Including now from within his own party from grassroots conservatives caught up in a dangerous and blinding absolutism over immigration. They look only at this one issue and ignore all the other ways in which Bush has advanced their favored agenda and now choose to jump ship on the man. A fair weathered friend in my book is always worse than a consistently hostile adversary. I have no use for the disloyal.
That's not to say it's wrong to disagree with the president. I happen to think he's not been strong enough in vetoing spending or even still done enough to get control of the border. But it's the level of rancor that comes from both the far left and the far right I find so distasteful. I may not see eye to eye with all Bush does, but I'll be damned if I'm going to abandon the man who has done so much to protect the nation and revive its economy and to do so when he most needed my support. Kicking a friend when he's down is just the lowest of low behaviors. I feel we owe him too much as a party and a nation to allow our loyalties to be so fleeting and capricious.
You are absolutely correct, sir!
Agreed! In addition, one of the things folks forget is that Bush is not El Supremo - that is, he doesn't just point a finger and presto, it's done. He has to go through a very reluctant, RINO-filled Congress, and in many ways it's remarkable that he's gotten anything at all done.
As for points where I don't agree with him (excessive spending, being too nice to RATS), these are all things that I don't hesitate to discuss, but in no way do they take away from my respect for Bush.
Good article.
I agree with your comments. I am so sick of hearing that Bush is to blame for everything. I, too, believe history will prove that he was one of the greats.
I am not a big fan of politicians, but I am a supporter of President Bush. It does not mean I agree with everything he has done or that I agree with his position on some matters, but in the big picture of the War on Terror and fighting those that would harm us, I think he is doing a remarkable job.
Good point. Single issue "conservatives" have been keeping the RATS alive long past their storage date. First it was the pro-life, single issue, "I'm gonna sit on my hands and send them a message" conservatives. Now it is the anti-illegal immigration, single issue, "I'm gonna sit on my hands and send them a message" conservatives.
"Kicking a friend..."
You've got that backwards. It's Bush who's done the kicking -- of people who elected him.
Excellent post, Mike. Like you, I'm so pleased to see these kinds of articles starting to turn up here on FR and elsewhere.
Bravo.
Hear! Hear! I'm saying something similar to every Republican club I can. Michael Novak is very able, and I'm glad (but not surprised) to hear him speak up. His book in the early '80s called "The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism" is very worthwhile.