Heaven knows, I have my problems with Bush, especially on his allowing the alien invasion from Mexico to go on.
But what were the alternatives - Ozone alGore or traitorous John Kerry???? Both would open the borders full bore and give illegals more rights that real Americans. and both would have increased taxes AND spending.
Until there's a better alternative to Bush that is FEASIBLE, conservatives have to settle for the half-a-loaf we get judicial appointments, tax cuts, etc.
This is where I find myself, also. It's a pragmatic approach. It's understanding the realities of politics -- you're not going to get everything you want, there's a lot of compromise.
He's still my President, and I'll still support him. But I will make my extreme discontent on many issues known, especially through the representatives that I vote to send to Washington. I'd love to have so much more, and the old carrot that used to get dangled in front of us ("if you'll put Republicans in power in the White House and Congress, you'll see conservative ideas advanced") has now gotten into our mouths, and doesn't taste anything like we were expecting. It's somewhat bitter, and disappointing -- but still better than the alternative ('Rats in power).
So, Bush is good because Gore and Kerry are bad? The converse is why many voted for Kerry: Kerry is good because Bush is bad.
Until there's a better alternative to Bush that is FEASIBLE, conservatives have to settle for the half-a-loaf we get judicial appointments, tax cuts, etc.
More like one-twentieth of a loaf. With it we also get runaway spending (and I better not get the old "Congress spends the money line"; yes, they do, but the president either approves of it or a 2/3 majority overrules him; Bush, however, never met a spending bill he didn't like). Tax cuts mean very little without spending cuts. We need both. He has done little/nothing for conservatives in the social realm and has caved in to the liberals often enough. The list goes on.
The Republicans amaze me. They bill themselves as conservatives when the liberal agenda runs the country amuck, but when they get in office, they pander to the people they beat and start acting a lot like them. Do you want a truly conservative government? Here's what needs to happen: conservatives need to vote conservative. If this leads to a momentary liberal take over, fine. Liberals will put the country in a downward spiral and after they do, people will listen (think Reagan following Jimmy Carter). If the Republicans run liberals, vote third-party or stay home. The bloody nose they get in that election will make them come to their senses.