Posted on 06/22/2002 9:46:05 AM PDT by 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.
Keep that talk up and the guys in the white outfits will be coming to strap you in a straightjacket. Then it's on to the cuckoo's nest for you and a nice long rest. Are you good with plastic knives and forks?
Ideologue Rule #232273: "Do as I say, not as I do."
Post 1663: Ah yes, that's the trick...when you can't argue the facts attack the person instead.Post 1669: You're an ass.
Actually no and there should not be, You and all your high-horsed friends that think you have the corner on patriotism, constitutionalism, truth. morality and wisdom have gone on ad nauseum. You deserve every bit of rudeness you receive because you do nothing but see yourself upon some throne of righteousness.
Not only have you invited the insults, you have exposed yourselves for what you REALLY are.
You don't seek solutions. You thrive on being "above" the opinions and ideas of others. You demand perfection while knowing that it is not possible. You go so far as to wish our country more woe to "teach us a lesson".
Well, frankly, I think some of us have reached the point that rudeness is all we have to offer you and all your self-indulged, pompous, know-it-all pals.
Since you aren't part of the solution, you are definitely part of the problem.
LOL...still too many folks out there willing to allow Clinton to go free despite committing a multitude of crimes that would have any of the rest of us in the pokey 'til the day we die, but that's another thread!!
"...but Bush appears willing to sacrifice this goal in a HailMary attempt to attract those who you and I adamantly disagree with!!"
"Sorry my friend, I don't consider political independents, as those I adamantly oppose on all issues. Without those independents, Bush would have never won election."
Yes, my FRiend, but without his Conservative base, he may not have even fended off McCain...sure, we need to expand our base, but we can do so while simultaneously championing conservative legislation. Maybe that's what Dubyuh's been planning all along as he signs off on all this Milquetoast Moderate legislation in the short-term...I sure hope he gives us RadicalRightWingers some ammo as we continue to try and make the case to our voting compadres that the GOP is indeed markedly different than the RATS!!
"Many Americans who are politically unattached and see President Bush as someone who is making a real effort to lead the entire nation and not just Republicans or the conservatives. After all, he became POTUS under extreme circumstances and he owes it to every citizen to give it his all, in the name of one nation."
IMHO, Conservatism is inherently Compassionate, and Dubyuh and his GOP Congressional Ticket would be well-served to take that reality to the voters this Fall. If we make some sincere promises as to what Conservative Legislation will be enacted when a Majority GOP Senate and House is seated next January, I believe we'll be ecstatic with the results come this November!!
FReegards...MUD
You haven't read any personal email from our local choleric ideologue yet. :) Welcome to FreeRepublic, BTW!
You're asking the wrong trooper. tpaine is one of the kings of rude and obnoxious behavior on FreeRepublic. He gets the ball rolling on many uncivlized exchanges and enjoys every minute of them too. I suggest you stay clear of his juvenile rants and personal attacks.
Couldn't be better, mi amigo!! How's the bluegrass business treating you these days?!
"...the two major parties each seem to have a dog in the 'big govt. is good' fight vote grab scheme. George and Laura are no doubt good folks but something happens on the way to Washington. I'll never forget Rush's 'lack of principle' show where he demonstrated it by having none. It was a hoot."
That's what's most frustrating about Dubyuh's performance vis a vis domestic legislation, I still think his instincts are conservative, but he tends to listen to the Third Way Pragmatists on his staff far too often!! Sure, with a $Two Trillion annual budget, there are a lot of folks gettin' greased now that do not want to see the Gravy Train trimmed back, no matter how much it would benefit the Nation, but the fact is Big Guv'ment Collectivism has failed each and every time it has been tested against a healthy capitalist society!! If we continue to make that case day in and day out, even the densest Sheeple will come to understand the Truth!!
FReegards...MUD
Perhaps, but I'd like to see both of you at a future FReep!!
FReegards...MUD
Rudeness works for the left in American universities. Glad to see the ruthless and dishonest tactic has been taken up by the "right".
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