The GOP's New Deal: Big tent, big government, big mistake

The American Conservative ^ | July 28, 2003 | Timothy P. Carney

[churchillbuff]

Don't blame Bush. Blame conservatives for supporting him in the primaries.

No, blame conservatives for giving him a pass on this socialism NOW. For a lot of freepers, Weekly Standardites and other "conservatives," he can spend us into bankruptcy and socialism - - as long as he keeps waging war in Irag, and then Iran, and then Syria. Too many "conservatives" are more interested in freedom in the Mideast than freedom in America.

[ex-snook]

"Too many "conservatives" are more interested in freedom in the Mideast than freedom in America.

We have a bingo! And these 'conservatives' will be the first ones to bail on Bush if he ever throws their war bit out of his mouth. They like all sorts of war but the Bush roadmap for peace is their acid test for support. Look for those who say 'I'll never support Bush again if he pushes Sharon in the peace plan.'

[paulk]

Bush is the president as the USA is now offically a socialist country.

For those who would disagree - we had a definition of socalisim in Economics in high school that stated:
Socialism is when the state controlls more than 50% of the industry.

The following conditions exist today under Bush:

Feds have increased regulations until businesses spend incredible resouces compling with these regulations and at the mercy of these Gov burocrats.

The Feds own over 40% of the land

Fed Gov is growing at 12%+ /year

This is the dawn of socalism in the USA and Bush is driving.

[WhiteGuy]

Do I like the fact that Bush has to do this, no. But do I blame him? No! I blame the leftist media in this country who will take Bush down in a NY minute if he really told the whole story. Until the media is ready to treat this stuff fairly, I'm 100% behind Bush warts and all!

---

To blame President Bush would be identifying the lack of LEADERSHIP from the Whitehouse.

[The Old Hoosier]

Reagan also had to deal with a Democratic Congress. Bush has a Republican Congress. When it comes to big-govt initiatives, he flexes his muscle. When it comes to conservative judicial nominees, controlling spending, securing the borders and amnesty, matricula consular, etc, he is a bystander or even an opponent--as in the Americorps case. And he also acquiesces on other bad ideas, like CFR.

Bush still has my vote, but conservatives can't take this BS lying down. We need to get this man's ear and tell him he will lose if he keeps governing like a Democrat.

[sasafras]

Who's an idiot? - this coming from someone who cant think for themself? - Man you are either bad comedian, a RINO (not spelled Rino, as you did, just in case you didnt know has nothing to do with the animal), or just a liberal looney. Come to think of it, I'm not sure there is a difference. Take home message for your simple mind - "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" and Bush seems to be hellbent.

[ishmac]

If you got seventy-five or eighty percent of what you were asking for...

The problem is, we aren't getting near 75% of what we want, but the other side darn near is!! (And of course it's never enough, as Swimmer Teddy so uncompromisingly stated). I'm grudgingly going to stay with Bush, mostly because the appellate nominations have been solid (even if ineffective because of filibusters). We must not forget, as the Left never does, that in effect we "elect" a judiciary.

Bush has also done some positive things on the pro-life side (he'll sign the partial-birth ban, the Mexico City policy was reinstituted, and UNFPA was defunded -- although he's a little squishy on stem cell research, and his first supreme court nomination will be the questionable Gonzales). I'll probably vote for him again.

[Consort]

...LETS GET SERIOUS AND ELECT A CONSERVATIVE.

You got it! It's a voter problem, just like I have been saying. The voters get the credit or the blame for the state of the union.

[tomakaze]

RE: Bush still has my vote,
 
This is the problem. (read on)
 
but conservatives can't take this BS lying down. We need to get this man's ear and tell him he will lose if he keeps governing like a Democrat
 
So... there are no consequences, no reason for RINOs, Trotskyites, whatever we're gonna call these fake republicans, these rats in elephants clothing. to alter their plans at all, since they "Have my vote". (Im not picking on you Hoos, It's just something I see alot of in threads like this. people see the problem and understand it, but arent willling to take the neccesary steps to rectify it.) He'll keep governing like a lefty, and so will our socalled republican congress and senate, and if things get so bad that even the most ardent thronesniffer starts to go "Heeeeeey somethings not right here..." they'll just run the Hildebeast, The other Skull & Bones guy, Kerry or someone else as vile against him. and the leftist/fascist/statist agenda will move on, because the Repulican rank & file (the only opposition with any clout, potentialy anyway) refuse to acknowledge reality and take the steps necesary to fix it, preferring a comforting lie to the hard truth.
 
This guy pretty much nailed it.
Ron Paul

[tomakaze]

bump

[UCANSEE2]

Here is a thread that provides support for your concerns.

Thought you might be interested.

[Conservative til I die]

Because of skyrocketing costs in all areas of healthcare (following the advent and exploitation of third-party pay), socialized healthcare is an inevitability. The only question is when.

Just got my new rates for Aetna from my ex-employer. I'm unemployed and currently using the COBRA program, where I am allowed to continue my employer healthcare coverage, while paying the same rate as when employed. My employer is an agency/recruiting firm, so we don't get the best insurance rates, so I've been paying $273 a month. The new rate as of Friday is $356. A 30% increase. Unbelieveable.

I don't really have a choice either, as being diagnosed with cancer in October, I'll be lucky to get coverage, if I'm not paying $800 a month for it.

[Stew Padasso]

Didn't Bush come out of Texas well-liked by the democrats in his state?

The RP does not have the guts to make an argument for small government. These relics need to be replaced.

[wgeorge2001]

The G.O.P. is going to hell in a hand-basket. The democrat party is now communist, the republican party is moderate and tending to become big government; where can conservative voters vote?

[Conservative til I die]

While I agree with Reagan's statements, and I agree with the idea that there is a political reality we all have to face, Reagan really wasn't talking about things like that are going on today. Reagan is talking about getting 80% of something conservative, Bush and the GOP today are talking about giving us something 80% liberal rather than 100%. I fail to see anything conservative about turning the IRS into a welfare agency with tax credits (but again, I understand the realities of politics) and sigining massive Medicare subsidies (totally inexcusible).

[justshe]

Did Bush run as a conservative?

[Conservative til I die]

The problem with compromise, aside from the fact that we already have control of the Executive and Legislative branch is that it's always gonna be a slippery slope downward. AS the author said, the left can move infinitely left. While it was great we got a lot of what we wanted out of the tax cuts despite a few compromises, we're not seeing any other victories. It's not like we're actually moving right less than we want through compromise, we're just moving a little bit slower to the left than the Democrats.

[rwfromkansas]

Excuse me for choosing not to capitalize it.

You are a smart person maybe...and any smart person should be able to tell that "Rino" in a political context does not refer to the animal.

What a lame attack you attempted here.

[ishmac]

Bush still has my vote, but conservatives can't take this BS lying down. We need to get this man's ear and tell him he will lose if he keeps governing like a Democrat.

Dubya was never my first choice. I remember telling people in 2000 that I considered Bush a democrat who was patriotic, would rebuild the military, and could actually be reasonable in other areas (eg tax cuts). I caught Hell at the time, but judging by his actions I see no reason to change my assesment.

Why stay with him? The question people should be asking themselves is not, "What will Bush do based on his convictions", but "What can we force Bush to do based on our convictions?" The possibility of forcing Bush's hand on certain questions is the reason I would vote for him again. And his judicial nominations haven't been at all bad. People need to remember that when we vote for President, we're also voting for a Judiciary. It's not supposed to be that way, but here we are. On this basis, I'll support "democrat" Bush, all the while knowing that we're making the best of an average draw and fighting a holding action in the never-ending culture wars.(The tax cuts are OK, too, as they were for JFK).

[Capitalism2003]

looks like we may need a send a message to these so-called Republicans...even if it means losing seats next year.
Principle before politics.

http://www.LP.org