[pcottraux]

"If you had a European prime minister who experienced what we've experienced it would be expected that he would retire or resign,"

Great.

Wouldn't America be such a great place if we did things just like Europe?

[Perdogg]

he's opposed to Capital Punishment.

[Jeff Chandler]

If Mr. Buckley believes that the war in Iraq is the sum total of the Bush foreign policy, perhaps he should read Robert Kaplan's Imperial Grunts.

[goldstategop]

Bush isn't a conservative? My dear William Buckley, normally I would agree with you in the respect that he's not for limited government, he's terribly deficient, but the Left still hates him. Now why if as you say Bush is no conservative, he is the object of such venomous hatred from the other side of the political aisle? It doesn't compute.

(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em, Down Hezbullies.)

[sinkspur]

Buckley is getting fuzzy in his old age. But, that's to be expected.

[Tim Long]

Buckley: Bush Not A True Conservative

Me: Where have you been the last two years?

[BerniesFriend]

Actually..I have always liked Buckley..found him witty and funny..but looking back on his track record..when he was the "top conservative"..he didn't get a lot accomplished..I don't think he got Nixon or Reagan elected and re-elected..during his prime the dems controlled both chambers for the most part..actually..it was a radio host with little formal education that was credited with ending four decades of dem control of the congress..my two cents..

[perfect stranger]

While enjoying his continuing work and many books of his that I've read in the past to help define my political views, we seem to be of two different minds on some subjects.

But I will not lower myself to insult the man as I have seen some other Freepers do.

[skr]

I believe Pres. Bush has always referred to himself as a "compassionate conservative" and has never claimed to be a "true conservative".

[SteveMcKing]

A "Compassionate Conservative" is one who incessantly apologizes for proclaimed American ideals and rarely practices them.

Bush largely qualifies in this regard.

[demlosers]

I've often wondered if Buckley is a true conservative.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Bush Not A True Conservative

This just in... the Pope is Catholic!

[Cincinna]

Buckley and Buchanan...you can always count on them to be against Israel. The Euro-Arabist elitist way these geezers think is really out of date.

They are brilliant, articulate, but, could it be that "Jewish" thing?

[RBMN]

Buckley needs to leave his ivy covered ghetto once in awhile--see America.

[llevrok]

Like so many GOP presidents (except RWR, perhaps) Mr Bush is pretty good internationally and weak on domestic.

[Finalapproach29er]

and spend time with his canine companion, Sebastian.

---

What a snob. Who names their dog sebastion?

[PghBaldy]

I thought Bush would have been more conservative (affirmative action, spending, Medicare, immigration). However, I wouldn't consider his father conservative. Wasn't there a study recently of the political attitudes of children aligning often with their parents? That said, Bush has been conservative in many ways: abortion, stem-cells, marriage, judges (probably MOST important way). It would have helped a great deal if the Reps had a bigger majority in the Senate.

[rmlew]

Bush is not and never has been a true conservative. He is a liberal on race, nationalism, and Wilsonian and foreign policy. His economic policy is neo-conservative but he refuses to hold Congress to any fiscal limits.
On social policy, he fights rear-guard actions.

However, I disagree with Buckley on Iran. Allowing Iran a nuclear weapon, even one that cannot be fired by a missle, would be a disaster.

Bush's failure to understand Islamism and explain it to the American people is a strategic disaster. He cannot get Europe or Russia to go along with a schizophrenic policy. The failure of the Bush administration to ask for an enlarged military in 2001 has left us overdrawn. The failure to get Congress on record has left the Bush administration vulnerable.

I could see this in September 2001. It is sad to think that Bush, Cheney and Rove have not reached similar conclusions in 4.75 years.

[LdSentinal]

Buckley: Bush Not A True Conservative

He's as much as a conservative as Reagan, except that Bsuh's USSC nominees are more conservative than Reagan's (apart from Scalia).

[dervish]

The MSM would never have had Mr Buckley on if not for his opposition to Pres Bush and the war in Iraq.