Ok. But in all fairness, answer me (us) this:
Why is it that after ISSUE AFTER ISSUE that Bush et al sell conservatives out on, we are basically told, "It could be Gore, so SHUT UP!"
I'm here to tell you, pal, that in many ways the whole frustration is that Bush might as well BE Gore!! Does it really make it any easier to take that it's Bush that is slamming Israel and backing a new "Palestinian State" (which he KNOWS is palpably bull crap and has said as much)? Is it any better that AFTER 9/11 BUSH is pushing illegal immigration amnesty extension instead of Gore? Does it make it any easier to take that it was BUSH who basically backed McGreevey (a Democrat) in NJ by his virtual neglect of Brett Schundler (whom Bush could have caused to win handily if he'd only shown up to support him)? Does Ted Kennedy really give a rip that it was BUSH and not Gore that pushed that stupid Education Bill??
Listen, friends, when will the Republicans stop attempting to make rest of us conservatives "feel bad" for simply expecting Bush to uphold the conservative values that caused us to vote for him?? Why are we suddenly the bad guys because we have the audacity to expect him to behave in accordance with his avowed conservative beliefs?
The question shouldn't be "Can you deal with 4 years of not criticising Gore" (ostensibly it would be our fault if he gets elected) but:
Conservative friend, can YOU deal with yourself after failing to hold a "conservative" president accountable for his missteps? I didn't vote for Bush to make Republicans "feel good". I voted for Bush because he talked the talk and espoused values I thought were worth supporting. Am I now become the enemy when I cry foul over his betrayal of those values?? What gives??
My question for all of the it-coulda-been-Gore-so-shut-up crowd is: if Bush enacts 70% of the Gore agenda, does that make it somehow better than if Gore did it? Is it just somehow easier to take for you people?
Isn't the essence of the pain of betrayal the fact that it is a FRIEND who is doing you wrong? After all, we EXPECT our enemies to wrong us.
"Et tu, Dubya?"
Damn, that's absolutely priceless, hits the nail on the head.