Posted on 06/05/2002 1:20:54 PM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
Let me just say up front that I am not addressing you if you voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and regret it. The same goes for those of you who voted for Bush and insist on holding his feet to the fire on the important issues. If, however, you cast your vote for Bush, still believe he is the only hope for America and intend to support every move he makes without so much as a raised eyebrow, this is for you.
It has been nearly a year-and-a-half since George W. Bush, the savior of conservatism, descended from on high to begin his earthly reign in Washington, D.C. Republicans assured us that he would restore integrity to the White House and would be a marked improvement over the promiscuous Bill Clinton. Well, in all honesty, that could have been accomplished by electing a neutered chimp to the office of president.
During the 2000 presidential campaign, George W. Bush the man proved to be a nice break from Bill Clinton and Al Gore. Unlike Gore, Bush had a more likable...well, he actually had a personality. He also possessed the unique ability to address the American people without the smug and condescending vibe Clinton exuded. However, when it came to policy, George W. Bush the candidate failed to demonstrate that he would govern any differently than his Democrat counterparts.
Still, throughout the campaign, there was a loyal group of Bush supporters who would take offense at even the slightest implication that their candidate was anything but a staunch conservative. Even now, they continue to stand by their man, and I find this to be rather perplexing.
Perhaps those who have pledged their undying allegiance to President Bush could answer a few questions for me, in no particular order of course:
• How would you have reacted if Bill Clinton had signed the Patriot Act into law and given the government sweeping new surveillance powers?
• Would you have criticized a Democrat president for signing a $26 billion education-spending bill?
• Did you feel betrayed when Bush signed Campaign Finance Reform into law?
• What do you think about Bush's position on granting amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants?
• Would you have tolerated a Democrat proposal for federally funded faith-based initiatives?
• What would your reaction have been if a Democrat had said, "No one should have to pay more than a third of their income to the federal government"?
• What do you think about the president's granting of Permanent Most Favored Nation status to China?
• What's the difference between Bush and the Democrats on the issue of farm subsidies?
• How would you react if a Democrat president sent a $2.13 trillion budget to Congress?
• Would you have stood for a Democrat saying "No!" to arming airline pilots?
• What would your reaction have been if a Democrat had pushed for the federalization of airport security?
• Are you willing to stand by and let the Bush administration cater to the environmentalists on the global warming issue?
• What do you think about Bush's call for a Patient's Bill of Rights?
• What one thing has Bush done that sets him apart from the Democrats?
• It's been a year-and-a-half since Bush took office. When do we start to see a decrease in the size and scope of government? For that matter, when do we start to see even a remote indication that this administration will think about doing anything to try to limit the federal government?
This list is by no means exhaustive, but I would really be interested in some answers. Perhaps it would help shed some light on the mindset of modern compassionate conservatives.
The fact that a Republican president is governing like a Democrat isn't surprising. What's amazing to me is that there are a few select Bush supporters out there who cannot—or will not—utter one word of criticism against their president for any reason. In their minds this man is the epitome of conservatism, and to question his actions would be to question their own beliefs and cause them to wonder why they supported him in the first place.
The way I see it there can only be two explanations for this: 1) these people really and truly believe in what Bush is doing, or 2) they do not wish to face up to the real reason they voted for him — he was simply a slightly more palatable choice than Al Gore.
Jefferson and I believe these rights come from the Creator. You chose to dissect Jefferson, the DOI and it's relation to the Constitution like some cheap lawyer. Semantic hair splitting is too kind....you debate like a shyster.
By the way, boasting about your self described "born again" status seems......well, unseemly. What does the Bible say about pride?
Oh, really? If I have a boast, it most certainly not one within myself.
You pitched a presumptuous, insufficient slider to me that didn't break. I simply knocked it into Lake Erie.
You still haven't refuted one word I said. NOT ONE!
CHECKMATE.
Next time, try a little harder.
Ohhhh, but SHE IS. She's pro-gun and pro-life now. Haven't you heard?
Wassamatter, doncha wanna "win" with someone like Liddy in the Senate?
You must be a bushbasher.
I'm assuming you can provide links or documentation to where President Bush decried CFR on the campaign trail? I sure like to see them and just what he said while decrying CFR. I know you wouldn't post statements like that without backup.
Fine. Now respond to my comment in post 222; namely,
"You can't have it both ways. The "Die-Hard Bush Supporters" keep telling us that we don't matter. To take our votes and go. They say we might amount to all of .1% of all the votes the GOP gets. And they are probably right, so "dividing conservatives" is not really the issue, is it? But if the democRATS can use illegal cash to influence (using their mass media) the 70% democRATS and undecided voters ... if democRATS can influence elections through outright voter fraud (like they did in several contests last time) ... if they know they will not even get investigated when they do it (like the last several elections), then they will STEAL the next election buying and creating as many votes as needed."
Actually PhiKapMom and the other Bush supporters got exactly the results they were voting for in the 2000 election. Except for minor issues here and there, he is doing exactly what they expected him to do.
It is people like you and I who were hopeing against hope that Bush would be a "true conservative", even though he warned us he was a "compassionate conservative". I guess we are the ones who are the lunatics, huh?
First, you all label us as "loyalists" ... that's a pejorative term. We are supporters. That connotes proactive analysis, satisfaction and proxy. We know the score, believe me.
Second, your "chimp" remark tells much about your goodwill and intent.
Third, Bush supporters are sophisticated. We understand that in our system, no President can force his agenda through Congress. Anyone who based their vote for Bush on specific policy priorities is stupid. It was obvious that Congress was going to be 50-50, in that environment no Presidential program emerges from the equation whole. We don't have Kings, Mullahs, Potentates, Czars or Popes here.
People of intelligence and discrimination understand that a Presidential pretender is supported or discarded based on a measure of the "man": his demeanor, honesty, judgement, philosophy, leadership and experience. I voted for Bush because he convinced me that he is shrewd, honest, dedicated, principled and pragmatic. Yes, pragmatic. And, kids, he's Conservative. In the "real-world-outside-FR" sense.
If you asked Joe Gibbs or Chuck Noll before the season ... "Would you punt, kick a field goal, or go for the first down if you have the ball 4th and inches at the opponent's 35 yard line?" They'd look at you like the moron you are. It depends on the score, the time, the opponent, prior success or failure to run and the conditions. Pittsburgh Steelers fans had great confidence that Noll would calculate those factors expertly, and he'd make a move that was in the best interests of securing a Steelers win. That's good judgement. He's got the info, he knows the defenses, he sees the trends better than his opponents. He has the cruicial knowledge and understanding that no drunk sitting in some Pittsburgh bar is privy to; but they'll wail at every punt at the 35 or field goal at 4th and Goal nonetheless. They're as idiotic and unqualified to judge individual decisions as is the issue-by-issue deconstruction crew running roughshod here. Equally annoying, too.
There have been some mitigating circumstances since Bush's Inauguration, you know. Control of the Senate went to Tom Daschele March 24, 2001. President Bush became the Nation's Commander in Chief after September 11. To ignore those events, and their significance in limiting the President's ability to engage in partisan scrumming ... is to be a typical whiny and selfish Freeper. Rush: "Don't go Freeper on me" ... pathetic.
So, to summarize: Bush supporters are thoughtful, independent and mature. We've read the first part of the Constitution and we understand the Separation of Powers. Thus, we understand no President has power to force any agenda through the system. Events during the last year have changed Bush's leverage and his position. We don't expect Bush to waste capital on pyrrhic victories to placate some unappeasable fringe element. We trust him to make the right political call, at the right time ... all in the interests of preserving American life, liberty and prosperity.
I like our world better than yours.
I agree. These are the same people who complained early in 2000 that Bush was being "anointed" the GOP nominee (before he had to duke-it out in a real primary fight with McCain). These are probably the same people who maintain their registration in the Reform Party.
That's not true in my case. I was a Bush supporter long before and after the election. I actively challenged people who suggested voting 3rd party in the last election. I am and have always been a registered Republican. I've voted for Republicans for President in every election (at least 7 so far). Now I'll be waiting to see if you respond to my last post to you on the consequences of ignoring democRAT crimes.
I'm done debating with you and your baseless claims GOODNIGHT
Nice post! Loved your response! And especially the balance it provided! GO GW!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless our President and God Bless the United States of America~!
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