A lot of these "principled conservatives" like to call themselves Reagan Conservatives. Unfortunately they don't know jack about Reagan. RR was the consummate deal maker. He was always willing to take what he could get and go back until he got what he wanted. Many don't know the potholes he stepped in. The mistakes he made.
I knew what I was getting when I voted for Bush and I can see nothing in his policies that contradict what he ran on. The most important thing he had was his integrity. The Dems have hammered on that public perception for six years. Finally it stuck. I cannot remember very many Republicans coming forward to defend his honor. He was too much of a (whatever) to do it himself. Shame on the Republicans on TV, the Republicans in Congress. They basically have stood by for six years while a good man was dragged through the mud. We should debate policy vigorously, but the way the Pubbies have sat back and allowed out CIC to be called every vile name in the book is worse than just wrong.
And where was the national party when Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell were being crucified for just doing their job?
I have heard a lot of criticism about the Harriet Miers nomination. I still don't know anything about her judicial philosophy. I must have missed the hearings. All I know is that she didn't have the right educational background. Ann told me so. You know, Ann Coulter. She had a stellar legal career and issued ground breaking rulings from the bench. All I have ever heard Coulter do is gripe. She is never lacking for an opinion of "what" needs to be done, but never offers a "how" to get there. Life is easy when when one doesn't have to operate in a world where working with someone is required to actually achieve a goal. She must think there really is an "easy button". And unfortunately she is just one of many we should have been able to depend on for reasoned analysis but couldn't. She(they) failed.
That was one of the most painful things I have ever witnessed.
WOW...what a great post.
You are so right about the Republicans leaving Pres. Bush high and dry during much of his presidency.
THEN, when I listen to Bill Kristol say today that the "Republicans" he has talked to..blame Bush and are going to distance MORE...it makes me sick.
Of course he is probably talking about Graham and McCain..Graham for SURE...
Everything that gov_bean_counter says in #809 should be in the Top 10 this week. A brilliant post, and just the words and thoughts that I wish I had written?