George Bush's Big Government Adventure

Free Republic and Various ^ | 01-30-02 | aaabest

[AAABEST]

With Conservative Like This, Who Needs Liberals?

Let me start off by addressing those who have been bashing(and I do mean bash) me and other well intentioned and well known Freepers as being anti-Bush, Libertarians, from the reform party or whatever. 

I voted for GWB, and I can ping several freepers to this thread that met me in real life at several Bush rallies (with megaphone in hand). I was a member of the Broward County Young Republicans before moving to the West coast of Florida and I was active in Jeb Bush's campaign for Governor. 

I've been on this forum for almost 4 years and anyone that knows me is aware of my conservative views and knows that I'm not a member of the reform party, I'm not a Libertarian (large "l") or any of the other things I and others like me have been accused of.

If you have been engaging in inflammatory rhetoric, bashing long-time, well known Freepers or acting like children because not all of us are enthralled with "Georges Big Government Adventure",  please try to control yourselves, at least while posting on this thread. 

It's not my purpose (at least at this point) to get GWB un-elected, I like him, he has a beautiful wife, he's a good Commander in Chief and he seems like an honest politician. However,  if he keeps ignoring conservative principles and promoting a larger more intrusive government, I and others can no longer continue to support him....on principle. 

We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America.

Above is the Free Republic mission statement.  After his first year, would anyone say that GWB has worked towards this end? I think many conservatives suffer from some kind of Stockholm Syndrome as a result of 8 years of President Clinton, because when I ask many of them what GWB has done for conservatism lately, all I get is that he's not Clinton. 

I know he's not a corrupt, law breaking scoundrel, but is that all that's required? Can our republic survive a cycle where Republicans get into office grow government greatly, interspersed with Democrats who grow government even more greatly with little or no reduction? There are actually people on FR that think all of this growth in government spending is some grandiose 8 year plan by Mr. Bush to fool Democrats so that he can cut government later. What an absurd notion.

If any of the initiatives below originated from the Clinton administration, people on FR would have had a cow. Those "Day in the Life of President Bush" threads garner hundreds of fawning responses, while a thread on how our government is growing out of control will die after 10.

I appeal to anyone reading this to consider the below information without bias. The links will open in a separate window for you convenience.  I will be adding to this information as necessary God bless America, God bless this forum and God bless you.

Click on the Picture of the President (thinking of new ways grow government) for the corresponding article.

	Huge education spending bill (i.e. Federal Local School Board Bribery Act) which liberal Democrats love that doesn't mention a word about choice or local control.
	Food stamps for immigrants.
	Largest spending bill in American History. The first to exceed 2 trillion dollars.
	The Airport Security Bill that completely takes control of over 28,000 screening jobs. Now it seems that they don't even have to be high school graduates either. The big difference, they can't be fired.
	100 million for welfare moms.
	Hugely Expanding Clinton's Amercorps boondoggle that all conservatives railed against.
	Kowtowing to law breaking illegal immigrants by proposing amnesty. Speaking of illegal immigrants who sneak across the border; "And we've got to respect that, seems like to me, and treat those people with respect," he added. "I remind people all across our country: Family values do not stop at the border."
.	38 Billion for a new Homeland Security bureaucracy that allots a 20% increase for border control. Guess what. It goes to our problematic Canadian border, with not a dollar spent on the Mexican border. Read it for yourself
	The  Orwellian "Patriot Act" that gives Federal authorities carte blanche to rifle through all of your digital communications and essentially,  rob your house without notice.
	71.5 billion over 10 years for government health care.
	Not releasing appropriate documents on Clinton and FBI corruption.

 

[AAABEST]

Ping to guys that give me much needed laughs.

[Dane]

True, but it's also encouraging that alot of posters are agreeing. So much better than conservatives hiding their heads in the sand, because they're afraid to criticize an "R."

Actually I am quite surprised by the "muted" response. Given this threads "prime position", it is mostly the same old names who are criticizing and I am surprised there aren't 300 responses by now.

These are the people who will never be satisfied and find it much easier to criticize, since constanly criticizing is the easy part.

Bush has done the hard work. Uniting the country against terrorism and has suceeded.

[verboten]

Conservatism must become more broadly sociological in its pursuit of ultimate victory.

I completely agree. This requires dedication. The lure of material wealth and immediate gratification is strong. And the government is doing its best to outlaw private morality. Our social system is being eradicated for the purpose of political expansion. Freedom can not exist without a social system, so its resurection must be our primary goal. Every dollar we keep from those looking to destroy society is freedom's hope.

[Exnihilo]

Also, the federal budget is set to automatically increase funding for most major programs each year. Until conservatives can dig up so much popular support that those automatic spending increases are stopped, every President is going to preside over a budget that is the largest in history and obviously bigger than the last year's budget and bigger than the last President's budgets. It is disingenuous to somehow imply that the current President is automatically responsible for those automatic budget increases, and it will be an ENORMOUS achievement to finally get them out of our budget one day.

You're EXACTLY right. And did you notice? Not a single person responded to your thread. Stop confusing them with facts already!!! :)

[AAABEST]

Ping to guys that love a big police state.

I know you think I don't like you, it's not true though.

[Ragin1]

Johny come lately here.

Didn't get past this part without posting,

"Click on the Picture of the President (thinking of new ways grow government) for the corresponding article."

LOL. The truth hurts sometimes.

[Exnihilo]

You sound like a teenager.

[alrea]

The realists know what he is up against.

Sunday school and tax cuts are fine with me. The rest of the government will have to shrink if taxes are cut. Bush is fighting a lot of fires right now. Greenspan and Clinton almost put the whole world in the toilet.

[Dane]

Outstanding post AAA. And from the lack of criticism your point of view has received, perhaps the Bushies have taken notice.

158 posted on 1/30/02 6:34 PM Pacific by St.Chuck [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

Considering that you posted without reading the comments, I find your analysis a bit off.

[GummyIII]

Excellent synopsis. BUMP!

[AAABEST]

Ping to a few fine brothers.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I voted for Bush, but with reservations. Now I realize that I hurt the cause of conservatism by doing so. IMHO Republicrat Party needs to be rejected by true conservatives - even at the risk of electing Hillary - until it sees the error of its ways. I plan to vote however will cause the most damage to the Republicrat Party in `04.

I completely agree. I have absolutely Hadenuf of the two beltway parties. I too was a Republican a few years back, only to be repeatedly kick in the teeth. No more of this BS for me.

[FITZ]

The real question is, where to go from here? Argentina, to pick up the pieces? Or a lonely lighthouse in the red sea?

The way so many people are leaving Mexico to come to the US should have Mexico emptied out in a few months, hopefully their elites and politicians will be over here soon. Then we could take Mexico over.

[FreeReign]

But you left out his federalizing of the Churches (Faith-Based Initiative)

How so?

[Jhoffa_]

Most of us here figure taxes as the number one issue. I'm not saying Bush is perfect... but as long as he maintains his position on taxes, all of his faults are neutralized. He needs support.

LOL!

Hey, speak for yourself there Jeff.

I care more about the 2A, abortion, immigration, education and tax reform than about this measley little tax cut.

[Exnihilo]

Ping to guys that love a big police state

What about me? For all my ripping on the Libertarian Party, the most irrelevant political force in existance, you'd think I would be worthy of being called a 'statist'. Frankly I think your post was right factually, but wrong realistically. This is the real world, and President Bush is a real person dealing with real people and real issues. You seem to think he can just stroll in and start slashing things left and right, carving up Big Government like a thanksgiving turkey. Wrong. It won't happen, not today, and not ever. If you'd have read Southack's response to you, you should have responded. Frankly your post while true factually, reminded me of a child throwing a tantrum because Daddy won't buy him a PlayStation 2 because all his friends have one. You need to be patient, bide your time, elect the officals you want, and recognize the facts of reality, and stop dreaming. You libertarians are so transfixed on your libertopia, it blinds you from acting and thinking rationally. Take off the blinders, and realize that everyone wants smaller Government, and so does George W. Bush. Things take time, and he has to work with other people who don't see things his way. In other words, grow up.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I just love attitudes like yours and a few others on this thread. I'm especially floored by this statement of yours "I wonder if Bush ever read that darn Constitution. See, some of us down here in Winston-Salem actually think that the militia does a fine job of protecting freedom and allows eveyone to participate. Some of us think an armed people will do the job of protection"

Thats really going to take care of the immediate need for people in Airports.. to help police etc. now isn't it? Do you honestly think any State, or our Nation for that matter is so small that a tiny little militia could really protect ALL of us? One that is run by radicals who don't represent all of us?? Now that is a dangerous thought. I believe you have a right to protect yourself.. but there already ARE militias in each State.

Our Country has gone down hill for 8 years. Every single person in Gov. has told us it will take some time to FIX the problem. If you think President Bush is spending money now on this country.. you should sit back and just imagine how much it would cost to fix things IMMEDIATELY!!! We happen to think this call for volunteerism is right on for the times we are facing. So now we have people saying in the same breath.. he is spending to much.. he is spending to little. Which is it?

Fixing the things that were neglected just doesn't happen as quick as some think it can. Plain and simple, that is impossible. You need to stop thinking "city" and think "Nation".

As far as a Militia.. yeah.. I believe in that too. But the State Militia's (*see National Guards) are stretched to their limits. They aren't getting the training they need.. nor the equipment they need. And if you think you can organize a militia that is capable of handling a MAJOR threat and do it well, and timely, and in an organized manner which is what it would take, not to mention equipment.. then please tell me how you would think to accomplish that feat? Our Gaurdsmen and women ARE citizen soldiers.

I will fight with all my heart and soul for the right to bear Arms. We are members of the NRA,..and believe in the 2nd Ammendment. But people spout all this bravado..without realizing this is a HUGE country..and it takes some form of Government to accomplish this AFFORDED US BY THE CONSTITUTION. Some ideas posted here would create anarchy and chaos!! Meaning the small radical Militia elements. IMHO

FR is starting to sound like a bunch of whiners. What is it people.. who could serve better? If you don't like things... then start to "intelligently" without bashing the better of two choices for President, President Bush, and create your own party with likeminded Candidates.

Just keep it up.. sit around on your duffs complaining.. and sooner or later the Dems will not only have the Senate.. but the HOUSE AND THE WHITEHOUSE. Then ya gonna be happy??

I mean.. whose the enemy here?