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.
How would you have reacted if Bill Clinton had signed the Patriot Act into law and given the government sweeping new surveillance powers?
I think that depends. If in peacetime, I would have been apprehensive. In wartime, maybe I would have supported him IF he had stepped up to the plate and decided to defend the country. Since we don't know the answer to that, I can only go with what is given. Ashcroft has long ben a respected conservative, and I trust President Bush. I don't feel threatened by the Patriot Act, and I am not upset about it.
Would you have criticized a Democrat president for signing a $26 billion education-spending bill?
Yes, I would have criticized a democrat for signing this bill. I am not nuts about it when a Republican supports and signs it. However, this is what the President campaigned on, so I was not surprised. I do not think it will work the way it was intended, but it is signed and that battle is over.
Did you feel betrayed when Bush signed Campaign Finance Reform into law?
Betrayed? No. I understand why he signed it. I thought he would veto it, but understand why he did not. Whether his decision was correct or not lies in the hands of the Supreme Court.
What do you think about Bush's position on granting amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants?I do not oppose giving amnesty to those who are in this country illegally because the INS has dithered on getting their paperwork approved. I oppose a blanket amnesty. I see no evidence that the amnesty President Bush supports will be the disaster that so many are insisting it is.
Would you have tolerated a Democrat proposal for federally funded faith-based initiatives?
I support 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, you think people should pay more? This is a silly objection, since the one-third figure was a rhetorical device used to show how ridiculous the INCREASES the democrats want are. You will notice that President Bush has often spoken of the flat tax in Russia. Why aren't you talking about that?
What do you think about the president's granting of Permanent Most Favored Nation status to China?
Since China has been granted MFN they have been admitted to the WTO, they have not been doing so great. I think this was perhaps a shrewd move, since China cannot compete on a level playing field.
What's the difference between Bush and the Democrats on the issue of farm subsidies?
There is no difference, nor is here a difference between President Bush and President Reagan. All presidents sign farm bills, according to Dan Quayle on Fox a couple of nights ago.
How would you react if a Democrat president sent a $2.13 trillion budget to Congress?
How would I react? Well, if we were at war I might react the same way I am reacting now. I presume that the military funding, as well as the expansion in funding for DOJ and Homeland Security, are investments in the safety of the country. I am not upset about the budget at all.
Would you have stood for a Democrat saying "No!" to arming airline pilots?
I fail to see how arming airline pilots would guarantee safety. I do not object to it, but neither do I conside it a solution. This is an issue I simply have no opinion on.
What would your reaction have been if a Democrat had pushed for the federalization of airport security?
President Bush acquiesced to the federalization of airport security because the bill passed right after 9/11. It is pretty difficult to say we need all this security and intelligence, and then turn around and veto that bill. In my opinion, signing this was a necessary political decision.
Are you willing to stand by and let the Bush administration cater to the environmentalists on the global warming issue?
Despite what you may think, Bush is NOT catering to the environmentalists. I suggest you do more reading in this area.
What do you think about Bush's call for a Patient's Bill of Rights? There is nothing wrong with a Patient's Bill of Rights, as long as it does not involve taking over the medical industry. A codified statement on this issue is not a bad idea.
What one thing has Bush done that sets him apart from the Democrats?
Off-hand, I can think of three: his attitude toward the UN (including refusing funding for overseas abortions), his defense issues, including missile defense and increased funding for the troops, and his stand for the dignity of life. I could also include tax cuts, a comprehensive energy plan, and the respect he shows the office and the American people by his dignity and grace.
I hope I have answered your questions. Stop listening to talk radio for a few days and you will be in a better mood.
What happens if we get control of the Senate and Bush continues his compromising ways? What then?
Or even worse, what happens if we don't get the Senate back and Bush's supposed plan backfires? Then we'll be left with a demo Senate and a bunch of liberal legislation which the President signed this past year.
Bottom line: do you think it is unfair to hold our President's feet to the fire for siging CFR, the Farm Bill, extending unemployment benefits, food stamps for immigrants, etc...? Not one of those things (and many others which I didn't list) is in the least bit conservative. Not even close.
Granted, some of the Bush critics are acting a little over the top, but within many of those rants are reasonable questions which need to be addressed.
Supporting our President is wonderful, but blind unbending loyalty is just wrong, IMO.
The democRATs love to see Pubbies bashing each other. That's why the media always reports when anyone (like RUSH) says that GWB isn't conservative enough.
We should all concentrate on getting control of both the House & Senate so that a more conservative agenda can be enacted! The only way Judical nominations will get to the Courts is by gaining control of the Senate....until then GWB is doing the best he can given the reality of the situation!
Oh well, this has been hashed and rehashed. I don't expect the solution will present itself tonight... Feel free to have the last word.
If it is Republican passed legislation then I would hope he "compromises" and signs it. Get it?
"Thanks Kreskin."
Well, the reason I say that is I don't know which party are the best thiefs. That's what it's come down to.
Reagan knew his priorities. We spent too much, but Luis ... I have somehow avoided rummaging through dumpsters for my meals. And we are free, and the Wall is down. The Soviet Union is NO MORE. Ronnie did good.
Bush has the next challenge. With God's blessing, he'll be up to the task. We'll root the evil of Islamism from every source, we'll take some losses and we'll destroy or enemies. But, how will we survive not being blanket spammed with NRA literature in the last 30 days of a campaign?
Let's rank our enemies to American freedom and life ... is it Osama first, then the CFR bill, then Saddam's chemical weapons? Or is it Saddam's suitcase nukes, then the 245i Amnesty outrage, then Al Qaida's murderous American sleepers? Where's Abe Lincoln in this mix?
So much seige, Luis.
I didn't say that. But do you believe the Nomination Process was completely Aboveboard?
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