George F. Will:President Bush has turned conservatism on its head, infuriating many supporters

The Union Leader, Manchester, NH ^ | July 24, 2003 | George F. Will

[RJCogburn]

THIS IS THE is the summer of conservatives? discontent. Conservatism has been disoriented by events in the last several weeks. Cumulatively, foreign and domestic developments constitute an identity crisis of conservatism, which is being recast ? and perhaps rendered incoherent.

George W. Bush may be the most conservative person to serve as President since Calvin Coolidge. Yet his Presidency is coinciding with, and is in some instances initiating or ratifying, developments disconcerting to four factions within conservatism. The faction that focuses on foreign policy has four core principles: Preserve U.S. sovereignty and freedom of action by marginalizing the United Nations. Reserve military interventions for reasons of U.S. national security, not altruism. Avoid peacekeeping operations that compromise the military?s war-fighting proficiencies. Beware of the political hubris inherent in the intensely unconservative project of ?nation-building.?

[WhiteGuy]

Excellent information....................

Thank You

[Sir Gawain]

Here's the source: http://alanchapman.org/libertyvault/gwb.html

[jmc813]

Schundler lost because NJ was liberal.

You're half right. The NJ GOP is dominated by scumbag RINO's like Don DiFrancesco and Christie Whitless who provided minimal support to the Schundler campaign. I do agree, though, that most Jerseyites are idiots and were scared by Schundler's pro-2nd Amendment views.

Seeing McGreevey's latest poll ratings it seems that a lot of NJ voters are having buyers remorse.

Yep. About 8 months ago I began saying here on FR that I GUARANTEE Schundler will win the primary and general election in '05 if he chooses to run.

[VRWC_minion]

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were designed to prevent that sort of "either-or" scenario. Of course that assumes that such documents are adhered to inthe first place

The bill of rights protects us from some things but not from taxes and spending That, my friend, is up to the mob. Sorry to be the one to deliver that news.

The problem is if we are going to buy into self governing we have to take the good with the bad.

[Theophilus]

Fact is, terrorism simply doesn't affect the daily lives of 260 million Americans, at least other than the effect terrorism has on the economy.

Another fact, along the same lines, ribald terrorists might not be an America's worst/most-effective enemies...

[KantianBurke]

Where might I ask is there a constitutional foundation for the Dept of Education? TANF funding? The $15 billion for AIDS in Africa? Can't find it in your copy of the Constitution huh. Gee. Wonder why...

If the Constitution and the Bill of Rights had been followed and not ignored, we wouldn't be in this mess. Simple as that. Yes the powers of the purse are held within the House but the idea originally was that the masses would hold their Rep's feet to the fire in the case of wasteful and/or unconstitutional spending.

[VRWC_minion]

If the Constitution and the Bill of Rights had been followed and not ignored, we wouldn't be in this mess.

So, whats your suggestion ? Anarchy or dictaroship ?

Personally, my money is on someone that can play the game and plant the seeds for long term change.

Folsk just ignore people throwing temper tantrums

[KantianBurke]

If you want to defend wasteful spending and harmful governence by instituting a silly argument that the ONLY other alternatives are anarchy or dictatorship then do so by all means. I'll stake a bit more on the separation of powers, federalism and once again a govt that operates within the confines of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

[ActionNewsBill]

Bump....great compiliation...

[WhiteGuy]

And by the way,

Why WAS Sabertooth banned?

He always seemed to offer factual debate??????????????

[kevao]

Sheeeeeet, next thing you know they will expect the kids to pay their damned car insurance to...Because well, they are the largest voting block alive and they deserve it.

The Greatest Greediest Generation

[hchutch]

The temper-tantrum throwers are sound and fury, signifying nothing. Besides, things are NOT going as badly as they would like some to believe.

The new unemployment numbers (i.e. the big drop) and the fact we got the brats Tuesday haven't quite registered yet in terms of the polling, but the Left is in a much more untenable position than the Right.

They can TRY to take Bush down over the disagreements, but they run a VERY big risk with it. The GOP might not come crawling back to them and begging forgiveness - instead, they just might find themselves persona non grata.

[Ohioan]

Sorry I don't see Rove as an enemy as you do. He has won elections, how many have you won.

You do not seem to understand the process. Rove has not won elections. He has had a sponsor, who won elections. But Rove almost lost his sponsor the critical 2000 election.

I do not see Rove as an enemy. I see him as a very inadequate analyst, who simply does not understand the complexity of the factors involved in convincing people of a certain point of view, or in motivating people to a particular political action. He is probably a dysron, as I have defined the term.

Actually, Rove and Al Gore have a great deal in common. They understand words--in a certain sense;--and they understand yesterday's statistics. They do not really have clear, dynamic images of what those words they understand so superficially, actually mean to people with a more comprehensive grasp of reality.

As for your doom and gloom, there is a poll with very fair and non-leading questions on FR which shows Bush's support at 85%.

Today is July 24, 2003. There are many things going on the world, today. There is not a current Presidential election campaign. There is not a serious opposition candidate. In 14 months, there will be another set of things going on. There will be several opposition candidates. There will be discussions, then, the course of which neither you nor I can accurately predict. What you cite has almost no relevance to my point.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[RJCogburn]

But if he had only said some insulting things about her, then everything would be ok

Aw, MissM. you can do better than that. He could have criticized her opinion without being personally critical of her.

Just like I just did with your comment.

[inquest]

Even though you can't predict what turn the discussions would take, can you speculate? It's true that things can change in 14 months, but unless the threat of terrorism disappears during that time, can you seriously expect that people will be willing to trust a Democrat to lead the fight against it?

[NittanyLion]

Sabertooth was banned? I always thought he added to the debate, and never in my experience did he even come near the line, let alone cross it.

[f.Christian]

That attacks on Americans will be reduced, instead of increased, by more meddling in this foreign culture.

French - canadian ... right !

[Joe Hadenuf]

I ... rang ... doorbells ... and ... baked ... cookies ... for ... Bush ... but ... he's ... lost ... my ... vote ... just ... like ... his ... daddy ... Demopubs ... Republicrats ... RINOs ... Rove ... Necons ... one true patriot me ....one real conservative me ... one principled Constitutionalist me ... one sit on my fat arse and do nothing but bitch on an internet forum me ...

That's right Fufkins! We should support Bush and stop the bitching, keep our mouths shut, and regardless of what Bush does, it's good for us. Don't break that lock step cadence and support no matter what. All these people that don't think Bush is a conservative are probably DU spies, and leftist operatives.

[Ohioan]

There are a raft of potentially "gripping issues." There is also the fact that the present large field of Democratic candidates, will create the possibility for the emergence of someone whose credentials will be tailored to the exigencies of the moment. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that someone completely unforseen--with few if any of the obvious deficits of the current crop--might be brought forward by the back-room kingmakers.

William Flax

[Joe Hadenuf]

Why WAS Sabertooth banned?

Sabertooth was very outspoken about the illegal alien invasion of millions, and the ever escalating destruction of our sovereignty and borders. Just like many others that have been eliminated, that had the exact same, outspoken concerns.