Conservatives, Cut Bush Slack

The Chicago Sun-Times ^ | June 22, 2002 | Thomas Roeser

[quidnunc]

This summer will mark the 47th year since I took my first Republican job: as public relations director for the party in Minnesota. Since then I have rarely strayed from politics, or my party. I served as a staffer to two GOP congressmen, to a GOP governor, as a federal appointee to Richard Nixon and as a corporate executive who supported in Washington and Springfield much, if not all, of the Republican agenda.

You can describe me as a conservative. Thus I am qualified to say that although I dearly love conservatives, they tend to be querulous, disagreeable and threaten revolt when Republican office-holders don't please them. So it is now with George W. Bush. Here is a president who has surprised us all with the firmness and resolve he showed after 9/11. I must tell you I voted for him with less enthusiasm than I had for many of his predecessors. But his administration has pleased me often — most notably on two issues: defense of America and social policy.

Yet, Bush has to get re-elected in a country that is evenly divided on philosophy. Thus he must occasionally — on matters that sometimes offend conservatives — dip into the other side's ideology for support. He has done so on three notable occasions: on the issue of steel protectionism, where he departed his free-market proclamations; on the signing of a campaign finance bill tailored by his enemies, and allowing his attorney general (in the words of Libertarian Nat Hentoff in the Washington Times) "to send disguised agents into religious institutions, libraries and meetings of citizens critical of government policy without a previous complaint, or reason to believe that a crime has been committed."

In a perfect political world, where conservatives are in the majority, these things would be sufficient to encourage a boycott of the polls. Either that or a protest vote for the Democratic opposition. But we are not in a perfect world. We conservatives have a president who didn't receive a majority of the votes, and has one house of Congress against him. He must make compromises to get re-elected. Conservatives who do not understand the nature of politics ought to stay in their air-conditioned ivory towers and refrain from political activity altogether. If they cannot adjudge the stakes in this election and the difference between Bush and an Al Gore or a John Kerry (D-Mass.) or a Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.), they are foolish indeed.

-snip-

To read the remainder of this op/ed open the article via the link provided in the thread's header.

[Reagan Man]

I see you have trouble with spelling too.

The word is spelled Ebonics and not Eubonics.

But I guess you didn't mean to insult black folks.

You're one sad case.

[Texasforever]

What did I miss? You now claim that your enemies are not the vast majority of Americans, just the people they voted for. How many angles can dance on the head of that pin?

[Joe Hadenuf]

Given thirty years of this open border, immigration "free for all" that has resulted in many millions entering our nation illegally, I believe there are very few Republicans, or anyone else in DC, besides Tancredo, that are visibily and vocally fighting for our national sovereignty.

Now would you care to tell me which Republicans are standing with Tancredo and voicing outrage against this titanic, never ending invasion of illegal aliens?

Look at the recent sweeps of illegals at the airports. Then come back and apologize.

Apologize for what? I asked Jim a simple question and he didn't answer. Can you answer it tex?

Oh and as far as your airport sweeps, don't make me laugh. You know as well as I tex that there are upwards of 15 million or more illegal aliens in this country with hundreds of thousands more coming every few months.

So tell me, or could you offer a link as to how many have been "swept up" at our airports? 500 maybe? or is it 1500? How many tex?

[Reagan Man]

Boss! Boss! tpaine, tpaine!

LOL Very good quidnunc.

[Texasforever]

Oh and as far as your airport sweeps, don't make me laugh. You know as well as I tex that there are upwards of 15 million or more illegal aliens in this country with hundreds of thousands more coming every few months.

Ok then lets round them up and ship them out. What do you have in mind to do that?

[Twodees]

Sorry, but I didn't say "true blue conservative" I said "fourth generation tobacco farmer". I'm new in Virginia, but my guess is that the state has taxed everyone almost into bankruptcy, so maybe that's why we need the GOP's war chest.

We would leave them alone if they would just come out and say that they're not conservative, but they keep insisting they are and getting all the contributions that the people who can give a little for conservative candidates will give.

They have the war chest, collected partly at least from people who will scrape together a few hundred and hand it over hoping for a conservative candidate. If they aren't going to use it to run conservatives maybe they should say so. That way, all the less than wealthy folks could give their money to local boys who are willing to serve a term as delegate or senator without expecting to suckle the public tit for life.

It's a novel idea, I know. Surely it'll never fly, because politics is a profession best left to professionals and all that.

[tpaine]

I doubt I really want to find out, but whatdya suppose a 'gorm' is, and why does RMam know?

[Texasforever]

While only you and maybe roscoe seem bemused with my wit, -- which is understandable, seeing you two bear the brunt of it.

You left out half a word, care to guess which one?

[redrock]

..and just where did I insult black Americans???

I just said that I didn't 'speak' that crappy form of communication called Eubonics (or whatever).....

Is this REALLY the best you can do.....

Since you cannot debate...or even answer simple questions...I guess maybe it IS the best you can do.

Have a nice night....get some sleep...take your vitamins.

redrock

p.s. If you really want some help with calling people names.....there are people on this forum who are REALLY good at it. Maybe you should look them up.

[PhiKapMom]

Nope -- Nickles in all three instances. His PAC has always given money to Republican Senate candidates and Jeffords came begging -- rumor has it that he promised to support some conservative bills in return -- not only did the lying scumbag not do that but he took the $10,000 of PAC money and became an Indy voting with the RAT caucus. Sen Nickles wasn't the only Senator whose PAC funded Jeffords campaign -- some more conservative PACs did as well. Sen Nickles publically asked for the money back! Last time I checked, he hadn't received it but I will check Monday morning to see if the swine gave the $10,000 plus interest back.

That was Nickles on Impeachment too! His stand was that clinton should be removed, that everyone should read the evidence, and was shocked at not one DemocRAT voted on any article to remove. He was running for Senate in 1998 and his advertisement was that he was taking Oklahoma values to D.C. and that they sure needed it. Nickles who is #2 in the Senate for the Republicans also was not included in on the meeting to set up the rules for Impeachment. Lott handled that one!

[Joe Hadenuf]

I didn't think you could answer my question either. But thanks for reading it.

[Roscoe]

It is an infringement of the rights of the states for the federal government to control any amount of education funding.

States have the right to refuse those funds, don't they?

[Reagan Man]

... but you're a fun target because you take yourself so seriously.

I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.

I can't help it if I'm the epitome of gravitas!

[Texasforever]

I didn't think you could answer my question either. But thanks for reading it.

Nope, you are the man with the plan. Spit it out.

[tpaine]

He was ridiculing you, mam.

[Twodees]

You're doing something differently than Virginia is doing, obviously. We have the northern counties which contain the DC suburbs and the republicans there, public tit addicts mostly, control the VAGOP. I'm told it has always been that way, but I'm new here and hope that we can do something about it.

[PhiKapMom]

Enjoyed reading this thread tonight -- you have done great! Logging off and will be back to read this first thing in the morning. Sure has been intersting!

[Texasforever]

He was ridiculing you, mam.

You would recognize that I am sure. LOL

[tpaine]

I can guess, seeing you are notorious on FR for having half a brain.