What did you expect "Compassionate Conservative" to mean?
Compassion n. Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. See synonyms at pity.
Great definition. Everything that Bush did -- even the bailouts -- fall within this definition.
Bush delivered on being a Compassionate Conservative. You got exactly what you paid for. If you were expecting something different, you're a mug and it's your fault: he told you up-front what to expect.
I expect a “Compassionate Conservative” to be a Conservative! Conservative clearly qualifies “Compassionate” in the term. You focus myopically on the word “Compassionate” without noticing the word “Conservative.”
I knew we were not getting Reagan. Most thought he would be like his father, who fits the definition of a “Compassionate Conservative.” Instead, we received LBJ.