W ran as a "compassionate conservative." We all knew what that meant in 2000 and elected him anyway. He didn't abandoned anyone. Some just chose to ignore the obvious and pretended he was something he never professed to be. Whose fault is that?
He isn't the ideal GOP president, but he was better than McCain, Gore or Kerry. I see him being "punished" because conservatives have been living in lala land.
This post really made me stop and think for a moment. I have to admit, for myself at least, this is true. I'd kind of forgotten, but back in 2000 I wasn't enthusiastic about our choices at all. It was only after 9/11, when he really stepped up to the plate, that I was very glad he was president (as opposed to Gore. I still shudder imagining...) But yes, you are right. I knew from the beginning he wasn't the cold-eyed Randian that I'd have preferred to see in office. Alas. He's a good man but he's just what he ever was.