Bush loses in Iowa

WND ^ | 1-21-04 | Joseph Farah

[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.

[Fledermaus]

Sometime between 1991 and now, Pat actually started to think his own writings were a new Bible.

I used to defend him against those that called him a Jew-hater, etc. I used to believe he was a true conservative.

But his own version of conservatism got in the way of his brain and he actually stepped off into the deep end of nutcase land.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The happy fella in the hat is yours truly! :)

[onyx]

I used to adore Pat when he fought the good fight on Crossfire. I even subscribed to an out of town paper just to read his column.

I ceased "adoring" him after he went after #41, and I grew to despise him when he went 3rd Party like a spoiled brat who merely wanted to pontificate during the presidential debates.

At present, I find him embarrassing and bitter.

[onyx]

Well all right! I thought it might be you. :)

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

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.

Couldn't happen to a nicer socialist...

[BigSkyFreeper]

I've never watched Buchanan & Press, but I've seen him on occasion on Scarborough Country, and the most recent was the immigration issue. He was of the mindset that we should stage sharpshooters on the border and shoot those on sight. I'm like "MY GOD!"

[Texasforever]

Couldn't happen to a nicer socialist...

lol Well 1/3 of your name makes sense.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

But the only exception would be if Nader jumped into the fray

Last I knew, Nader had announced he's running. Did something change?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Well, he did announce some weeks back he was in the "exploratory committee" stage. SO, I guess one could believe that pretty much certifies he's going to run.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

He's a man of his word

Ask the Republicans of Nevada how he keeps his word. The lawsuit is being heard as we speak.

[leadpenny]

Ouch!

[ETERNAL WARMING]

then rub his face in it good and hard so he never forgets, is my motto! Blackbird.

LOL From your lips to God's ears.

[onyx]

You're just full of generalities aren't you? Let me guess: a friend told you. Nevermind.

[Texasforever]

She talks to dead people.

[onyx]

IT is a she? Ha! She not only talks to dead people, she's a corpse herself.

[BigSkyFreeper]

As long as Harry Reid gets impeached. The guy is a certified creep.

[CWOJackson]

"...till November, then rub his face in it good and hard so he never forgets, is my motto! Blackbird."

Hey, I want that quote bumped as often as possible. Blackbird just summed up the whole political agenda for that group of people.

They don't care about this country or what would happen to it with Kerry in the White House. They don't care whether the Supreme Court gets stacked with pro-abortion justices for the next 20 years.

This is all about political grudges and personal pay back.

That needs to be exposed to the light of day often.

[BigSkyFreeper]

"...then rub his face in it good and hard so he never forgets, is my motto!"

Yeah, it's all about Conservative principles /sarcasm

[BigSkyFreeper]

Yep. It's the "pumped up ego, chest beating Pat Buchanan" "My Conservatism is greater than yours" mentality settling in.

[CWOJackson]

If people think that our only opponent is the democratic candidate they are fooling themselves. Democrats do pretend to be anything but liberal.

Those who admit their agenda is to rub America's face in it come November aren't on our side and they aren't conservative.