Posted on 06/05/2002 1:20:54 PM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
Let me just say up front that I am not addressing you if you voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and regret it. The same goes for those of you who voted for Bush and insist on holding his feet to the fire on the important issues. If, however, you cast your vote for Bush, still believe he is the only hope for America and intend to support every move he makes without so much as a raised eyebrow, this is for you.
It has been nearly a year-and-a-half since George W. Bush, the savior of conservatism, descended from on high to begin his earthly reign in Washington, D.C. Republicans assured us that he would restore integrity to the White House and would be a marked improvement over the promiscuous Bill Clinton. Well, in all honesty, that could have been accomplished by electing a neutered chimp to the office of president.
During the 2000 presidential campaign, George W. Bush the man proved to be a nice break from Bill Clinton and Al Gore. Unlike Gore, Bush had a more likable...well, he actually had a personality. He also possessed the unique ability to address the American people without the smug and condescending vibe Clinton exuded. However, when it came to policy, George W. Bush the candidate failed to demonstrate that he would govern any differently than his Democrat counterparts.
Still, throughout the campaign, there was a loyal group of Bush supporters who would take offense at even the slightest implication that their candidate was anything but a staunch conservative. Even now, they continue to stand by their man, and I find this to be rather perplexing.
Perhaps those who have pledged their undying allegiance to President Bush could answer a few questions for me, in no particular order of course:
• How would you have reacted if Bill Clinton had signed the Patriot Act into law and given the government sweeping new surveillance powers?
• Would you have criticized a Democrat president for signing a $26 billion education-spending bill?
• Did you feel betrayed when Bush signed Campaign Finance Reform into law?
• What do you think about Bush's position on granting amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants?
• Would you have tolerated a Democrat proposal for federally funded faith-based initiatives?
• What would your reaction have been if a Democrat had said, "No one should have to pay more than a third of their income to the federal government"?
• What do you think about the president's granting of Permanent Most Favored Nation status to China?
• What's the difference between Bush and the Democrats on the issue of farm subsidies?
• How would you react if a Democrat president sent a $2.13 trillion budget to Congress?
• Would you have stood for a Democrat saying "No!" to arming airline pilots?
• What would your reaction have been if a Democrat had pushed for the federalization of airport security?
• Are you willing to stand by and let the Bush administration cater to the environmentalists on the global warming issue?
• What do you think about Bush's call for a Patient's Bill of Rights?
• What one thing has Bush done that sets him apart from the Democrats?
• It's been a year-and-a-half since Bush took office. When do we start to see a decrease in the size and scope of government? For that matter, when do we start to see even a remote indication that this administration will think about doing anything to try to limit the federal government?
This list is by no means exhaustive, but I would really be interested in some answers. Perhaps it would help shed some light on the mindset of modern compassionate conservatives.
The fact that a Republican president is governing like a Democrat isn't surprising. What's amazing to me is that there are a few select Bush supporters out there who cannot—or will not—utter one word of criticism against their president for any reason. In their minds this man is the epitome of conservatism, and to question his actions would be to question their own beliefs and cause them to wonder why they supported him in the first place.
The way I see it there can only be two explanations for this: 1) these people really and truly believe in what Bush is doing, or 2) they do not wish to face up to the real reason they voted for him — he was simply a slightly more palatable choice than Al Gore.
A lot of people did that back in the eighties, their legacy will be forever remembered as the Clinton presidency.
He'll win re-election with the help of his true base. (I don't count those who have always hated him his true base).
Some a$$hole just told me that I know nothing about history, but even I know that Clinton wasn't elected in the eighties.
The balance budget pledge was under the condition of that the country was not at war. It is now at war - in case the news of 9/11 hasn't reached your cave yet.
And Bush didn't break the stem cell promise. Remember Dan Rather and Michael J. Fox going ape-sh** over the fact that he didn't break his promise.
I'll take a stupid bloated farm bill with the good things Bush has done over her evilness Hillary Clinton anyday.
No, this was just supposed to be silly. Your post was number 1066, which is the year the Battle of Hastings was fought. I didn't want our parley to foster anything but kinship.
I recall Bush saying that he would vote for CFR.
"...or busting the federal budget..."
Do you have any ideas on how to finance the current conflicts that we find oursleves involved in, other than by expanding the budget? I am sure everyone would love to hear your theories
"...or not subsidizing stem-cell research..."
He defunded any new stem cell research, I guess you must have missed that somewhere along the line.
About the word with the cute little dollar signs in it...I wouldn't go there again if I were you.
How've you been doing???
Do you have a political office holder today today that you actually like?
Thanks, that made my day! I did spray my screen when I read it, however.
;-D
Lookie here, pahtnah. I'm a openly conservative and proud black man. If that is not taking and stance that has substance, NOTHING is.
Got it?
This stung me badly. I'll never never never vote third party again just to prove a point.
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