Rumbling on the Hard-Right

The Washington Times ^ | December 30, 2003 | Stephen Dinan

[GunsareOK]

President Bush is beginning to anger certain hard-line conservatives, particularly over fiscal issues, the way his father did in the year before he lost to Bill Clinton in 1992.

It's not clear how deep the dissatisfaction goes, and whether it will translate to damage at the polls in November.

[Once-Ler]

In a nutshell: "The far right old school exremists are irrelevant and will be ignored, because we do not need them. And ANY DEBATE OR RECOGNITION of their CONCERNS can only lead to problems, so screw them." Any questions now?

Sounds like a winning strategery to me. It is about time the RNC figured out the lesson of Barry Goldwater...that winning one far right fringe pseudo-con vote will always cost 3 centrist votes.

[Once-Ler]

Tell us what a wonderful "conservative" the president is when it comes to 'gun control.'

From a liberal website

http://pearlyabraham.tripod.com/htmls/myth-bush.html

Bush sides with the NRA and against law enforcement on every major gun safety measure including closing the gun show loophole, concealed weapons, and mandatory child safety locks.

Concealed Weapons : Bush Signed NRA-backed Concealed Gun Bill. In 1995, Bush signed an NRA-backed bill to allow private citizens to carry concealed handguns in Texas, ending a 125-year ban on concealed weapons. [ Dallas Morning News, 5/27/95; Oil and Gas Journal, 6/19/95 ]

Bush Signed Bill Allowing Guns In Churches : In 1997, Bush signed a bill that allowed Texans to bring their guns into churches and synagogues unless a sign specifically barred them from doing so. [ Texas HB2909, 75th Legislature, www.capitol.state.tx.us; Legislative History, Texas HB2909, 75th Legislature, www.capitol.state.tx.us ]

Gun Shows : Bush Bowed to NRA, Failed to Lead on Background Checks Legislation . Bush claimed to support background check requirements for unlicensed dealers at gun shows, but declined to assist the passage of a state bill on that very issue. Bush claimed the federal government should solve the gun show problem, but only endorsed an NRA-supported, loophole-filled amendment. [ Houston Chronicle, 4/27/99; Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5/22/99 ]

Texas Leads the Nation in Number of Guns Shows. Under Bush, Texas offered convicted felons more opportunities to purchase guns than any other state in the country through a loophole that allows people to purchase guns at gun shows with no background check. Texas led the country with 472 gun shows in 1998 -- 222 more shows than the state in second place. [ San Antonio Express-News, 3/18/99, 4/14/99; South Bend Tribune, 2/18/99 ]

Child Safety : Bush Opposes Mandatory Child Safety Locks. Bush opposes mandatory gun safety locks -- instead he thinks the locks should still be voluntary. [ Christian Science Monitor, 5/13/99 ]

Texas Received "D" in Protecting Kids from Guns. Texas received a "D" -- the sixth worst grade in the nation -- from Handgun Control, Inc. for failing to pass laws to protect kids from guns. The national gun-control group cited Texas?failure to prohibit juveniles from owning handguns, as well as the state’s prohibition of municipal laws that are stricter than state law. [ Houston Chronicle, 9/15/98 ]

Special Rights for Gun Makers : Bush Signed NRA-Backed Bill Giving Gun Manufacturers Special Rights. In 1999, Bush signed legislation -- called the "gun lobby’s top priority" -- that gives gun makers special protection from being held liable for the design and marketing of their products. [ New York Times, 6/20/99; Associated Press, 5/19/99; Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5/18/99

You have already blamed Dubya for something he hasn't done (extended the AWB.) Here is what Dubya has done in support of the 2nd amendment. You now know that you are ignorant.

It is too easy to refute the right fringe pseudo-cons

[Once-Ler]

As I read this thread and the dialogue with T. Dawg it's very reminiscient of the arguments Mike And Gloria had with Archie Bunker that usually ended up with them walking off, hands in the air, screaming... AAAAAAHHHHHHH!

How bizarre...I was just thinking how some of the anti-immigrant far right fringe pseudo-cons sound like Archie Bunker saying "Nope I'm not anti-mexican I just think they would be happier amongst their own people and so would I."

[PGalt]

Welcome aboard

[MEG33]

I sadly agree with you about Bush 1.I remember being distressed because he wasn't fighting for his re election.I voted for him but I was puzzled because he didn't seem to want it bad enough.

[foreverfree]

bump

[Flyer]

United We Stand

[tbpiper]

Give me a better choice for this election.

[tbpiper]

P.S. One last thing...

Even the best can make stupid decisions. In this election, voting for anyone other than Bush is stupid.

[Zipporah]

..think what you will.. apparently you've decided to pigeon hole everyone who believes conservatism is wrong headed.. which I do.. the lines have been so blurred by the neocons that if you say you are a 'conservative' there is no distinction.. if you examine the definition of the,,,, prefix paleo-

paleo- Function: combining form
Etymology: Greek palai-, palaio- ancient, from palaios,
from palai long ago; probably akin to Greek tEle far off, Sanskrit carama last
1 : involving or dealing with ancient forms or conditions
2 : early : primitive : archaic

....you will see from where I take my position.

[Zipporah]

"I do think that the paleo faction (don't know what else to call y'all) puts all its bets on that one line, is on a hair trigger and will go to the wall over one deviation,..

I for one, do not 'put all bets on one line' unless that line is the Constitution. "Politics is compromise." My question, how far, may I ask, is one willing to compromise before drawing the 'line'? I'm not a fool in believing that a candidate must agree with every jot and tittle .. but there is a point at which one must say, enough.

A quote from the Two Towers:

Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn't. Because they were holding on to something.
Frodo: What are we holding on to Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo and it's worth fighting for.

Those that are willing to compromise on some things are not willing to defend our civilization from its enemies because they do not believe we have anything worth defending. I do believe we have something worth defending.. and it's the very principals that our nation was founded upon, on that, I will not compromise.

[aristeides]

Clinton's victory in '92 was arranged by the powers that be. Bush I wouldn't have been able to get NAFTA and GATT through the Democratic Congress. Clinton accomplished just that.

[Publius Maximus]

Absolutely false: Taxes. He cut them.

That's one half fiscal conservatism, namely, the easy half. The hard part is simulaneously restraining spending. Here he hasn't even tried to appear responsible. Even libs like Gephardt and Kerry have talking points here, that's how bad it is.

[Publius Maximus]

Tell that to the burned children in Waco...the tortured soldiers in Mogadeshu...and the 3,000 crushed in New York City. It is too easy to refute the right fringe pseudo-cons

Obviously I was referring specifically to the party's 40 year wandering in the wilderness of minority status. Had Bush I been re-elected, I really doubt we'd be in majority today. Clinton put the electorate in a moody to alter the composition of congress radically.

[RinaseaofDs]

I guess I did err in one respect.

I should have said "No RATIONAL liberal can look at the last four years and be all that unhappy." Perhaps even that statement has no basis in reality, as there are few rational liberals.

My point remains valid, however, in that GWB has accomplished more of the left's agenda in the last three years than Ted Kennedy has in his entire career. Bold statement, but if you look at the record, you'll find that it is a true statement.

[GunsareOK]

Perhaps someone who has Bush's ear will point out his many actions that have disturbed a large number of conservatives, not just me.

I have no expectation that Bush or any other office holder will do EVERYTHING that I want. But I do expect that office holder to do what I believe is right on what I consider the crucial issues. If not, I'll vote for someone else.

I would think that the RINOs would be pleased with Bush's middle-of-the road (or left of middle) domestic policies.

[GunsareOK]

It would appear that you are no speller/writer and are in a dubious position to assess my understanding of politics or of anything else.

[aristeides]

My point remains valid, however, in that GWB has accomplished more of the left's agenda in the last three years than Ted Kennedy has in his entire career. Bold statement, but if you look at the record, you'll find that it is a true statement.

It was true of Richard Nixon too. He accomplished an awful lot of the liberal agenda. And the liberals, strangely, hated him too.

[GunsareOK]

Let me be perfectly clear. I DO NOT think Dean would be better for the country. One paragraph of the article stated that as a hypothetical situation.

I think that Alan Keyes, Howard Phillips, or Tom Tancredo might be better for the country. Whether or not they can be elected is another very legitimate question.