[tanknetter]

Exactly ... Reagan made tactical moves/concessions on "lesser" issues to gain support for the "big" issues (destroying Soviet Communism being at the top of the list).

In many respects, I see "Senor Jorge Arbusto" emulating this. The biggest current issue out there right now is the war against Islamist extremism (aka the GWOT). The biggest long-term issue out there is the direction/makeup of the Judiciary and SCOTUS. Concessions on spending and immigration are for Bush exactly what they were for Reagan ... tactical maneuvers.

Allowing the Dems to control one (let alone BOTH) Houses of Congress would be disasterous ... if only for what the inevitable investigations (backed by subpoena power) would do to the GWOT. Beyond that, while we all know what control of the Senate would allow Dems to do to Bush Judicial nominees, it's also probable that a win in the House alone would make a continuing Dem Senate minority all the more intransigent (as well as giving aid/comfort to the Senate RINOS/Gang of 14 members).

[Badray]

Your preceptions are opposite mine.

Jorge has failed on these huge issues:

CFR -- He did a Kerry. He said he opposed it then signed it.
The borders -- He refuses to do anything.

Spending -- Worse than a fleet of drunken democrat sailors.

Education -- Giving into Kennedy and the left to greatly increase their role and their budget.

Judges (He really tried to screw that up, but we were able to stop him. Twice. He also wanted Gonzalez on SCOTUS. We forced him to do the right thing with Alito (hopefully), but we had to FORCE him. Clinton was easier to force to do the right thing by a strong House.

Specter -- He could have stayed out of the primary and Specter would be history. Instead, he is a constant thorn.

PATRIOT Act -- This is being used to justify all sorts of intrusions into our lives and for ordinary criminal cases and civil matters. It was supposed to protect us from terrorists. But now, even Cuban freedom fighters -- who fought on our side at the Bay of Pigs -- are considered terrorists because their activity was illegal under Cuban law. This law would have our Founders locked up or barred from the country they made possible for us. Had Clinton tried to get this through, he would have been pilloried. We applauded Jorge for imposing it on us.

There are not minor issues that can be used as throwaways and he's guilty on all counts.