Bush's Base Betrayal

The Washington Post ^ | Sunday, May 21, 2006 | Richard A. Viguerie

[gwb43_2004]

As a candidate in 2000, George W. Bush was a Rorschach test. Country Club Republicans saw him as another George H.W. Bush; some conservatives, thinking wishfully, saw him as another Ronald Reagan. He called himself a "compassionate conservative," which meant whatever one wanted it to mean. Experts from across the party's spectrum were flown to Austin to brief Bush and reported back: "He's one of us."

Republicans were desperate to retake the White House, conservatives were desperate to get the Clinton liberals out and there was no direct heir to Reagan running for president. So most conservatives supported Bush as the strongest candidate -- some enthusiastically and some, like me, reluctantly. After the disastrous presidency of his father, our support for the son was a triumph of hope over experience.

[gwb43_2004]

[Gordongekko909]

He's better than any alternative we've been seriously offered. The man has my support.

[HitmanLV]

He's better than any alternative we've been seriously offered.

That's exactly right. He isn't the best there is, but he is the best we've got. Which is why it's so important in 2008 to not select another slow witted, flat footed communications disaster. Many of Dubya's problem stem from his admin's needless secrecy, inability to communicate a cogent message, and letting the other side define issues to the point where he has to deal with a majority of Americans who have no confidence in his leadership.

He really made his bed. He has nobody to blame but himself if he spends 2007 defending his admin in congressional investigations and getting his arse impeached.

[Mojave]

We were told: Just wait till the second term. Then, the president, freed of concern over reelection and backed by a Republican Congress, would take off the gloves and fight for the conservative agenda. Just wait.

We're still waiting.

Waiting for the next betrayal.

[RLM]

The base didn't betray Bush until after Bush betrayed the base. But, given the same choices we had in the last two presidential elections, I would have to vote for him again. Like most elections, we vote for whom we find the least offensive, not for someone with qualities we admire.

[Gordongekko909]

So what we need is an aggressive, conservative candidate who isn't willing to take the fight to the enemy. Damn, I wish I were 35. :(

[concentric circles]

Monsieur Viguerie, nice try, but your French is showing.

[Brilliant]

"but he is the best we've got."




It depends on what you mean by that. I suspect that if Gore had one in 2000, we'd have neither of the above today.

[Gordongekko909]

Welcome to democracy. You actually get to choose who sucks the least. Not the best in theory, but historically proven to be the least worst in practice.

[Noumenon]

My 'betrayal moment'?

When he referred to the Minutemen as 'vigilantes.'

[italianquaker]

at least pombo will lose his seat, a little ray of sunshine

[SHOOT THE MOON bat]

I really find it hard to believe that any conservative thought George Bush was the next Ronald Reagan.

[unseen]

After reading the article I agree with it 100%. We have been lied too and ignored too many times. If we do not stand up for our views then they will be steamrolled by the liberals in 2008. It's time to give the republican party a wake up call in the nov election. Nothing else it appears will make them see. If our elected leaders continue to think of us as stupid and continue to lie during the campaign and then do as they please after elections then we as a party, and as a country will fail.

[jpsb]

I told ya'll in 1999 Bush was not a conservative and would be a terrible (conservative) president. I was right. And yea, I held my noise and voted for him. Like I was gong to do anything the might help the idiot AlGore or the traitor Kerry. Ya'll better nomimate a real converstiove (like Newt) in 08 or it's the Constitution Party for me.

[Coldwater Creek]

DITTO!!!!!!!!

[HitmanLV]

Well, who IS willing to take the fight to the enemy. Otherwise, I'm with you! ;-)

[Steely Tom]

Wow. The WAPO will even print Richard Viguerie, if he'll bad-mouth W!

[HitmanLV]

He was the better of the two major choices in the 2000 GOP primary, and the better of the two major choices in the 2000 and 2004 election. Not the best there is, but the best we've got.

[HitmanLV]

What's wrong with Pombo? Didn't he even appear in a flattering way on Penn & Teller's Bull$hit program? I thought it was him. :-)

[Coldwater Creek]

Go on and vote for a wife cheater, or waste your vote on a third party! That is really going to solve all of your problems.