Trouble on the Right? Bush and His Conservative Base

Toogood Reports ^ | July 14, 2003 | W. James Antle III

[ApesForEvolution]

I thought I'd ping my favorite spectrum of conservative thought (this week) :)

[Azrael]

HA!!!!!!!

[Dazedcat]

Nice post, you've pretty much described the governor of my home state New York and the Republican Party here. It's sad to see the Republican Party slide downhill like it has been.

It is refreshing though to see people here question this administrations' philosophy and beliefs. All too rare I'm afraid.

Regards;

[CWOJackson]

Ah yes, the cry of the third party warriors, "No defeat is too small."

[ApesForEvolution]

"All Bush has done is what even Hillary could not accomplish: Make the government much much bigger and socialize health care."

It bugs me to no end that conservatives could somewhat constrain krinton, but now enable Bush to ride socialist issues such as CFR, AWB, AA, Vouchers, Entitlement, etc.

I'm glad Bush beat Gore, thankful everyday for it. However, IMO, it did nothing but buy America a little time - and if conservatives are going to let 'compassionate conservatism', i.e., 'socialist light' get a pass while fedgov moves further from control, further erodes the Constitution, just to carry the GOP banner, then I want no part of it.

If Bush is going to win, he needs conservative activists. He'll get the party over principle 'conservatives', but he won't get that part of the base that propels him to victory.

And, he won't get them without crossing the road back into conservative traffic.

[CWOJackson]

That is not the desire nor the intention of some people in FR; theirs is to divide and weaken. Almost makes you wonder if they have underlying motives.

[ApesForEvolution]

Just when the GOP starts bringing back conservatives ('94 started it after conservatives' voices were 'heard', '00 election wouldn't have been without conservatives and '02 was all about the base of the conservative movement being active at the grassroots level), they run left and look more like the Republicans that lost so many national elections by being moderates (at best).

[stevio]

We're conservatives, is Bush?

[ArneFufkin]

He's lost me... 3rd party next election.

Addition through subtraction.

[NeoCaveman]

The Left got 52% of the popular vote and picked up 4 Senate seats in 2000. Maybe that's why the Republicans are running scare to the middle. Heck we do well in off-years because the Dems base rarely votes in those.

[Dane]

When you guys reach your ultimate destination, "the perfect world", how about sending me a postcard.

For some reason I think that I will be waiting a long time for the postman, as you guys take one step forward and two steps back in your quest for political perfection.

[ApesForEvolution]

What is maddening is watching Republicans, that call themselves conservatives, allow their favorite compassionate conservative to move hard left, unchecked.

Without pressure from the right, we have and will have a moderate - or futher left behaving POTUS for 4 more years.

If that's what you want, you're happy.

That's not what I want.

We can either call Bush out and hope that through pressure he moves back to the conservative camp - or there are other choices I guess.

But, those that wouldn't say Bush crapped if they had a mouthful, they irk me to no end. It's intellectually dishonest and unbecoming of true conservatism.

When it comes to the Constitution, we must be objective about our leadership and candidates.

[CWOJackson]

I was beginning to wonder about JR there for a minute...I stumbled onto this thread and wondered why in the hell JR was providing direct thread links to DU.

[CWOJackson]

"Without pressure from the right..."

Yes, there used to be another poster around here who was always doing everything he could to trash the President and drive away voters but insisted he was only holding the President's feet to the fire.

[ApesForEvolution]

Good morning.

[stevio]

Forgive me for being so negative but, giving me back some of my own money doesn't exactly wipe out the destruction he's allowing to happen to our Constitution.

[ApesForEvolution]

Like I said, some people wouldn't say Bush crapped if they had a mouthful...and then they try to run people off that don't goose step. Why don't you go ahead and drive off all of the conservative activists and enjoy the next RAT presidency? Or, IS THAT YOUR AIM? Maybe YOU are an agent provacateur masquerading as a conservative who is bent on socialist Republicanism and are on a mission to rid the GOP of conservatives?

[CWOJackson]

"Like I said, some people wouldn't say Bush crapped if they had a mouthful..."

Do you go around singing that to yourself all day because you sure have a mouth full...and you seem to enjoy spreading it widely. You could keep a whole brigade of dung beetles busy.