[Pest]

Where is the "philosophy" in that other than grubbing for votes and money?

It seems like GW has his own "philosophy" and that is the philosophy of "compassionate conservatism". He is more liberal or centrist on some domestic issues (such as education, health care, etc.), but rather right-wing on foreign policy issues.

Unfortunately, I don't think a hard-core conservative could get elected in today's climate. In fact, I don't think the majority of the people in the U.S. want a hard-core conservative as president. This may come off as socialist, but I really think that with the prosperity of the U.S. right now, most people don't mind the additional government programs. (I'm not one of them.)

[Austin Willard Wright]

Well, we disgaree. I don't think there is any "there, there," compassionate or otherwise. What does a pork-barrel, farm, transportation, and tariff bill have to do with compassion (even in a philosophical sense) anyway?

[Austin Willard Wright]

As to getting elected, the jury is out on that, but I were a betting man, I would bet on a Kerry win in November. Dubya's "compassionate conservatism" is no guarantee of success. He almost lost, after all, the 2000 election running under that banner.