ZOT! Can there be a serious challenge to Bush in the GOP primaries?

John Buchanan is a journalist and magazine writer based in Miami Beach ^ | november 29, 2003 | john buchanan

[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.

[Revolting cat!]

Eddie Van Halen!

[dcwusmc]

Despite the naysayers, you have a LOT of truth in your article. I wish you God-speed as you run. Perhaps it's time for someone to point out that the emperor is, in fact, naked. (And, sad to say, "emperor" seems to be the right word, even though we elected him ONLY as President of these United States...)

[Slings and Arrows]

So to say that there are "secret talks" about an EU military force is BS. The talks have been very much out in the open, and it's likely that their "rapid-reaction force" will be more than subservient to NATO.

Ha! They'll be soundly thrashed by the Free Republic Rapid Reaction Force!

[Sofa King]

"I'll do you one better. Privatize it. The Postal Service is loaded with inefficiencies, and would work much better if we privatized it, at least partially."

Ever heard of UPS?

[gcruse]

A hit and run post? If you won't hang around to answer the questions, why would anyone vote to have you run the country?

[dcwusmc]

You're THAT insecure about Dubya??? If so, I can understand why you're afraid of dissent. Too bad, so sad.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

1) Limit school testing.
2) Guarantee college level education.
3) Guarantee healthcare and medicine.
4) Guarantee a secure retirement.

And he is criticizing BUSH? W isn't as conservative as I like but this guy is a blooming DemocRAT!

[Cultural Jihad]

Drafted by socialist George Soros?

[Old Sarge]

I smell OZONE...

[dts32041]

And your problem with this is?

[gcruse]

People who feel compelled to issue their IQs would have been shocked at what a lousy president Bobby Fischer would have made.

[Uncle Miltie]

Q: Can there be a serious challenge to Bush in the GOP primaries?

A: No.

Q: HAS GEORGE W. BUSH BETRAYED TRADITIONAL GOP VALUES?

A: Yes.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Do you like sunsets and warm puppies?

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Hit and run is a punishable offense.

[Torie]

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.

Whatever. The Britain secret talk thingie is a real mouthful. Britain has cast its lot with the US last time I checked. If only we could find a president where every worthy goal was instantly achieved. That at least would sate the appetite of too many Americans for instant gratification. The amazing thing though is that a higher percentage of Americans are willing to forego that than most of Continental Europe. That in part, is why they are who they are, and we are who we are. Vive la difference.

I DO agree by the way that the geopolitical balance of power has been jolted under Bush. Some, including myself, view that as a good thing, not a bad thing.

[rovenstinez]

Republican Challenger- IS THAT YOU SLICK WILLIE?