Hart argues, however, that Bush's beliefs are "disonnected from reality." Unless Hart is careful, this can become just another way of saying that he disagrees with Bush on the merits of various policies? That's not much of a working definition of conservatism.
Hart tries to be careful. He focuses on two strands of Bush's thinking that he considers especially disconnected from reality. The first is Bush's religious beliefs. They produce in Bush a set of moral beliefs that have informed some of his positions -- e.g. what types of stem cell research to fund federally and whether to sign a bill passed by Congress to give Terry Schiavo access to federal courts (as I recall the issue). They have not caused him to anything much with respect to the issues of abortion and gay marriage. In any event, it is far from clear that possessing, and sometimes acting consistently with, moral beliefs based on religious principles is antithetical to being a conservative.
Conservatives can overdo the Bush-bashing thing too
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Here's The Politico's take on the new lineup:
Quickest Ascent: Debbie Wasserman Schultz
The Florida Democrat executed the most breathtaking committee move of the new 110th Congress. She landed a spot on the Appropriations Committee, then snagged a subcommittee chairmanship, making her one of the 12 appropriations "cardinals," who hold vast sway over federal spending. And she did it in only her second term.
~Snip~
Wasserman Schultz's spokesman Jonathan Beeton cautioned that her contributions had not been the only factor in her success.
"It's about more than money. It's about her being co-chair of the Red-to-Blue program. It's about her leadership roles on the Terri Schiavo case, and her standing up with the speaker in South Florida to push back the president's (2005) plan to privatize Social Security."
How to Advance in Congress: Networking. Luck. And Money Doesn't Hurt.
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Professor Hart should stick to Ivy League tennis history.