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Bush loses in Iowa
WND ^ | 1-21-04 | Joseph Farah

Posted on 01/20/2004 10:41:23 PM PST by JustPiper

The big loser in the Democratic presidential caucuses in Iowa wasn't Howard Dean. It wasn't Dick Gephardt. It wasn't even Al Sharpton who managed to attract about .5 percent of the vote.

The big loser was George W. Bush.

Only one thing can explain the bizarre positions taken by the White House before this week – an overconfidence that President Bush would be facing Howard Dean in his re-election bid this November. Karl Rove's polling must have made the president's political advisers so cocky about the race that they felt invulnerable.

What else could explain the president doing the following:

proposing a politically unpopular amnesty program for illegal aliens;

raising spending on domestic programs by bigger percentages than any of his predecessors, including Democrats;

proposing a vague manned mission to Mars without providing even the least compelling reasons, goals and objectives?

Bush has made many other mistakes in his term, but these whoppers are very recent gaffes made leading up to an election year.

Iowa should provide a wakeup call.

Instead of facing an angry Democrat out of touch with mainstream American values and temperament, Bush may well be facing a seasoned, smooth, mature political pro in John Kerry.

I wonder if he is up to that challenge.

How about a Kerry-Edwards ticket?

I believe if the election took place today, that ticket would have an excellent chance of beating Bush.

I say this as a dispassionate observer, a political analyst. I will not vote for either Bush or Kerry, or any other Democrat seeking the nomination.

But I think it's worth noting we are witnessing the self-destruction of a president – much like his own father self-destructed politically when he broke his "read my lips" pledge.

The latest polls show Bush in a tight race for re-election even before it's clear who his opponent might be.

As a result, Bush finds himself in a statistical dead heat with the opposition nine months before the election. When matched against an unknown Democratic presidential candidate, Bush squeaks out a 48 percent to 46 percent victory. On the question of who is most trusted to handle the nation's major problems, Bush is virtually even with Democrats, ahead 45 percent to 44 percent – down from an 18-point advantage Bush enjoyed nine months ago.

Americans think the Democrats would do a better job on domestic issues – the economy, prescription drugs for the elderly, health insurance, Medicare, the budget deficit, immigration, even taxes.

And why shouldn't they?

Here's the way this presidential race is shaping up: Bush will propose spending $18 billion fighting AIDS in other countries. The Democrat will up the ante to $25 billion.

Bush will propose spending 10 percent more on domestic giveaway programs. The Democrat will up the ante to 20 percent.

If it is conceded that more spending is good, a Republican will lose every single time.

And that's just what Bush has conceded with his phony, so-called "compassionate conservatism," that is really no more than old-fashioned tax-and-spend liberalism.

Bush gained no advantage with the public for his prescription-drug plan. He gained no ground with his bid to legalize millions of illegal aliens. He gained nothing from his attempt at inspiring Americans to join a new space program with a goal of a manned Mars landing. And his domestic spending increases, under attack by his own Republican base, have not served to win new independent or Democrat voters.

In fact, a CBS News poll showed similar drops for Bush support – notably over his plans on immigration.

If Bush were deliberately throwing this election, he couldn't do a more masterful job of losing votes, breaking bonds with his constituency and losing touch with his base.

If ever there was a time for a third party to emerge with some alternative ideas, 2004 is it.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; constitutionparty; farah; gwb2004; iowa; josephfarah; mars; mojoashonasecret; presidentbush; rove; spending; thirdparty
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To: Byron_the_Aussie
The immigration proposal is not a vote getting strategy and it is an issue that will be forgotten in a couple of weeks outside of the usual suspects. This election, as crass as it is to say, is going to be won on whom the Americans trust and like. Bush wins that one hands down so far and I see no democrat on the scene that can compete in that arena.
121 posted on 01/21/2004 12:14:06 AM PST by Texasforever
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To: bluefish

that (a 3rd party) is not an "alternative" as you put it. That is simply throwing in the towel.

A conservative voting for a liberal, just because the liberal has an "R" after his name on the ballot, is throwing in the towel.

Voting for the best conservative, even though his chances of winning are small, is a sure sign of someone who believes that there is still a chance for conservatism, albeit a small one.

 

122 posted on 01/21/2004 12:14:23 AM PST by Action-America (Best President: Reagan * Worst President: Klinton * Worst GOP President: Dubya)
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To: Texasforever
Yep. But the only exception would be if Nader jumped into the fray. He's so far off the left end, he may manage to make some Deaniacs bail.
123 posted on 01/21/2004 12:14:36 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper (All Our Base Belong To Dubya)
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To: k2blader
I think the former Prez Bush could've won had he not committed that unfortunate "Read my lips" gaffe.

I agree. G.H.W. Bush was held accountable for his actions.

Unfortunately I didn't know the other ways he betrayed conservatives (e.g. pro-abortion spending, other deficit spending, etc...), and I wish I had known that there were conservative options like Howard Phillips so I could have voted to hold the presidency accountable and support a candidate whose positions represented me on key issues such as the right to life, national sovereignty, and income tax relief.

124 posted on 01/21/2004 12:14:45 AM PST by The_Eaglet (Conservative chat on IRC: http://searchirc.com/search.php?F=exact&T=chan&N=33&I=conservative)
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To: k2blader
I agree, and even my grandmother (a dyed-in-wool FDR Democrat) said that.
125 posted on 01/21/2004 12:15:25 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper (All Our Base Belong To Dubya)
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To: gatorbait
I know Perot.You made a wise decision.
126 posted on 01/21/2004 12:16:06 AM PST by MEG33
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To: k2blader
Yes he would have. All he had to do was use the Gipper's "revenue enhancers" dodge when he raised taxes twice as high as Bush 1. Bush's problem was calling a spade a spade. "Conservatives" hate that.
127 posted on 01/21/2004 12:16:45 AM PST by Texasforever
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To: Hon
Joe Farah and his 15 year old talking dog have told me so!

Woof! Woof!

Hey Joe, says the 15 year old dog, stop mocking me!

128 posted on 01/21/2004 12:17:51 AM PST by EGPWS
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
LMAO! It worked fine Ernie. The Edwards' one is my favorite.
129 posted on 01/21/2004 12:18:37 AM PST by onyx (Your secrets are safe with me and all my friends.)
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To: Texasforever
"This election, as crass as it is to say, is going to be won on whom the Americans trust and like."

Which gets to the core of the issue...that a handful of malcontents that call themselves conservative hate President Bush to the point that they want him to loose the election...regardless of the consequences.

130 posted on 01/21/2004 12:19:21 AM PST by CWOJackson
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To: JustPiper
Joe Farah never liked President Bush and won't vote for his re-election. Nevertheless, I think he's right Bush could lose if he's perceived as a Democrat Lite on spending and on amnesty for illegal aliens. If he doesn't rein in spending and stop pushing for handouts for illegal aliens, he could lose to a Democrat other than Nikita Dean in November. Especially if the Democratic nominee is John Edwards. Personally, I think the election is still Bush's to lose and the real point of Farah's editorial is the President should stop taking the conservative base for granted. While its true we have nowhere to go, it doesn't necessarily mean we'll turn out for this President. I hope that won't be the case since the man has fine qualities but he needs to get the grassroots involved to secure a second term mandate this fall. 'Nuff said.
131 posted on 01/21/2004 12:19:53 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: JustPiper
To those who wish for a third party candidate, I can't say that I would not wish for the same thing. Bush is like Nixon, but I don't think that the people are going to be fooled again. Nixon was left of conservative. Bush has been acting even further left than that. If this trend continues, I am afraid for the Republic.
132 posted on 01/21/2004 12:21:15 AM PST by jaugust (Old Curmudgeon)
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To: MEG33
Perot's whole charade was glaringly obvious. Do you recall the attacks Limbaugh endured from the Perotistas?
133 posted on 01/21/2004 12:21:22 AM PST by gatorbait (Yesterday, today and tomorrow......The United States Army)
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To: onyx
Good!!!

134 posted on 01/21/2004 12:21:26 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Ha! That was too funny!
135 posted on 01/21/2004 12:22:07 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper (All Our Base Belong To Dubya)
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To: BigSkyFreeper
LOL! I didn't mean to sound so bossy. I almost added (and I should have) that several of us have the Bush-Bot on our respective pages. LOL!
136 posted on 01/21/2004 12:22:11 AM PST by onyx (Your secrets are safe with me and all my friends.)
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To: BigSkyFreeper
The democrats are quickly making the same mistake the GOP did in pandering to the most extreme elements. They will have the same results. I am convinced that Dean will not go quietly. He is sitting on a ton of money and a core of supporters that would make a run as an independent almost irresistible. He has already ruined any future he had in the DNC by his full frontal assault so he has everything to gain and nothing to lose. Should he get the nomination though my prediction for Bush goes up to Reagan /Mondale landslide proportions. Bush really is in the political “sweet spot” right now.
137 posted on 01/21/2004 12:22:15 AM PST by Texasforever
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To: gatorbait
Rush was attacked by conservatives for endorsing Bill Clinton. People were taken aback and wondered if Rush lost his mental marbles! It turned out he was trying to make a point about how easily people get taken in and boy, did people get suckered by Clinton. Hopefully, things are different this time around.
138 posted on 01/21/2004 12:23:44 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: onyx
That's ok, I been meaning to add something to my page besides:

Hello World!

LOL

139 posted on 01/21/2004 12:24:07 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper (All Our Base Belong To Dubya)
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To: gatorbait
Perot hated the Bush family to the point that he did everything he could to give the White House to the democrats...he put personal hatred over the nation.

Some thing with pat buchanan. buchanan has hated the Bush family almost as long...to the point where he actively campaigned against Bush in the tight states last election.

Neither man is conservative...they are simply angry, petty old men.

140 posted on 01/21/2004 12:24:17 AM PST by CWOJackson
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