won't be voting Republican this time around.

To be entirely fair, there is no compelling reason for her to.

[Mariner]

I've been a supporter of this President due to the WOT, not his domestic agenda...he was clear up front that he was not a fiscal conservative. He appears to be a decent social conservative (not a high priority in MY book). His two USSC appointments look to be solid.

His handling and leadership of the Congress has been abysmal.

But I really broke ranks over immigration. I'm very angry. I think I'll contribute to Frist's opponent.

[durasell]

The thing that struck me about him is that he hit bottom and managed to come back through force of will. Unfortunately, he seemed to have been damaged by the spotlight.

[Irene Adler]

"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."

Single moms never did. It was married, white women who voted for Bush in large numbers along with white men in general. Those two groups largely put him over the top. He never did well with either single or divorced women.

[Irene Adler]

"I don't think leaving a spouse, or cheating on a spouse (in a certain set of circumstances) necessarily makes a person bad. Indeed, there are some conditions where it can be a good thing."

It is a sin and a serious one, violating a Commandment. How can that be a good thing?

[curiosity]

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

Interesting. So why did they get behind him so fast? I never understood that, and I was baffled in 2000. I mean, this it the son of George H.W. read-my-lips Bush, a lackluster Republican if there ever was one. I knew Dubya was a bust from the beginning.

[durasell]

To be entirely fair, there is no compelling reason for her to.




No compelling reason for the Wall Street guy to vote dem, but they do.

"Dude, that tax break just put $60k in your pocket! Are you nuts?"
"Yeah, but I just can't vote for Bush..."

[ottersnot]

Bush is Bush. He hasn't wavered from what he said he would do, and what he has done.

I'm probably more upset with Congress right now.
As much complaining as we see about Bush, we have a congressional majority and nothing happens.
Is this Bush's fault?

Duh no.

If there is a lack of direction in the Republican party it's because:
-There is no clear agenda or strong leadership in the party. Say what you want about Newt, but be formed a strong coalition within the Republican ranks.
-There are too many stinking rat CINOs in the party.


If the Republican party is going to allow so many liberals into their ranks, they are going to lose conservatives from their ranks.

[durasell]

He never did well with either single or divorced women.



I didn't know that, thanks...

[BW2221]

It's a guest column from the Washington Post written by a key member of the Reagan Team, not a WAPO editor's or reporter's view. I'm sure he wrote it for the Post as a way of reaching GOP politicians in Washington (and FReepers).

Just like the polls, if it doesn't validate our way of think, it's got to be wrong. It's like believing 9/11 didn't exist because the WAPO wrote about it.

[BW2221]

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

How do you figure that?"

Are you following this thread? Yes, we're really united!

[lakey]

He hasn't made that mistake again.

You give him too much slack. U.S. citizens are obligated to take arms to protect the sovereignty of our country when the government ignores an invasion on our soil.

There's a word for what Bush is allowing, promoting, and it begins with a "T."

[Annie5622]

That's a strange post for someone so 'conservative'.

[HitmanLV]

We've all sinned. On the list of sins, adultery is way up there, making the top 10. In itself, it isn't a good thing, of course. As part of a context of alienation by one's spouse, and naturally gravitating towards someone else, I think the factors mitigate the harshness of it.

Jewish law basically recognized the concept of 'no fault' divorce 1000s of years ago, though it wasn't given uniformly. That's ok, though - the concept is what counts. Judaism has always accepted divorce as a fact of life, albeit an unfortunate one. Judaism generally maintains that it is better for a couple to divorce than to remain together in a state of constant bitterness and strife.

I consider adultery very bad, in itself, but factors can make it more understandable. I do consider leaving a bad spouse to be a good thing: otherwise, you're just rewarding bad behavior.

[durasell]

"I'm not a member of any organized political party. I'm a democrat." -- Will Rogers.

[Zeroisanumber]

Interesting analysis, but Viguerie gives conservatives too much credit for some electoral victories and losses. Nothing could have saved the Republican party from losing seats after Watergate, and nothing could have saved Ford after he (rightly) pardoned Nixon. And what happened in 1998 happened in spite of our best efforts, not because of them.

While conservatives can be a poweful voting block, we are still a minority when compared to the total population and shouldn't allow the arrogance that comes with political power to allow us to forget that.

[unseen]

Haven't you heard. the reps don't want the married white vote anymore. They are more worried about the Latino vote. Well I guess will see how that works for them in 06 election. I myself have the outdated notion that if campaign on your beliefs and not on what the polls tell you to then if you are elected you have a strong presidency. Clinton and Bush both ran on what the polls told them too. When it came time to govern they governed not on what they ran on but what they truly believed in. Trouble is that what they believe and what the vast percentage of Americans believe is two different things and thus no National Medical bill and no amnesty. Go figure someone tell the polls that lies don't work for the long term. Short term yeah you get elected long term no you can not govern unless your in a war. Oopps looks like the bombs will hit Iran about Oct.

[HitmanLV]

What's strange about it, it's all true.