Posted on 03/16/2002 10:01:26 PM PST by StopDemocratsDotCom
It took a while for Bush to win over Conservatives who now support him all way. That's why I hate it when the word RHINO is thrown left and right when talking about a Republican who may do something that seems out of step with what we agree with and we don't realize that politics is all about winning and looking like a "centrist"
Check out this 1999 Article:
Conservative talkmeister Rush Limbaugh blasted away at George W. Bush with both barrels today, stoking a possible clash between grass-roots conservatives and the front-running candidate who is already pursuing a centerist general election strategy.
"He's really wandered off the reservation here lately folks," Limbaugh intoned, before making the case against the recent Bush positioning.
"In my mind," he told his listeners, "no conservative running for president would make the kind of statements that he's made. No conservative running for president would leave his philosophical brothers and sisters dying on the congressional battlefield the way Bush did with that EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) thing. And now he's done it again with the speech at the Manhattan Institute. He's done it twice in seven or eight days time."
"This obviously is a carefully crafted strategy." Limbaugh continued. "What it means is that solid conservatives from Tom DeLay to Dick Armey, who are doing all they can to eke out small majorities and beat back Clinton and all his Big Government schemes-issue after issue-end up being emasculated by Bush's comments."
"Who wants a Republican moderate as president?" Limbaugh asked, a question the Bush camp must hope that other conservatives don't begin asking.
Yes and no. It depends on the meaning of centrist, and what policies are taken.
Two things are needed to win.
1. Gain part of the middle. No argument there.
2. This part is forgotted...NEVER FORGET WHAT BROUGHT YOU THERE. If you abandon your base, you are done.
These states decide the election. These are the swing states.
New Hampshire, Penn, West VA , North Carolina(Edwards), Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennesee, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri(As Missouri goes, so does the country), Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The policies that move to the middle must be aimed at THOSE states. Reagan was a master. He had BLUE COLLAR appeal. He wasn't viewed like some Country Clubber. Bush needs to gain some Blue Collar appeal, and he is doing that so far. He CAN'T throw it away or his base with some stupid move like CFR, gun bans(so far so good), amnesty(that won't play well AT ALL, and I'm fairly pro-immigration), 5 billion in foreign aid, and stuff like that.
The Steel tariffs on the other hand is an EXCELLENT move. He didn't forget West VA, which went for him. That plays well in NE Ohio, parts of Penn, and Michigan as well.
BLUE COLLAR CONSERVATIVES win elections...and they are fickle voters.
As someone who started backing Reagan in 1965, I have to say that the most important decision made by Reagan and GW Bush was who would be their Vice Presidential nominees. Bush chose Dick Cheney, Reagan chose George H W Bush. On that basis, GW IS more conservative than Reagan!
He is President to ALL of the people, not just a few.
Hi kiddo. You're a star you know. Grin...
And most conservatives are getting tired of Bush selling them out.
I want a pesident in office who will uphold The Bill of Rights and protect the constitution. Period.
C.H.
I think you are painting with a very broad brush.
Only when it comes to the constitution and our rights:
1.)Guns(not yet; let's see what happends in 2004 with the possible renewal of the 1994 Assault Weapon Ban)
2.)Privacy(Stalincroft pushed for the "PATRIOT" Act and bush signed it)
3.)Freedom of Speech(Doesn't look like he will; hope not)
C.H.
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