Posted on 11/29/2003 6:16:23 PM PST by Republican Challenger
I am a nationally published journalist who has been drafted to challenge George W. Bush in the Republican Presidential primaries, beginning in New Hampshire on January 27. My aim is to prompt legitimate debate and genuine new ideas, but I start with a question:
HAS GEORGE W. BUSH BETRAYED TRADITIONAL GOP VALUES?
He has failed in his promise to control spending. Nondefense spending has skyrocketed under Bush. The Congressional Budget Office reported that for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, nondefense spending rose 7% – nearly double the 4% discretionary spending caps Bush promised to enforce (Source: Washington Times). Since Bush took office, nondefense spending has leapt 13% -- 21% if spending on the war on terrorism is included. “My impression of Bush,” says Chris Edwards, director of fiscal policy at the libertarian Cato Institute, “is that I’ve never seen him give a speech in which he says government is too big and we need to cut costs.”
He has failed in his promise to keep America strong. Under Bush, U.S. foreign policy and international esteem have reached historic lows. After spending hundreds of billions of dollars since 9/11, the Bush administration has failed to catch Osama bin Laden, failed to find Saddam Hussein, failed to defeat Al Qaeda, and failed to stabilize Iraq after an invasion that his own Pentagon policy adviser, Richard Perle, now admits was “illegal.” As a result, the geopolitical balance of power has been jolted, traditional allies have been severely alienated, and as a result, the European Union – led by Great Britain – is now conducting secret talks about the formation of an EU military force outside NATO.
He has failed in his promise to be a “compassionate conservative.” Perhaps never before has a U.S. President so divided the country, according to a recent Time cover story. Despite Bush’s promise to be “a uniter, not a divider,” he has turned Republican against Democrat, rich against poor, Christian against Muslim. He has eroded our civil liberties and Constitutional rights in the name of “national security” and aided and abetted a corporate elite class in the theft of the Republican Party and the two-century-old values that made it the Party of Lincoln. “Corporations have been enthroned,” Lincoln said presciently before he died. “…An era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people…until wealth is aggregated in a few hands…and the Republic is destroyed.” Under Bush, Lincoln’s ominous – and accurate – prediction might find its final manifestation unless he and the “neo-con” corporate juggernaut are stopped.
DO YOU AGREE? Please let me know your thoughts. There will be more to come from me, including a detailed platform and agenda for ending the corporate reign in this country, shrinking the federal bureaucracy, and restoring Constitutional freedoms to pre-9/11 levels. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your comments and questions.
I'll go you one better Torie.
Hey Buchanan, were you Al Gore in a previous political incarnation?
Ain't no such thing.
Wow, you are even better than Rush Limbaugh, who only claims a 98% accuracy rate. At least you have the hubris bit down in running for office.
Sorry, we seem to have cross-posted. I see you did answer part of my question.
Now, for the second part: Would you do these things by executive order, or law? If by law, how would you obtain the cooperation of Congress in passing these laws? I think it is fairly obvious that Congress has a vested interest in not passing this sort of law.
Thank you for asking. IMHO what is neccessary is legislation that eliminate media profiteering, ie. it would prohibit those who "have long careers as journalists" from running for office.
BTW, in your long career as a journalist, you do know the difference between the word band and ban?
It seems to be made up of discontented and banned FReepers.
You are a dickweed.
Gotcha. At least they did not join Du-h.
I've already called the Queen on you.
Next call....Ashcroft.
Muwahahahaha
Ya, we have a rather well known ex poster who is fond of that terminology, including his choice of letters in spelling out words. I assume you have the "gift" in seeing the "truth" that eludes the noisome sans culotte.
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