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At Conservative Forum on Bush, Everybody's a Critic
washingtonpost.com ^ | Wednesday, March 8, 2006 | Dana Milbank

Posted on 03/08/2006 7:08:13 AM PST by beeler

If the ancient political wisdom is correct that a charge unanswered is a charge agreed to, the Bush White House pleaded guilty yesterday at the Cato Institute to some extraordinary allegations.

"We did ask a few members of the Bush economic team to come," explained David Boaz, the think tank's executive vice president, as he moderated a discussion between two prominent conservatives about President Bush. "We didn't get that."

Now why would the administration pass up such an invitation?

Well, it could have been because of the first speaker, former Reagan aide Bruce Bartlett. Author of the new book "Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy," Bartlett called the administration "unconscionable," "irresponsible," "vindictive" and "inept."

It might also have had something to do with speaker No. 2, conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan. Author of the forthcoming "The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It; How to Get It Back," Sullivan called Bush "reckless" and "a socialist," and accused him of betraying "almost every principle conservatism has ever stood for."

Nor was moderator Boaz a voice of moderation. He blamed Bush for "a 48 percent increase in spending in just six years," a "federalization of public schools" and "the biggest entitlement since LBJ."

True, the small-government libertarians represented by Cato have always been the odd men out of the Bush coalition. But the standing-room-only forum yesterday, where just a single questioner offered even a tepid defense of the president, underscored some deep disillusionment among conservatives over Bush's big-spending answer to Medicare and Hurricane Katrina, his vast claims of executive power, and his handling of postwar Iraq.

Bartlett, who lost his job at the free-market National Center for Policy Analysis because of his book, said that if conservatives were honest, more would join his complaint.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bartlett; betrayal; bush; cato; christiansocialist; danamilbank; gop; lbjrepublican; libertarians; presidentbush; sullivan; washingtonpost
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To: beeler

True, the small-government libertarians represented by Cato have always been the odd men out of the Bush coalition.




Not even the 'bots can call Bush a small government conservative with any credibility.


181 posted on 03/08/2006 1:05:50 PM PST by trubluolyguy (Islam, Religion of Peace and they'll kill you to prove it.)
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To: stands2reason
You can sell conservatism.

I don't see any politico critters floggin' it, so they must not think it's the flavor of the times ...

Political animals of all stripes seem to think what sells is that "if elected, I can steal more of your neighbor's $$ and give to you than my opponent can ... "

182 posted on 03/08/2006 1:08:17 PM PST by Babu
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To: Blackirish

I want an outsider Yankee skinflint




Pro gay agenda, Pro abort, Anti gun.

No thank you.


183 posted on 03/08/2006 1:11:16 PM PST by trubluolyguy (Islam, Religion of Peace and they'll kill you to prove it.)
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To: Halgr

Are you saying that the supreme court is the only reason I should remain a party line republican????



That's what it sounded like to me.

Back on your knees, want some chapstick?

You should know that the Party Uber Alles.

Never put principle before power, power is all that matters.

(sarcasm)


184 posted on 03/08/2006 1:20:22 PM PST by trubluolyguy (Islam, Religion of Peace and they'll kill you to prove it.)
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To: trubluolyguy
To win the Repub primary he will move to the right on all these issues. I doubt he he'll be "pro " any of these.

You can always vote for Hillary though.
185 posted on 03/08/2006 1:25:44 PM PST by Blackirish (What kind of name is Plame anyway?)
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To: Blackirish

To win the Repub primary he will move to the right on all these issues. I doubt he he'll be "pro " any of these.




I refuse to vote for anyone that has to "move to the right" on anything to entice my vote. I know where he stands and I am not interested in election year repentance.

And the Hillary remark? In a race between two libs....I might just find that third party to vote for.


186 posted on 03/08/2006 1:29:09 PM PST by trubluolyguy (Islam, Religion of Peace and they'll kill you to prove it.)
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To: beeler

"It might also have had something to do with speaker No. 2, conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan. Author of the forthcoming "The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It; How to Get It Back," Sullivan called Bush "reckless" and "a socialist," and accused him of betraying "almost every principle conservatism has ever stood for.""

This character recommended on his blog that people vote for Kerry in the 2004 elections. He was unhappy about Bush's stance on homosexual marriage. Now, he wants us to believe that he is a "true conservative," eh?


187 posted on 03/08/2006 1:34:08 PM PST by indcons (The MSM - Mainstream Slime Merchants)
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To: beeler

Right.

I wouldn't call Bush a socialist. He's more of an internationalist.

When the Repubs nominated Bush for the first go-around, he was on shaky ground with the conservative wing, considering his pusillanimous father's record. He gave a good show in his first term as he needed us. Aside from Alito ( which was half-hearted and only under duress) and Roberts who was really good, he only gave the figurative finger.

We got stick with Gonzales, more invaders, a bogus border policy, a bogus "guest worker" plan, allowing Muslims to continue to infiltrate America, and even allowing our prots to be run by them.


188 posted on 03/08/2006 1:39:19 PM PST by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis, Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts, and guns made America great.)
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To: beeler
Yet more evidence of conservative disillusionment with the GOP thanks to Bush. We need a Reagan conservative in '08 or we're in serious trouble.

Okay, but Bush was supposed to be the Reaganite alternative in 2000. Certainly in contrast to McCain. Forbes and Keyes might have been more Reaganite, but they never stood a chance to win.

Once a politician is in the Washington loop, he's already a part of the system and not likely to challenge it. Governors are a safer bet for President than Senators: not only do they have proven administrative skills, they're also apt to be more independent.

Bush came to politics and the presidency a strange combination of outsider and insider. He was an outsider because he'd spent most of his life outside Washington and outside politics. That would have been a good thing. But his family connections made him an insider and he inherited some of his opinions from his father's advisors.

For 2008, a real outsider would be a good thing, but those are hard to find. Beware of Washingtonians who've cultivated the outsider pose without being really independent and beware of "outsiders" who get their ideas from the old gang of "insiders."

189 posted on 03/08/2006 1:47:57 PM PST by x
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To: beeler

The Cato Institute are clearly DU Trolls.


190 posted on 03/08/2006 2:00:54 PM PST by madconservative
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To: jackbenimble
"...and I am not hearing of any similar initiative movement this year that will bring out the conservative base."

Try illegal aliens.

191 posted on 03/08/2006 3:02:03 PM PST by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: ZULU

Internationalist?

Do you mean "Globalist"?

I've been voting republican since Nixon....I fell on my knees and thanked God when Reagan was elected. So I've seen how this country has creeped into socialism over the long haul.

I am sorry that many of my fellow conservatives follow Bush off the cliff like lemmings. Come tomorrow I will still vote republican but none of you will keep me from warning that America is going down the tube.

We are on the edge of Bankruptcy and the Fed just prints more green backs. Why? The dollar is no longer the world's currency? Why?

The Patriot Act is the greatest threat to the constitution ever...and some of you refuse to believe who was behind it.

The Arabs are still coming to America...the mexicans are still walking right in. (and who else)

Wake Up People!!


192 posted on 03/08/2006 3:10:49 PM PST by Halgr (Once a Marine, always a Marine - Semper Fi)
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To: Czar
Try illegal aliens.

I always go to the polls but if I didn't that issue would get me there. But if anything resembling the Sphinctor/Bush Gold Card Shamnesty passes, Republicans are taking a real gamble that the increased turnout would work out in their favor.

I suspect both of Wyoming's Republican Senators, being the Chamber of Commerce sock puppets that they are, will vote for shamnesty. One of them is up in 2006 and if he votes for shamnesty he will receive a punishment vote to the Dimocrat from me. I'll forgive him for his disgusting vote for Medicare Prescription Drugs but I'm non-negotiable on the illegal immigration issue.

193 posted on 03/08/2006 3:18:03 PM PST by jackbenimble (Import the third world, become the third world)
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To: Czar

"...and I am not hearing of any similar initiative movement this year that will bring out the conservative base."


Try illegal aliens.




Ok but who are the conservatives going to vote for?


194 posted on 03/08/2006 3:19:54 PM PST by trubluolyguy (Islam, Religion of Peace and they'll kill you to prove it.)
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To: beeler

Marking.


195 posted on 03/08/2006 3:22:08 PM PST by TAdams8591 (Small is the key!)
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To: beeler

Don't forget The "Gold Card" For Illegal Aliens.


196 posted on 03/08/2006 3:55:22 PM PST by VU4G10 (Have You Forgotten?)
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To: jackbenimble
"I suspect both of Wyoming's Republican Senators, being the Chamber of Commerce sock puppets that they are, will vote for shamnesty."

Here in California, we have the same problem. If I didn't have DiFi and Babs to deal with I'd be more sympathetic.

"I'll forgive him for his disgusting vote for Medicare Prescription..."

I don't know if I have that much forgiveness left.

197 posted on 03/08/2006 5:26:02 PM PST by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: trubluolyguy
"Ok but who are the conservatives going to vote for?"

Probably too early to tell; here in California, conservatives will be learning how to "no vote" certain offices. Governor, for example...

198 posted on 03/08/2006 5:31:34 PM PST by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: Blackirish
All I want is someone who will close the borders, balance the budget and keep their hands off of my guns. It'd be nice if they stop killing babies but that is going to have to happen at the state level.
199 posted on 03/08/2006 5:37:11 PM PST by RedStateRocker
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To: beeler

Exactly. The Libertarian party exists in la la land. The libertarian ethos is an important component of conservatism; in a vanity I'm working on I compare it to being half of the foundation of conservatism, the other half being the Judeo-Christian paradigm. Either by itself is not enough to run a constitutional republic on. Libertarians tend to run with conservatives more than with liberals because the most important underlying tenant is individual responsibility. It is unfortunate that the party has been hijacked by people who are more concerned with legalizing drugs rather than in terminating every Federal program that does not contribute to national security or interstate commerce.


200 posted on 03/08/2006 5:49:31 PM PST by RedStateRocker
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