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The Failing Bush Presidency
Right Wing News ^ | 5/08/02 | John Hawkins

Posted on 05/07/2002 9:01:55 PM PDT by Archfiend

In the last hundred years, only FDR and JFK have enjoyed the type of overwhelming support that George Bush has received since Sept. 11th. The majority of the American public seems not only to trust him, but to genuinely like him. That's a very rare thing for a politician, which is why it's unconscionable that Bush has largely squandered the American public's affection.

Now I know many of you think I'm crazy right now. After all, look how popular GWB is. Doesn't it look like the Republican Party is going to hold Congress and perhaps even take back the Senate? The War on Terrorism has been wildly successful so far as well hasn't it? Those are all certainly valid points to bring up but let's talk about the rest of the story...

While George Bush has delivered a tax cut, he's also helped push forward a large part of Democrat's domestic agenda...

* Bush abandoned vouchers while signing a bloated education bill that's based on the thoroughly disproved premise that the problem with public education in America is a lack of funds.

* GWB broke a campaign pledge and signed an unconstitutional campaign finance reform bill.

* The Bush administration abandoned Republican principles on free trade by slapping tariffs on steel and Canadian lumber. Not only will these tariffs force American consumers to pay higher prices, but they'll also goad other nations into slapping retaliatory tariffs on American goods.

* Furthermore, we have the Bush team inexplicably pushing to reward illegal aliens with American citizenship for flouting our laws.

* With the blessings of the Bush administration, all pretenses of budgetary restraint have been abandoned as the Republican party is supporting a gargantuan farm bill and even more odious prescription drug legislation.

Now I know what the rational behind supporting these proposals is; Taking back the Senate in 2002 and four more years for Bush. However, there are some problems with that line of thinking even if we achieve those goals.

Anyone who's voting Republican because they're in favor of tariffs, more government spending, and giving illegal aliens citizenship is being misled. So what happens after the elections when they figure out that most Republicans don't believe in those things? Worse yet, what if we continue supporting things that are bad for America and that the majority of the party is against in order to win elections? I thought we were in a battle to win the hearts and minds of other Americans so we could help keep this country on the right track? However, the Bush administration apparently looks at the political process like a Pro-football game where the only important thing is that the team you're rooting for wins. Had Bush looked at things as I do, he could of used the incredible faith and trust the American people have in him to convince them that we need vouchers, a smaller government, free trade, and that the campaign finance reform bill was unconstitutional. But, those opportunities have been forever lost in an effort to win in November.

Bush has shown the same lack of courage lately in prosecuting the "War on Terrorism" that he's shown on the domestic front. The "Bush Doctrine" produced a stunning amount of success early on. The Taliban no longer rule Afghanistan and al-Queda has been damaged to the point where they have yet to mount another terrorist attack against the US (the anthrax letters could be the exception to that). Pakistan started going after terrorists on their soil and we've seen progress in the fight against terrorism in Cuba, Sudan, Libya, Georgia, The Philippines, and Somalia. Then on the heels of all that success we tossed the "Bush Doctrine" out the window when it came to Israel. We've refused to call Yasser Arafat a terrorist and have insisted that the Israelis "engage" Arafat in a dialogue despite the fact that they've been trying without success to do exactly that for nearly a decade.

Furthermore, the latest leaks from the Pentagon seem to indicate the attack on Iraq has been moved back at least until 2003. Iran and Syria seem to have both largely dropped off the radar screen and we're continuing to kowtow to Saudi Arabia despite the fact that they're openly encouraging terrorism by giving payments to the families of suicide bombers. What happened to the man who said the following on September 20th...

"And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation in every region now has a decision to make: Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists."

"From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime..."

"...I will not forget the wound to our country and those who inflicted it. I will not yield, I will not rest, I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people."

Right now, we seem to be yielding in Israel and it looks as if we’re planning to take a long, long, rest in-between the real fighting in Afghanistan (which ended for the most part in December of 2001) and our next truly significant fight.

It pains me to write this article because I think that the President is a decent, honest man with a strong sense of right and wrong. But something is terribly out of kilter in his administration right now. The Democrats are winning on the domestic side and our commitment to doing what it takes to win the "War on Terrorism" seems to be an open question. Can the president still get things back on track? Absolutely, he can. But, the longer he waffles on the domestic front and falters in the "War on Terrorism", the harder it's going to be to do the right thing down the road. I'm certain that I'm in the minority right now, but I feel obligated to say that I'm starting to have serious doubts about whether the President has the courage to stand up for his convictions. For once, I sincerely hope that I'm wrong.


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: bush; president; waffling
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To: general_re
"Bigger. You didn't think he was going to personally screen luggage at airports, seal the borders, round up illegal immigrants, and kill terrorists, did you?

That's only one measure - I'm not a single-issue kind of guy. ;)"

screen luggage
seal the borders
round up illegal immigrants
kill terrorists

These are all happening right now.

Luggage has started to be screened (remember the price is costly so don't bitch at the cost to implement this 100%) , the borders have been very tight as the amount of drugs sized has been way down since 9-11, the Gov't has been rounding up illegals all over the country (the left's going nuts over this and there have been many stories in the press) and we've killed a many a terrorist !

So what's the problem?

81 posted on 05/08/2002 12:22:08 AM PDT by america-rules
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To: Lazarus Long
Is that the best you can come up with, Texas Prick? LOL...You know I'd annihilate your ignorant ass in any debate.

There comes a time when a person's stupidity is so breath taking a simple response is all that is required.

82 posted on 05/08/2002 12:29:54 AM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Lazarus Long
"As these events were unfolding, we continued to receive what appeared to be credible reports from Israel that Begin, who believed in the biblical maxim or "an eye for an eye," and his defense minister, Ariel Sharon, a bellicose man who seemed to be chomping at the bit to start a war, were preparing for a full-scale invasion of Lebanon against the PLO, waiting only for the slightest provocation to launch it....
"I emphasized my personal commitment and that of the United States to the support of Israel. I supported its right to defend itself against attack, but appealed for Israel not to go on the offensive...
"Israel's response was, in effect: Mind your own business."

Ronald Reagan, from his autobiography, An American Life

83 posted on 05/08/2002 12:33:57 AM PDT by Texasforever
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Comment #84 Removed by Moderator

To: Lazarus Long
Yeah, I know what you mean.

No you don't. I used too many big words.

85 posted on 05/08/2002 12:35:48 AM PDT by Texasforever
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Comment #86 Removed by Moderator

To: bybybill
If you will remember GWB said that things will happen on our timetable

They don't care. They want bodies and if it US military, so be it, they just want bodies OR else Bush is a wimp. I now believe Israel and its supporters are exploiting 911 for their own ends and Bush is not taking the bait and that really pisses these idiots off.

87 posted on 05/08/2002 12:39:53 AM PDT by Texasforever
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Comment #88 Removed by Moderator

To: Lazarus Long
As it should've been.

Yeah and guess what genius, 25 years later Arafat and the PLO are alive and well. That "GREAT" war time leader Sharon really kicked butt didn't he?

89 posted on 05/08/2002 12:42:40 AM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Lazarus Long
Reagan, the same guy who sat on his ass and did NOTHING to avenge the 240+ Marines who were slaughtered by Syrian and Iranian backed Hizbollah guerillas in Lebanon. Nothing.

So now you want to bash Reagan. Like I said. DUMBASS.

90 posted on 05/08/2002 12:45:59 AM PDT by Texasforever
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Comment #91 Removed by Moderator

To: america-rules
The problem is, to some rather unsophisticated folk on FR, that upon taking the oath of office, President Bush didn't manage to so the impossible. Heck, some here, actually think that he should have imediately put Slick and Hill in chains and irons, thrown out 99 % of all government workers and closed down 99 % of all agencies, closed down the IRS, stoped ALL taxation, closed the borders, halted all abortion, closed all public shools, privatized all roadways, legalized prostitution , legalized ALL dope, and proclaimed himself ruler of the world. He didn't do any of that. He couldn't , so they scream a lot here. To them, NOTHING is ever " good " enough, nor done early enough.

There are people who see a glass as 1/2 empty. Others see that same class as 1/2 full. The Bush bashers see the glass as perpetually empty ! Some people nneed to get some glasses.

92 posted on 05/08/2002 12:49:02 AM PDT by nopardons
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To: Lazarus Long
So instead of responding to a legitimate criticism of the Gipper, you resort to "Dumbass." You, mi amigo, are the pendejo. Is Reagan unassailable in your child-like world?

You are accusing someone of being "child like? Oh the irony.

93 posted on 05/08/2002 12:51:03 AM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Archfiend
I don't know how to do a link, but I refer you to a thread posted here on 4-4-02 by KaySoze, entitled "I need a reply as emcompassing and detailed as this stupid democrat post I see being passed around". It was intended by the democrats as a slam against Bush, complaining about everything he has done since he has been in office. The list included things like refusing the Kyoto treaty (which Clinton had signed), and a host of other important issues that a majority of FReepers applauded. I suggest you read it to get a better balance of Bush's accomplishments.

While I strongly disagree with Bush's policy regarding illegal aliens, and did not like the way he dealt with CFR, or his weakening spine when it comes to dealing with terrorists in nations we have had 'friendly' relations with, I am not privy to all that goes on behind closed doors. And I acknowledge that one must tread carefully in international politics. It should be remarked that Bush never gave Sharon a precise deadline, nor did he threaten dire consequences if Sharon did not comply. Reading between the lines, Sharon pulled his troops out as 'demanded', but in his own good time -- after his mission had been accomplished.

Give President Bush a break -- he is always on call to maintain a balancing act on both domestic policies, and in the international community. (And just imagine how Algore would have dealt with the constant flood of issues. He would never have dropped the first bomb in Afghanistan without first doing a study of its effects on the environment. He would be forcing Kyoto down the throats of congress, and would have casually signed away our sovereign rights to the UN's international court.)

94 posted on 05/08/2002 12:53:57 AM PDT by bjcintennessee
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Comment #95 Removed by Moderator

To: Scott from the Left Coast
Arafat is a dottering, near-senile old fool and little more than a washed-up figurehead for a small faction of Palestinian malcontents. You really think he is orchestrating all the suicide bombings over there? Gimme a break.
96 posted on 05/08/2002 12:57:19 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Lazarus Long
Reagan, the same guy who sat on his ass and did NOTHING to avenge the 240+ Marines who were slaughtered by Syrian and Iranian backed Hizbollah guerillas in Lebanon. Nothing.

No, they were killed by a single suicide truck bomber. And you can ask Mohammar Khaddafi about Reagan doing "nothing". You a government school product? Or just an easy chump for scumbag liberal Democrat propaganda?

97 posted on 05/08/2002 1:02:32 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Lazarus Long
LOL...still, you have no response to my criticism of Reagan's inaction in the face of a national tragedy. As I alluded to earlier, you're pathetically easy to eviscerate in debate. I accept your surrender.

Because there is no argument that Reagan should never have gotten involved with that boil on the ass of humanity laughingly called the "Middle East peace process" Just as GW should not have. If Israel can't survive on its own then to hell with it. The United States did not place Israel in that region but we are the only thing standing in the way of their second Holocaust because Israel sure as hell won’t. News flash, the Israel/Palestinians soap opera is NOT our Middle Eastern foreign policy. It is just another pain in the ass situation that we tolerate because Israel needs at least ONE friend in the world. Even if they are ungrateful.

98 posted on 05/08/2002 1:02:43 AM PDT by Texasforever
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To: redskin
I do not agree. Bush can sit there and do nothing or work with what he's got to get something done.Give and take. Send him a conservative congress so it will at least be like minds fighting over the issues. Right now all Congress is concerned with is buying votes for the November election. Complain to your congressmen about the pork.Bush has called for congress to be responsable in spending the peoples money and they are the ones ignoring him.
99 posted on 05/08/2002 6:12:56 AM PDT by dalebert
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To: Archfiend
However, the Bush administration apparently looks at the political process like a Pro-football game where the only important thing is that the team you're rooting for wins.

The author confuses the bush admin. with the people who voted for him and are now on the sidelines cheering and shaking their pom-poms every time he moves the ball a little closer to goal line of tyranny.

Regards

J.R.

100 posted on 05/08/2002 6:19:20 AM PDT by NMC EXP
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