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If there is one thing that I have learned by being a member here on Free Republic, it's this:

The extremest here that claim to be "true conservatives" will never be happy because the candidate that they approve of will never be elected, the same goes for the far left.

They expect everything to change overnight and the total lack of political reality is mind boggling. I guess that's why they're called the "Fringe" (flapping in the breeze). Everytime we see a controversial decision by the SCOTUS or the president sign some domestic spending bill that 80% of the country supports, the go off the deep end with irrational attacks and name calling. Sometimes I wonder how they manage in real life or handle marriage or children, because in my world, things don't go my way all of the time, hell I'm lucky if they go my way 50% of the time.

Some people can't handle this reality and I know plenty who can't. In most cases they're spoiled brats that happened to become adults. All of these bills and policies can be changed and adjusted in time, everything these malcontents cry about were promised by this president during his campaign and I guess there idea of principles are to promise one thing and do another, but the fact is, George W. Bush promised he would add a prescription drug program, he promised a education spending to be increased, and just about everything they're belly aching about today.

The things that justshe listed are just plain gravy in my world. President Bush has proven to be strong honest leader who has passed more conservative measures than Ronald Reagan did in his first 3 years in office by far. But don't hold your breath waiting for these malcontents to see this, they can't se past this mornings breakfast

I meant to ping you as well t0 #337

Thanks for your post, Mike. No, they won't see it that way. Some are the spoiled brats you describe. Others are fringers and DNC plants, here to divide Republicans in order to advance their own agenda.

I sometimes wonder if we are a DNC test market.

"The extremest here that claim to be "true conservatives" will never be happy because the candidate that they approve of will never be elected, the same goes for the far left."

Good post! Yes, Sharpton, I suppose, DOES have a following. And Dean too.

>>>President Bush has proven to be strong honest leader who has passed more conservative measures than Ronald Reagan did in his first 3 years in office by far.

I agree, PresBush is a strong leader and has made many conservative decisions in his short time in office. But on the domestic discretionary spending side, Bush hasn't measured up to Reagan's first three years of a conservative agenda. Republican's have to be honest about this fact. As I said earlier on this thread, I think the dynamic political duo of Bush-Rove will make the right adjustments in a second Bush term. They must get a serious effort underway to fight waste, fraud and abuse in the federal bureaucracy. They must control federal sending better. It's crucial to having fiscal responsibility in the federal government.

Total federal spending under PresBush`s first three years has increased by 14 percent as opposed to 7 percent under PresReagan. This includes adjustments for inflation. And while Reagan reduced non-defense discretionary spending by 14 percent, Bush will have overseen a rise of 18 percent in federal spending. That's a huge 32 percent difference between the two men.

The following chart indicates the percentage of change in discretionary spending, first three years, Reagan v Bush.

Let's not forget, PresReagan's first priority in 1981 was to get the economy moving again and start to rebuild America's military. America was in the midst of the worse economic times since the Great Depression and the Cold War was still raging strong. Reagan worked together with Tip O'Neill and Bob Dole to give American workers some real tax reform. The first round of tax cuts that Reagan signed into law, were of critical importance to reducing interest rates, inflation and unemployment. Reagan's early tax cuts totaled a 25% marginal tax rate reduction, (Reagan wanted 30%) across the board. Those tax cuts stimulated spending, investment and savings, and fueled an economic recovery that lasted until 2000! The highest tax rates went from 70% to 50%. Reagan's 1986 Tax Reform Act would bring that 50% top rate, down to 28%.

I think Ronald Reagan would be very proud of PresBush and the accomplishments he's made thus far. But there's still a long road to go. Devaluing the Presidency of Ronald Reagan should not be the goal of Republican's and PresBush would be the first to agree with that.

Great post !!

President Bush has proven to be strong honest leader who has passed more conservative measures than Ronald Reagan did in his first 3 years in office by far.

He's certainly honest, and his foreign policy decisions have been outstanding.

As for domestic policy, the tax cut is good. But he's going to have to get a handle on growth. Non-military spending is increasing way too quickly; he won't be able to reconcile that with the tax cut, and it just isn't conservative policy in general.

I think he's done a lot more good than bad, but I also think he can do a lot better domestically. Hopefully he will - no one can accuse this administration of being dumb or inflexible.