[lasereye]

I agree with you about the media's motivation but keep in mind that if Bush weren't giving them an opportunity to call him on his hypocrisy they would have a much harder time convincing conservatives to stay home.

Of course, but if he was to start a big argument with the Dems and give them a chance to start demagouging he might lose the votes of some middle of the road voters who change their minds more often than actresses' hair styles. He would also boost turnout amongst the Democratic base. He has no risk free decision.

I believe he feels he's taken a conservative stand on enough things, like his judicial appointments, tax cuts, missile defense, oil drilling in Alaska to name a few, to motivate conservatives to show up. For some conservatives nothing short of 100% is acceptable, but any Republican who wastes his time trying to convince them has rocks in his head. True Free Republic type conservatives are not the majority of the electorate. Bush has to live in the real world.

[seanc623]

We have to decide whether we are going to be leaders or followers. Saying most people don't believe the way we do so we have to run RINO candidates is not leadership; it's a cop-out. The sad truth about the GOP is that they do eat their young; Constitutional conservatives especially. The leadership of the party does not believe in the Constitution so they constantly sabotage the efforts of these grassroots activists to educate voters.