Posted on 03/29/2002 3:08:59 PM PST by TLBSHOW
WASHINGTON --
It looks as if President Bush 's honeymoon is over. He's fine with the American people -- his personal approval rating is still in the 80 percent range -- but his own natives, Republican movement conservatives, are already restless.
Like Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan before him, Bush is already being branded as an appeaser of liberals and a sellout on a range of issues dear to the right-side hearts of many of his party's faithful. These are, it must be mentioned, impossible people who, more often than not, prefer to lose on principle than win through compromise.
They hate Washington and all it stands for, which is compromise and government of all the people. Unfortunately for them, presidents, even their own, have to work in this town -- and that means compromising, however reluctantly, with the opposition in Congress and the vast bureaucracies of governance and liberal constituencies.
Like baseball, it happens every spring. This year, even with overwhelming conservative (and liberal, too) support of the president in our officially undeclared war on terrorism, there are the right's gripes of the moment:
The president from Texas, lusting for Hispanic votes in his own state and in California, is too friendly with Mexico, pushing amnesty for illegal immigrants from south of the Rio Grande and San Diego.
He has sold out free-traders by imposing old-fashioned tariffs on the import of foreign steel -- or he is just chasing Democratic voters in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
He may have been holding his nose when he did it, but he signed the campaign-finance reform bill pushed by Democratic senator Russell Feingold of Wisconsin and apostate Republican senator John McCain of Arizona.
As part of the war effort, he is advocating a 50 percent increase in the United States' minuscule foreign aid program. This one rebukes conservatives who were determined to set in stone the idea that there is no connection between poverty in the poor regions of the world and hatred and terrorism directed at the richest of nations, the United States.
He is pushing Israel to compromise in its endless war against the Palestinians in the occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank.
He is pushing education policy and legislation that would increase federal influence in states, counties and towns across the country -- a big no-no to movement conservatives.
He is not pushing tax cuts the way he did during the campaign, partly because war and educational reform cost huge amounts of taxpayer revenues. Most of this was bound to happen, and any ideological president, Republican or Democrat, is eventually forced to betray campaign promises and core constituencies. The only difference this time is that because of continuing public support for military action (and its high costs), Bush is beginning to take more flak from his own kind than from the loyal opposition.
In the conservatives' favorite newspaper, The Washington Times, political columnist Donald Lambro began a news analysis last week by saying: "President Bush's about-face on trade tariffs, stricter campaign-finance regulations and other deviations from Republican doctrine is beginning to anger his conservative foot soldiers but does not seem to be cutting into his overall popularity -- yet."
John Berthoud, president of the National Taxpayers Union, puts it this way: "We're very disappointed about these new tariffs on steel and lumber. That's two new tax hikes on the American people. ... There's a concern among our members that in his effort to build and keep this coalition for the war, which is certainly needed, he's given Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and the forces of big government a free pass."
Phyllis Schlafly, president of the Eagle Forum, added: "He's been getting a pass from us until now, but the amnesty bill is what tipped it over for us. I agree with Sen. Robert Byrd (a Democrat). This is 'sheer lunacy.' ... A lot of people thought Bush's education bill was terrible. But we didn't rant and rave about it because we wanted to support him on the war. That's changed. The amnesty bill is the hot issue out here. It's out of sync with what grassroots Americans want."
Finally, Stephen Moore, president of the conservative Club for Growth, said: "The danger for us is that Bush may begin to take the conservatives for granted, and you are seeing some signs of that happening with the steel tariff decision, foreign aid and other spending increases in the budget."
So it goes. There is nothing new about this. In the 1970s, William F. Buckley and other movement conservative leaders publicly "suspended" their support of President Richard Nixon because of what they considered his liberal moves toward welfare reform, tariffs and other issues considered part of the liberal domestic agenda -- to say nothing of his reaching out to communist China.
But in the end, Nixon kept them in line by pushing the war in Vietnam beyond reasonable limits. George Bush could accomplish the same political goal of uniting conservative support by continuing to push the war on terrorism into far nooks and crannies of the whole world.
Care to provide ANY proof to back that up, other than rumors right here on FR? A reputable source will be required to prove you're not a disruptor.
You're vile.
No you tried to cook the numbers on a worthless little poll. You are in a round room looking for a corner. BTW have you found the part of the CFR that will put you in jail for buying an ad?
Which is why he needs to use the courts to fix the corruption that is infesting the democRAT party. It is now or never.
OK .. there was Bush and Gore .. and you are saying it was unfortunate that Gore lost???
Laugh all you wish. When I walked in the booth I knew exactally where Keyes and Phillips stood on ALL vital issues. That is why they and not GW Bush got my vote in the primary and general election. Keyes is likely the most brilliant mind to grace the GOP in 100 years. I've listened to the man for 10 years and he sticks to his word.
Look up Phillips as well. I have not a clue to the GOP's platform as they are too ashamed to make it public it changes too often to ever be put in print it seems. They couldn't decide on one. I can read The Constitution Party's platform and agree with most of it and know just where he stands. That takes guts because anyone can dodge issues! Who is Phillips?
Phillips has done a lot of good for the GOP and much for the Conservative movement. While Baby W was still in school Phillips was working to further the conservative agenda. Sometimes heros aren't the ones so publicly seen.
LOL, this is perfectly aligned with your support of Bush and his signing to violate free speech.
Notice how she makes YOU prove your innocence,,,just another minor issue to a Lobsterback.
What is all this support of 245i, an amnesty, albeit not a complete blanket amnesty.
What about the fact that the borders are wide-open, even during this time of "homeland security". What about the fact, that he's all for NAFTA, "Free" Trade, the movements of populations and people across borders in the name of "Compassion" and "Family Reunification", despite the fact that they broke our laws by entering illegally?
My goodness, are you serious that you can't see it?
Party Hacks???? ... I thought we were Lobsters???
Geezzz .. I sure wish y'all would make up your minds
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