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.
The most effective posts critical of GWB's signing of CFR have come from strong Bush supporters who are now disappointed. I could post a thousand-word screed about it that would change nobody's minds because of my past strong criticism of the guy. I have praised him six times and damned him a hundred.
The bottom line is that many more of the fellow travellers will peel off, especially when he delivers the next inevitable shot to the heart of conservatives. The ones who continue to blame everyone else for his shortcomings will merely be part of a steadily dwindling core of rats in a sinking lifeboat.
Ditto!
Not solely that way, no. The Constitution gives him other responsibilities:
Article I: "Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it shall have originated"
The President is explicitly prohibited from signing a bill of which he does not approve.
We can certainly agree there.
It never occured to me that you did Jim. Perhaps I didn't have the proper context on your comment. As clarification, I was referring to Bush and all others who signed on to this unconstitutional law.
It would be illogical to think that they could further the cause of liberty by repealing the most fundamental tool for conserving it.
Other than the "d" or "r" after the name, it's getting rather hard to distinguish between the two.
So, you are of the opinion that he signed it in expectation of it being kneecapped in the SCOTUS?
He signed a clearly unConstitutional (unConstitutional by your line of reasoning and mine) bill, yet he did not abrogate his Constitutional duty?
Let me repeat that.
He signed a clearly unConstitutional (unConstitutional by your line of reasoning and mine) bill, yet he did not abrogate his Constitutional duty?
I don't think you understand what duty means. Or honor for that matter.
EBUCK
Well, we could try to get the Democrats to change the name of their party to the American Socialist Party. Then we wouldn't have any Democrats in office at all and everything would be peachy-keen.
Good luck, Jim.
WHERE do you get this notion? Is the Judicial Branch the only one that can READ? The Constitution was written to be understood by EVERYBODY. The Founders appear to have thought that Joe Sixpack was capable of rational, coherent thought, unlike politicians and lawyers of today, and could reasonably be expected to KNOW when the legislature and executive were in violation. The Supremes ASSUMED that power in 1803 or so, in Marbury v Madison, but it was NEVER assigned to them and ALL BRANCHES of the federal government were supposed to avoid doing UnConstitutional things. If you REALLY BELIEVE what you just wrote, your ignorance is appalling.
The scattergun approach would defeat my congressman, Lipinski (D), who voted against CFR, and elect Republicans like Fitzgerald (R) who voted for it. Not a strategy I would embrace personally.
Every President has signed unconstitutional legislation.
I'm not proud of him, he could have done better both constituionallly and poitically IMHO.
Fortunately, my disappointment isn't exacerbated by a lack of historical context.
If someone believes there was a President who never signed an unconstitutional bill, I hope they will enlighten me so I can adjust my standard.
To achieve the end, keeping rats out of office, the preferred means are hobbling out 1st amendment rights?
This is not a "keep rats out of office" bill, it's a "keep incumbents in office" bill and there are almost as many of them as there are us now.
EBUCK
This is really a strange arguement. In the first place if alot of FReepers were known dog kickers, then why not start a thread about it? We discuss everything else here?
In the second place discussing politics and politicians is what we do here. If we want to discuss our motives for being pro or anti Bush why shouldn't we? I don't understand why you are so angry?
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