Good post
I remember that well— the “compassionate” conservativism” nonsense, and also GWB said not to “balance the budget on the backs of the poor” then as you said he came in in full appeasement mode with ted kennedy and the education bill.
GWB was always a big spending, establishment liberal republican. Unlike Trump, who is willing to fight for the things we want, against overwhelming odds. Trump is a courageous hero. GWB is the epitome of the cowardly rino.
Don’t forget he also signed Campaign Finance Reform while simultaneously stating publicly that he believed it was unconstitutional but he hoped the SCOTUS would fix it. Right there he violated his oath to preserve and protect the constitution and he made no bones about it.