Posted on 05/23/2006 2:22:49 PM PDT by LibertarianInExile
NEW YORK It started innocently enough, with an op-ed in this past Sunday's Washington Post, written by Richard A. Viguerie, a leading figure in the conservative political revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, generally described as a "direct mail genius." His opinion piece was only the latest from a conservative icon to charge that President Bush had betrayed his conservative base...
[snip]
This inspired a direct response from the White House, as described by Viguerie in a press statement today:
"Apparently the White House's response to my article in the May 21 Washington Post is to send out an e-mail from Peter H. Wehner, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives, consisting of six quotes by me criticizing Ronald Reagan during his presidency.
"That's a lot easier than trying to respond to my arguments. That's a lot easier than trying to explain away the many examples I give of how Bush has betrayed the conservative movement. And that is standard operating procedure for this White House: Put the spotlight on the president's critic, rather than respond to the critic's arguments.
"Peter, I plead guilty to your implied criticism of me. I am, indeed, a consistent conservative. I put loyalty to conservative principles above loyalty to the Republican Party or a politician. . . .
"One final word, Peter. I knew Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush is no Ronald Reagan.
"Bush's presidency follows in the tradition of Big Government Democrats and Republicans like Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and George H. W. Bush. That is not a conservative line-up!"
Yes... the dyslexia just kicked in ...
Before we begin attacking each other, it helps to remember that all politicians practice the “art of the possible.” Some do it better than others. It also helps to remember that Viguerie had some pretty negative comments to say about Ronald Reagan betraying his base. If someone makes a habit of doing so, especially when the person who was attacked was Reagan, I’m afraid that I have to take his pronouncements with a grain of salt.
And, by the way, notice that Viguerie’s statement was not a defense of his accusation of Reagan, but a “so’s your old man” kind of reply.
I've thought as much about Krauthammer.
This from National Review's "The Corner":
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzFkOTRiMGEwYjZiZGUxNDU5ZTI0ZWIwMmEwZTA1ZDM=
Viguerie Shmiguerie [John Podhoretz]
This whole thing is absurd. I remember Richard Viguerie telling me, at a party in 1984, that Ronald Reagan was not a conservative and that Reagan better watch out or people were going to vote for Howard Phillips (a third-party candidate on the Right) and hand the election over to the Democrats — and Reagan would deserve it too.
Posted at 4:49 PM
He got my B because he invaded Iraq. Few pols would have done that. I gave him an A+ compared to Kerry because politics is ALL about comparative choices. But I understand your pain.
I worked at Reagans headquarters in San Diego when he first ran for Gov. He was a great Gov. & Prez.
I also support Bush.
You can't compare the two as equals as the world and the issues are very different.
You have to have been an adult when Reagan was Prez. to understand the day. Not read from a history book.
And the same goes for Bush.
The problem, some posting on FR were not adults then and arn't now.
AS far as Viguerie, he is a Wiener Nation (Savage) yahoo.
Folks need to get off the mine is better than yours and realize we are at war and Bush needs to continue having a Republican House & Senate and press on with the WOT as this needs to be won and bashing the Prez only emboldens the enemy.
Oh, Podhoretz the McCainiac?
Token.
Same old liberal mantra. Attack attack attack and when there is a response the whining begins.
And I'm glad, at least, that the WH had to read the column and know that these opinions are out there. At least, I hope they read it before listing all the criticisms V had of RR. The WH response does come down to a kind of ad hominem--they didn't address any specific thing V said about illegals.
Viguerie appeals to the all-or-nothing type of Libertarian conservative. If you don’t toe the line, he’ll vote against you and then “boy, you’ll be sorry!” The kind that actually makes a virtue of cutting off their nose to spite their face.
Don’t forget folks, that electing Leftists will not necessarily make the average American “see the light.” There are a lot of people that like the government to tell them what do, what to eat, what to drink and how to live. Provide the Left with the keys to the government and the government vault and they can very well buy themselves the next generation. If you don’t think so, look at Europe.
At least President Bush has never pushed for a third term like FDR (the hero of the left) did in order to win the war.
Is this the same John Podhoretz, who claimed that Al Franken is "the man responsible for some of the most brilliant political satire of our time?"
That John Podhoretz?
http://www.al-franken.com/rush.htm
How are you going to push for a third term when there's a Constitutional amendment prohibiting it? There wasn't when FDR was in office. He was actually elected four times. It's because of him the law was passed.
Well, no. Who wants to elect leftists, anyway?
Do you remember how narrow the margins were in 2000 and 2004? Bush was elected by electoral college in 2004.
How many Joe Sixpacks can we afford to alienate? I mean, who needs to actively elect leftists when our side disses the constituency?
Somebody call off the snotty neocons, tell them to please stop condescending to the GOP middle-class base. We need new pundits, anyway. I'm sick to death of Kristol, Barnes, Pod, and Krauthammer prating from their urban heights. Not only do they not have a clue, they won't even look for one. If Viguerie can make one of them listen, good for us.
Not sure who advised him to cut and run but it was a terrible signal to send to the barbaric subhumans.
Are you aware that Reagan gave illegals blanket amnesty with NO requirements from them at all?
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