Posted on 03/28/2002 8:04:49 AM PST by sheltonmac
Rather than crash the pro-Bush orgy threads, I thought I would honor the requests of the "we must support the president at all costs" crowd and let them bask in their Republican utopia in ignorant bliss. Consider this a thread that seeks actual debate and discussion concerning the "accomplishments" of our current president. Feel free to voice your support or opposition to the president's policies. After all, dissension, even among conservatives, can be healthy.
This thread is in response to the blatant display of sheer ignorance on the part of some FReepers. There have been several threads initiated lately that have included some rather disturbing posts. Without naming names, I would like to share some of those with you:
"I guess when you want to get MEANINGFUL CFR you avoid the obvious veto bait and keep the issue out of the dem's hands, so that hopefully you can get a Senate elected and some JUDGES appointed.This person supports the president so much that he or she is willing to overlook the clear unconstitutionality of the Incumbent Protection Act. The president ignored his oath of office and deliberately signed an unconstitutional piece of legislation as part of some well-concealed strategy? Please.I guess when you are running a WAR you don't have time for this stuff that is nothing more than petty political junk. Instead, you get the bill where the SC can decide it."
"If you're 'proud he's your President' why don't you try supporting him instead of bashing him.Translation: President Bush is smarter than his critics. We should trust him without so much as a whimper of criticism regarding any unconstitutional legislation he may force down our throats. He hasn't betrayed anyone but the American people, so back off.He's smarter than you are. He knows what he's doing.
And he hasn't betrayed anyone."
"There are many of us who have chosen to STILL support the President even though we may disagree with some of the things he's done. Where is the reality in expecting the President to agree with you on absolutely everything he does? It's nowhere. Because that reality does not exist no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves that it does.Perhaps the "one issue" that dismays so many people is the fact that the president we are expected to support has violated the very solemn oath he swore to keep, that being his promise to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. Say what you want about Clinton. Play the "What if Gore were elected" game if you want. That was then, this is now. We have a president in office who essentially told America, "This law may be unconstitutional but I'm signing it anyway."But consider this. Think back two years ago... and now think of what the alternative could have been. Cripe, even Rosie O'Donnell admits she didn't like GWB, but even she supports him now. I am simply amazed that it takes one issue, one issue, to dismay so many people."
Has anyone read the statement on FreeRepublic's main page? It reads as follows:
Free Republic is an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web. We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America.I always thought standing for smaller government meant just that, whether that means criticizing a Democrat or Republican administration. We need to ask ourselves one question: are we for smaller government and more freedom? If the answer is "Yes," then act accordingly. Let's not fall into the trap that says we must support the liberal policies of a president at all costs simply because he's not as liberal as a Democrat.
What is the saying about politics and sausage?
hehe
Yeah, I know, I know. I wouldn't have given Clinton such a broad benefit of doubt. But while Clinton did everything not to deserve my trust, Bush (to whom I gave no latitude early on; I carried a sign saying "NO HONEYMOON: CUT MY TAXES" at his Inauguration) has earned my trust through his actions.
This isn't over, yet. If the Supremes uphold it, I'll forever maintain that signing it was a damned stupid thing for Bush to do. If they strike it down, I'll call him crazy like a fox.
You mean the fear-mongering and the race card?
Amazing how the agruments for those who lean toward a personality cult so precisely mirror each other.
38 senators voted against it. Do these mypoic bastards expect people to believe that McConnell couldn't get 2 more for a filibuster???? He just about declared he did, then changed his tune....After being instructed by the WH.
Have a nice day!
Notice that Jim & John have chosen now as the time to fragment FR into multiple forums, to Balkanize FR into special interest areas, effectively cutting out the huge number of very diverse eyes which, in a single forum, would have looked at and commented on almost every thread...
First the fragmented threads made it likely that most people wouldn't read entire threads -- only activists would start at the beginning and work their way forward. This reduced the overall audience and participation in what HAD BEEN the normal exchange of ideas and views around here.
Second the fragmented forums FURTHER reduce the diversity and number of people checking out the overall flow of threads...
Free Republic IS NOT what it was a year ago. Perhaps it will grow into something equally fun and dynamic. Perhaps it has been improved to death.
Either way, it is unfortunate (!?) that when the ideas and views of the widest range of conservatives would be most interesting on the activities of our "republican" president, that the double deconstruction (first threads, then the forum itself) of Free Republic makes it very unlikely that we will have that kind of scrutiny here. Too bad.
(And, for tin foil types, it will be fun to speculate about the timing of the "new" FR coinciding with the general, wide-spread recognition that Bush isn't anything like what we'd hoped he'd be...)
Mark W.
Ummmmm, your shoddy analysis of CFR would out you roughly in the middle of that crowd.
The intemperate rhetoric has been on both sides.
My anger at where I pecieve the Administration is bound on Illegal Immigrants is based as much on my perceptions of where they are going, as well as what they have done by political manuevors. While I expect my anger to be justified, only the proof of final actions and results will make it turn to outright opposition.
There are those that are impatient to get to such a point.
Finally, as you point out this site is for "grass roots" conservatism and as such should have free ranging discussion. But it is also for promotion of conservatism in the long run and JR appears to be asking us occasionally not to make it a repository of overblown anti-republican rhetoric as a converted, Constitution Defending, Republican Party is still a possibility to many here and elsewhere. As such, I think the Bush-is-a-traitor crowd is just as off base as the Bush-babbies. Either side can make there positions without the hyperbole and perhaps communicate rather than just offend.
Thanks for the well composed vanity.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.