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.
Around here Jim, you're quotable.
Anyone tells you different, they're lying.
Thank you for stating it so well! I probably shouldn't have launched today but this bashing and this thread finally did me in. I just want to TAKE BACK the SENATE and KEEP the HOUSE and then see that we get more good Conservative candidates nominated and elected. We cannot do it all at once! We need to all work at the grassroots level and it will happen over time! We have the winning Agenda IMHO!
Without those Chairmanships of the House and Senate Committees, we are not going to get much of anything accomplished! I just want folks on the same page working together to take on the DemocRATS -- not each other on here.
No Hard feelings, I just had to defend my comments to that person to you, because I felt I had a legitimate camplaint about his comments about our AG.
Thanks for the civil reply.
Mike
Hollow words at best, actions speak louder than words.
I would also like to add that in times of war, the federal government has always assumed additional powers, only to return them to the people when the war is over.
No declaration of war. Where is bin Laden?. Care to extrapolate with any examples of "only to return them to the people when the war is over.". We've already been told that this war will go on for a long time.
Look's like you've swallowed the hook, line and sinker.
And before you slam Bush's budget compromises, go take a look at the one's Reagan made with the Dems. And remember that, just as they did then, the Dems are failing to live up to the agreements they made in the compromise.
What kind of drugs are you on?. Reagan's "compromise" was the largest increase in federal spending every recorded, subsequently increasing the deficit by something on the order of 400%.
You need a reality check.
---max
This is a bold face lie!
In a MTP interview, Russert asked Bush who he would nominate to th USSC. Bush said, he would consider nominees who are in the mold of Antoin Scalia and ClarenceThomas. In fact Judge Luttig is high on Bushes list of possible future nominees to the SC. Why are you people, so into distorting the truth about Bush? Give it up already! You're not fooling anyone with such baseless rhetoric.
ps-I've got a list that Alberto Gonzalas complied, listing all the top propects for President Bush to choose from. I find it, I'll post it, right here.
ROFLMAO!, a pipe dream. In the meantime, Rome burns and the sellout continues.
---max
Ummm, better check post 226. Some people are.
Rights are not absolute in the sense that they cannot be revoked or forfeited. They can. Privileges are not comparable.The laws of this land are granted, enforced and are derived The Constitution, not the Declaration of Independance. Prior to 1789, the laws were based upon the Articles of Confederation, not the Declaration of Independance.
"We hold these Truths to be self evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the Governed..."
Do you disagree with Tom, or are you just splitting semantic hairs?
I realize that many of these conversations will ultimately deteriorate into namecalling. It's inevitable. We're all passionate about politics, otherwise we wouldn't be here at FR.
This forum would be a wonderful launching pad FOR a Conservative Third Party. People could get behind the policies, principles and priorities they desired. They could work out a way to approach the Political process. Get someone elected. Generate a little forward mojo.
Pffft! There's none of that. There's no proactive strategizing on all these Immigration threads ... it's "Bush is selling us out to the Mexicans" "Jorge is giving away the Constitution to Fox" "We'll all be speaking Spanish before Bush is done" "They want to force their money and IDs here" ... blah blah bleccchhhh.
Do something, already! Find out what programs are being granted to Illegals in your county and schools, and report back to FR. Craft a political strategy. I'd follow that convo in a courteous manner. Do Anything but complain. Please!
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