RUSH LIMBAUGH: BUSH "NO CONSERVATIVE"

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

It took a while for Bush to win over Conservatives who now support him all way. That's why I hate it when the word RHINO is thrown left and right when talking about a Republican who may do something that seems out of step with what we agree with and we don't realize that politics is all about winning and looking like a "centrist"

Check out this 1999 Article:

Conservative talkmeister Rush Limbaugh blasted away at George W. Bush with both barrels today, stoking a possible clash between grass-roots conservatives and the front-running candidate who is already pursuing a centerist general election strategy.

"He's really wandered off the reservation here lately folks," Limbaugh intoned, before making the case against the recent Bush positioning.

"In my mind," he told his listeners, "no conservative running for president would make the kind of statements that he's made. No conservative running for president would leave his philosophical brothers and sisters dying on the congressional battlefield the way Bush did with that EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) thing. And now he's done it again with the speech at the Manhattan Institute. He's done it twice in seven or eight days time."

"This obviously is a carefully crafted strategy." Limbaugh continued. "What it means is that solid conservatives from Tom DeLay to Dick Armey, who are doing all they can to eke out small majorities and beat back Clinton and all his Big Government schemes-issue after issue-end up being emasculated by Bush's comments."

"Who wants a Republican moderate as president?" Limbaugh asked, a question the Bush camp must hope that other conservatives don't begin asking.

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

Another provacative article from 1992:

Goldwater jolts GOP, backs Democrat Wead dealt blow by his hero, who favors rival English

By Steve Yozwiak The Arizona Republic Oct. 30, 1992 12:00:00 Republican Barry Goldwater, Arizona's Mr. Conservative, shook up eastern Arizona's new 6th Congressional District on Thursday by endorsing Democrat Karan English. It was a blow to Republican Doug Wead, who has touted himself as a ''Barry Goldwater Republican.'' The former senator is referred to as a national hero in a campaign video Wead has sent to nearly 30,000 households in the sprawling new district.

But it was English's 22-year residency in Arizona, compared with a two-year tenure for Wead, that tipped the scales for Goldwater.

''Doug Wead does not know or understand Arizona, and his record in Washington, D.C., is not the best,'' Goldwater said of Wead, President Bush's former liaison to conservative and religious groups, and a former minister.

''If I lived in the 6th District, I would vote for Karan English. Karan has lived in the state long enough to know its problems,'' Goldwater said in a prepared statement released by English.

The endorsement was confirmed through his secretary.

''With her extensive Arizona background, she is well qualified to represent the 6th District,'' Goldwater said.

The district runs from Casa Grande through the east Valley to Flagstaff and east to the New Mexico line.

Ironically, it is Goldwater whom Wead has conjured up whenever his residency and commitment to Arizona is questioned. Wead has said repeatedly that it was Goldwater's presidential candidacy that encouraged him to visit Arizona in 1964.

At one point in Wead's video, he refers to Goldwater as a teen-age idol for whom he gladly suffered ridicule:

''I'll never forget in 1962, in speech class, our teacher assigned us to nominate someone for president. So I nominated Goldwater, and everybody laughed. The teacher laughed. But I've lived to see the principles of Barry Goldwater vindicated all over the world.''

A photo of Goldwater at the 1964 Republican National Convention, which nominated him for president, hangs in Wead's office, according to the video.

On Thursday afternoon, Wead spokesman John Gibson issued a statement discounting Goldwater's endorsement of English, saying it was related to Goldwater's support of abortion rights for women. Goldwater has appeared in commercials opposing Proposition 110, which would ban most abortions in Arizona.

That logic doesn't follow in the 1st Congressional District. The incumbent, GOP Rep. Jay Rhodes, opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest, while Democrat Sam Coppersmith favors abortion rights.

In that campaign, Goldwater has done commercials for Rhodes, saying, ''The one thing America doesn't need is another Democrat in Congress.''

Wead was not available for comment Thursday, said Wead consultant Sidney Hoff. The candidate, who has outspent English 2-1, is expected to launch a TV ad blitz this weekend.

But his aide Gibson said Arizona's GOP congressional delegates and other key Republicans continue to back Wead.

''Though we are disappointed in the crossing of party lines by Barry, we are strong in the knowledge that the Republican delegation serving Arizona in Washington remains steadfast in their support of Doug,'' Gibson said.

Rhodes issued a statement reiterating his endorsement. It included statements of support for Wead on behalf of GOP Gov. Fife Symington and Sen. John McCain.

Rhodes spokesman Gregg Houtz said Goldwater supports Rhodes because Coppersmith ''is more liberal than -- what's her name? -- Karan English.''

Coppersmith attributed Goldwater's support of his opponent to Goldwater's friendship with Rhodes' father, former U.S. Rep. John Rhodes.

State Republican Party Chairman Jerry Davis issued a statement discounting Goldwater's endorsement.

''It is unfortunate that the campaign will be distorted by irrelevancies in its final days,'' he said. ''The voters should be able to evaluate the stand of the candidates on the issues, and there are radical differences between conservative Republican Mr. Wead and liberal Democrat Ms. English and her supporters.''

But, English, a state senator and former chairwoman of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, said she was ''thrilled'' to have Goldwater's endorsement.

''Barry's endorsement shows just how much Doug Wead doesn't know about Arizona,'' she said.

''He has alienated people. He has abused Barry Goldwater's good name.

''It doesn't do much good to be a Barry Goldwater conservative when Barry Goldwater doesn't even support him.''

[sweetliberty]

Rush has always magnified the weaknesses he sees in Washington. The first time I ever heard him, he was raking the first Bush administration over the coals. It isn't that he doesn't support the president; it is that he challenges him to be the best he can be by exaggerating the dissenting voices within his own party.

I am personally disturbed by a lot of the all-or-nothing attitudes and the ensuing flaming going on on this forum lately. Why does everybody have to be labeled either a Bushbot or a Bush basher? Why can't we just support our president, but challenge him when we believe he is wrong? It is a far more loving thing to correct errors, or at least try to, than to ignore them and and instead allow them to drive a wedge between people. Why should this be any less true for the president than for anybody else we care about?

[bybybill]

If there was film of GWB walking on water, some freeper would complain that Bush can`t swim. Chill out, we could have Albert as president...then you really would have a reason to bitch

[weikel]

The patriot act doesn't bother me they can bust you just as easily on RICO etc so whatever abuses are in the Patriot act are redundant.

[Dan from Michigan]

I>What is a "blue collar" conservative socialist pro union pro labor policies are the antithesis of economic conservatism

Blue Collar conservatives are heart and soul of this country. They MADE this county.

They are pro-gun, mostly pro-life, anti-tax, and pro-defense. They voted for Reagan in 80 and 84. They backed GHWB in 88, Perot in 92. Stayed home in 96, and some of them showed up in 200.

They are generally moderate on union policies(there is a place for unions, but they go too far). Mixed on min wage. Oppose the ridiculous union policies on protecting bad workers. A large number of them(myself included) HATE NAFTA, HATE GATT, DESPISE MFN for China, DESPISE Foreign aid, and we don't like the UN very much either. Most like STRAIGHT ANSWERS and hate 'mushy mealy mouth moderates'.

Some are members of the "Religious Right". Others are mostly libertarian. However those issues I've mentioned unite them.

The most important thing is character.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Do you two suppose it's asking too much to allow Bush to serve the remainder of his term before he assends into heaven on golden chariots? Good heavens, you two sound like lovesike school girls.

Can I use you as a reference on the Keyes threads, over there the Bush folks consider me a big time Bush basher.

[TLBSHOW]

Democrats: Campaign Bill Is Crucial Sat Mar 16,11:07 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson (news, bio, voting record) says the independence of the American political system rides on whether Congress passes a bill limiting how much corporations can give to a politician's campaign.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20020316/ap_on_go_co/democrats_campaign_finance_1

[Snow Bunny]

Hi,
Rush Limbaugh has been fantastic. I am very impressed, because I honestly thought when Bush became President, that Rush might kiss up to him , but instead Rush has been very straight forward about his objections.
I would love for Bush to be perfect about each decision he has made, but then I would have to be a dem to follow bad decisions blindly.

The things I like I am very impressed with . The decisions I am against that President Bush has done or been for .......well have me extremely concerned.

Rush agrees with me....... LOL that is why I listen to him. heh heh

Now I will get back to work. hahaha

[Lazarus Long]

I think you are painting with a very broad brush.

Most conservatives, not most Republicans. We probably have a different idea of what a conservative is.

[weikel]

Im very pro buisness and pro free trade( but not immigration) personally of course I don't know whether NAFTA is free trade or not( I don't really know the provisions of it so I won't take a position either way) Im not against trade with China because regardless of its internal character( which has gotten better) its not going to invade the US if they wanted to they'd be building a fleet which they aren't and the trade benefits us. GATT I don't like because the Eurotrash can outvote us and screw us over. Unions shouldn't be outlawed but employers should be able to fire striking workers and unions should have no legal protections against employers "union busting". I like straight talk too and am pro defense and anti UN and foreign aid( yes even to Israel despite my amen corner status).

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Wead spokesman John Gibson

I guess that this is John Gibson of Fox News, right?

[buzzcat]

Thank you! GWB is the FDR of our generation. Oh, and hey, Rush, get used to it. I had low expectations of GWB for some time, but, by God, how he has performed over the last 6 months is beyond my comprehension! God Bless GWB. And Rush..um...go F your fat self. I used to like your deaf ass, too.

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

It's one thing to be against Illegal Immigration and Immigration, if your against Immigration Bush would be a Senator from Ireland.

[weikel]

Not immigration per se 3rd world immigration( I have no problem with people with skills & not too large families who have who speak or intend to learn English coming here).

[weikel]

I liked him too up until around CFR when he started selling us out.

[Dan from Michigan]

FDR? FDR is a Communist and the worst president in this counties history. We're still paying for his legacy.

I may be a critic of Bush, but FDR isn't fit to carry JIMMY CARTER's lunch bucket, let alone W's. FDR was worse than Klinton.

[joyce11111]

Oregon is a very liberal state, now in the GWB column

[ChareltonHest]

I liked him too up until around CFR when he started selling us out.

I keep getting mixed reports. Some say he said he would sign it. Some say that he said he would Veto.

As for liking him. I was overjoyed when he won the election. I think I have always been a bit suspisious and never realy tusting of him. The "PATRIOT" Act was they last straw.

C.H.

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

I think he means FDR when it comes to stature an popularity, not policies.

[joyce11111]

Shame ...I remember FDR as President, and, he was loved by the blue-collar working class, and, he protected them.