Conservatives Question Dubya's Direction

INSIGHT magazine ^ | May 27, 2002 | Jamie Dettmer

[Zack Nguyen]

Look, conservatives are complaining that Bush "can't say no", and that he is violating conservative principles. Has anyone considered the idea that these are not part of Bush's principles? He hasn't violated any of his own principles at all - he was a free spender in Texas and he is a free spender now. Nothing has changed. Republicans just didn't bother to look at his record, and now are astonished when he does the same thing.

Please understand that I think President Bush is an honorable, faithful, and just man. I am delighted that he is leading our war effort. I just don't always agree with him.

[PhiKapMom]

Looks like the DemocRATS are employing a new strategy to split Republican votes and some folks on here seem to be falling for it hook, line, and sinker. Cannot believe they cannot see what is happening! Doesn't take a genius to figure it out!

Thanks for the ping! Count me in on these articles and ping me anytime for support!

[fightinJAG]

Should the criticism be justified? Is it possible that the debate over "criticizing" Dubya is not about whether he can or should be criticized, but rather about whether the criticism leveled at him in any particular instance is justified?

It seems like everytime someone disagrees with a criticism of the president, someone else interprets that as disagreeing with the conclusion that the president should be criticized when criticism is appropriate.

Are there really people who think that millions of us freeper-types would stick by Dubya is he, say, killed someone or had sex with an intern in the Oval Office? Just because someone concludes that a particular criticism of Dubya is not well-founded does not mean that person is a blindly loyal idiot.

[gunshy]

How long does it take to order the borders of this country sealed to protect US citizens. I think 16 months is long enough.

[Paul Ross]

With conservatives like GWB, who needs Liberals for enemies? You will likely not face the facts until its way too late...and even then, you may try to deny the obvious.

We are being betrayed on almost every core principal, because it will always be more expedient politically. My gut feel is that if we had a truly conservative Senate (and with 6 RINOS we are a long way from that) GWB would be chastising it. A truly conservative Senate would have shot down his education bill, the farm bill, the insane unilateral nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia, would be calling for proscecutions of the Clintons & McAulliff et al., not just moving on, and for discipline or removal of Norman ('No Armed Pilots') Maneta, etc.

[fightinJAG]

To say this man has no backbone is like saying Hillary has no greed.

If Dubya had no backbone, you'd be hunkered down in your basement right now, cleaning your gasmask and taking your anti-anthrax pills, after having snuck out to bury your dead from the latest terrorist attack.

Sorry. You may find things to criticize Bush over, but lack of moral courage is not one of them. He does what he believes is right. You, apparently, just disagree with him on what is "right" is a given situation. Leave it at that.

[gunshy]

If you listen to the anti-Bush pundits in the liberal media and the political misfits and malcontents hanging around FreeRepublic, some folks could conclude that Bushes Presidency has been a total failure. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This is certainly true if you are a liberal democrat. Bush is nothing more than an FDR and LBJ rerun. Use the war as cover to implement a liberal agenda.

[berned]

I think it's good to remember that Bush took office with virtually no mandate.

Considering he lost the popular vote, and was pilloried in the media as a moron, and took office with millions of people in this country convinced (wrongly of course) that he STOLE the election... and that a "repub" senator took the unprecedented step of defecting to give the Senate away to the dems... Bushie's done pretty damn fine for himself.

Politics is the art of the possible, not Fantasy World. With the unprecedentedly crappy hand Dubya was dealt, I believe he played it about as perfect as anyone ever could have.

Don't forget that Reagan had a 10 point mandate in '80, and a mega-landslide win in '84. Even Bush #41 had a solid 8 point victory in '88.

If we get back the Senate and keep the House, watch how skillfully Bush will push the Conservative agenda.

[weikel]

Yeah but the thing was he was a lot more conservative when he had "no mandate"( It only matters that you win IMHO. By how much and by what means fair or foul matters little after the fact). He tilted leftward after his approval rating has been high.

[Joe Brower]

Well, some of us patients have figured it out. The question is, are we enough and is there still time, or is the body terminal? We will surely find out. Politics is, at best, a perverse game of compromise, guile, and dirty dealings. Doesn't leave a whole lot of room for concepts like justice, service, and honor. Not, at least, with our current crop of politicians -- I cannot grace them with the term "statesmen", because, they're not. I see Democrats and Republicans as all too often just different sides of the same counterfeit coin.

As other posters have noted here, though, if the Repubs can gain back the Senate majority, we may see the conservative agenda rise from the ashes. No one would be happier to see that than myself. I don't know how well it will counter the damage already done, though, with police-state crap like the "PATRIOT" act, CFR, etc. already enacted.

[Paul Ross]

Bump. Totally devastating analysis to the Bush-Bots. Their delusions are clearly destroyed, but yet are too stubborn to face the facts which you cogently detailed. Particularly galling to all conservatives was GWB's inaction on the Clinton EO's , and then this character had the gall to claim credit for having gotten rid of a bunch. This is the kind of thing that Karl Rove is infamous for: Claiming Conservative Credit for something which (a) Was Never Actually Done, and/or (b) Was Never conservative.

[Protagoras]

I don't know how well it will counter the damage already done, though, with police-state crap like the "PATRIOT" act, CFR, etc. already enacted.

It should be noted that those terrible laws were enacted with Republicans as confederates of the Democrats. It's not like the Dems did it under the cover of darkness. If people are waiting for a majority in congress and the White House to "save" them from all this BS, they will be waiting a long time.

[Pee_Oui]

More and more demowits post on this sight daily. Wonder if they think we are stupid enough to think they are for real?

I for one am no demowit, and have left the big R party for the I party.

Some of us have taken our heads out of the sand.

And just who do you think is going to pay for the 50% increase in foreign aid promised by "W"??? Nice we got a tax cut eh?? I suppose this money for 3rd world countries will just magically appear.. (newly printed probably). Hopefully the color won't rub off on the next batch. Maybe more money to put a new hollogram on it too... gheesh!! wake up pal!

DL

[Paul Ross]

Oh he has a backbone all right. A bipartisan LIBERAL backbone is what we are beginning to see. And absolutely no regard for the opinions of those who know more than he does about our nuclear defenses and rightfully regard his treasonous treaty with the Russians as the last straw.

[WIMom]

Thanks Mom, you too. What are mom's for?

[AAABEST]

More and more demowits post on this sight daily. Wonder if they think we are stupid enough to think they are for real?

WTF do you know about anything? Obviously not much if you think all of the pissed off conservatives I know very well on this site and in real life are all just playing some kind of strange game.

It couldn't POSSIBLY be that many conservatives take huge exception to a spendthrift, big government loving RINO who doesn't mind signing unconstitutional legislation for political points.

If you want to talk about stupid, look in the effen mirror. Your comment is about the f***ing stupidest I've seen in over 4 years here.

[WIMom]

So you are willing to let the Democrats take control? Do you want to see us being ruled by Queen Hillary, King Joe or any one of their cronies? Listen, I'm not a fanatic Bush supporter, but I see reality. The liberals have to be taken out. Any third party candidate will put control right back into the hands of the democrats. The chance for any conservate agenda will be lost. Is that what you want? It's a reality and it will happen.

[arkfreepdom]

Good luck and I hope the dims send you a thank you later.

[arkfreepdom]

Take exceptions to the RINO's, but comparing Bush to some demowit is the stupidest thing I've read on these pages. You idiots are duped by anarchists and demo's. BTW...you're use of the English language is truly masterful.

[arkfreepdom]

later=letter