Posted on 03/27/2002 4:57:55 PM PST by rintense
President Bush signed the controversial Campaign Finance Reform bill today as Mitch McConnell immediately filed suit against it. Bush later headed to South Carolina where he spoke to Emergency First Responders in Greenville. He also stopped in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Tech Institute of Technology where he watched drills demostrating response to terror attacks. Enjoy your daily dose of Dubya!
I see the political box Bush was in, and I see the political strategy on signing, but I disagree with his decision. I see it as an error, but I still enthusiastically support him -- because he's right on so much that is vital to America. Which is why I enjoy this thread. Still, it is counterproductive to deny disagreement. An accurate assessment of loss of support on this or that issue is necessary for future political analysis.
That said, I predict this issue will be supplanted by future events within a few weeks, as always happens in politics.
I am talking about a large group of new posters who showed up just as the bill was to be signed.
Just like the bunch of new people that showed up when the China plane incident happened. Or stem cell.
Well, I think there are pepople upset about this, and I also think there are people who are gleefully PRETENDING to be upset. When I hear Mara Liason concerned about how conservatives are upset about this, I smell a Rat.
I have had discussions on plenty of other threads about this, and I am only concerned that now that this is a done deal, we CONTINUE to hear about it. Why? Want to start a primary challenge?
If you are unhappy about this, and I know you are, file it away as THE reason Bush should be replaced in 2004. Look for someone who would do a better job and campaign for that person.
Ya know how it is sometimes when you are running through the posts, enjoying the different comments, just feeling so good that so many share your own thoughts and feelings about our President, his family, adminstration, etc. and then, suddenly, your eye catches a post that gives ya slight chill...a bump of just feeling great?
Your post did just that to me. I am so glad you share the feeling so many of us here do. He is my President, too.
Do you think it is possible that our President, knowing full well what Ken Starr will be doing regarding CFR (and the suit has already been filed-thank goodness-boy were they ever hot on that one), signed this bill by way of making the Republicans in the House and Senate take notice that if they go along with bad legislation for some political points down the road (ie elections) that they cannot COUNT on him to be 'DADDY' and do the right thing if they fail to do their jobs adequately. That President Bush is putting them on notice that if a bill gets to him as represented as the will of the people by elected reps and senators, that he will sign it even if it angers his own party? I dunno. He has sure made certain that the reps and senators of the republican persuasion that voted for CFR could very well end up paying consequences down the road for lack of backbone should the courts uphold the CFR bill as written. I dunno...if this scenario were in operation...but if it was, our President, imho, certainly took the risk with the right bill because it is laden with the stuff of illegality.
Bush delegates. Electoral politics he delegates to Rove. Bush trusts Rove, and does not have the time, energy or inclination to do the kind of district-by-district, legislation-by-legislation analysis required to run the political operation. Bush lays out the political goals, and his staff makes recommendations as to how to get there. Over years, he has come to deeply respect and trust Rove's advice. So on CFR, he followed Rove's advice. Politically, Rove is probably mostly correct as far as he went. This is the same political shop that destroyed the Democrat party in Texas, and you can see signs that this is working to some degree on a national scale. Ultimately I think this was a bad call because Rove has not seen that this decision reinforces the conservative template: "we elect them and then they betray us." A larger percentage than Rove calculates will lose/has lost heart. Conservatives are not a typical constituency group. Democrats can easily buy back constituency groups they've betrayed. Conservatives can't be bought. It will take far more time and effort for Rove to make amends than he realizes; and he will not ever be able to fully make amends. I do not believe the numbers of the disaffected will be enough to affect a single election. However, it is a political fault line that Rove will have to work around for the next seven years.
Attention Lurkers: Please note how the anti-Bush people are rude and insulting!As a long time, habitual, lurker at FR who mostly just speaks when spoken to, I hear the message loud and clear.
It seems that every topic I open today has one or more of these Johnny-one-notes complaining about CFR and their free speach. They have their free speach, but by saying the same things over and over, in every topic, ad nauseum, they are abusing it and imho, acting downright trollish!
I heard you the first ten times, do you understand? Or are you thick?
I've read the comments, the insults and the opinions. You haven't changed my mind about President Bush, nor will you. I support him and find the tactics to bash him rude and anoying. Any purpose there may be in the agenda, has been defeated by the total lack of manners and courtesy. Please have enough respect for lurkers and others to keep the opinions where they belong.
I never miss a Rintense "Day In The Life". There is almost always a quote. It's not an invitation for anyone to act like a creep. So, just stop! I also listen to Rush. It's his show, he can say what he likes, but if he brought it into "A Day In The Life" I'd be plenty peaved at him.
Where is that "ignore poster" button? We need it with some of these posts.I second That!
Actually, the White House actively discouraged the Republicans from killing it, both in the House and Senate.
You, I would characterize as flame bait.
Then I can assume, doggie, that you won't be back here tonight? I mean really, why come some place where you're not wanted?
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