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Conservatives, Cut Bush Slack
The Chicago Sun-Times ^ | June 22, 2002 | Thomas Roeser

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.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:
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To: toenail
This is beyond ridiculous.

The suggestion that the President issue an order without legal authority to do so was pretty ridiculous.

2,001 posted on 06/24/2002 10:31:11 AM PDT by Roscoe
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To: Lazamataz
Even tpaine does it better than that, Laz.
2,002 posted on 06/24/2002 10:32:35 AM PDT by Roscoe
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To: Ben Ficklin
Your state is going to gives its electoral votes to the democrats so who cares what you think.

Shoot, we can just tell all conservatives in states that went Democrat in 2000 to go to hell, huh?

2,003 posted on 06/24/2002 10:32:52 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: MJY1288
graphics over at DU, and the other leftist nutbag websites

Really? Sad.

2,004 posted on 06/24/2002 10:33:51 AM PDT by Roscoe
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To: Roscoe
Well I cannot say that anyone out-idiots you, so you win in this regard.
2,005 posted on 06/24/2002 10:33:54 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: MJY1288; Registered
I've been seeing a lot of your graphics over at DU, and the other leftist nutbag websites, They seem to appreciate your work of late

I've seen you authoring sentences containing the letter 'g'. I've also seen sentences containing the letter 'g' at Socialist websites. That must mean you are a Socialist.

2,006 posted on 06/24/2002 10:35:49 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Ben Ficklin; Registered; Lazamataz
Perhaps you can explain to me why a very large percentage of BashBots are located in leftest states.

Because our experience with incipient socialism has endowed us with the ability to smell it coming.




2,007 posted on 06/24/2002 10:35:54 AM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: Lazamataz
Noise.
2,008 posted on 06/24/2002 10:36:18 AM PDT by Roscoe
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To: Roscoe
You define the term.
2,009 posted on 06/24/2002 10:36:48 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: MJY1288
Funny how you'd know that, I don't frequent the DU website, let alone any "leftist nutbag" websites. I guess we're known by the company we keep.
2,010 posted on 06/24/2002 10:36:54 AM PDT by Registered
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To: Lazamataz
Don't put words in my mouth, I never suggested anything of the kind. Trash someone else
2,011 posted on 06/24/2002 10:38:51 AM PDT by MJY1288
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To: Lazamataz
You define the term.

If you insist. Laz.

2,012 posted on 06/24/2002 10:39:21 AM PDT by Roscoe
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To: Lazamataz
If the shoe fits, wear it.
2,013 posted on 06/24/2002 10:39:41 AM PDT by Ben Ficklin
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To: Lazamataz
You were just being obtuse on purpose.

Uh, Laz... obtuse can only be on purpose.




2,014 posted on 06/24/2002 10:39:57 AM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: MJY1288
They came looking for a pissing contest.
2,015 posted on 06/24/2002 10:41:17 AM PDT by Roscoe
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To: MJY1288; Registered
Don't put words in my mouth, I never suggested anything of the kind.

The implication, that Registered's graphics are showing up at DU, is that he shares viewpoints in common with people at DU.

If this is not your intent, to smear him by association, use this occasion to forcefully denounce this association.

Trash someone else.

Take this occasion to deny you intended to trash Registered.

2,016 posted on 06/24/2002 10:41:17 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Lazamataz
You shouldn't assume Laz
2,017 posted on 06/24/2002 10:43:14 AM PDT by MJY1288
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To: Ben Ficklin
If the shoe fits, wear it.

So you are actively advancing the idea that Registered is a Democrat Underground participant and/or sympathizer.

You are a slurring bit of bathos-laden flem, aren't you.

2,018 posted on 06/24/2002 10:43:34 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Lazamataz
I know what you mean BY your stupid PICTURE. Your ATTACKING President Bush. We are in a WAR with TERRORISTS. Why ARE you ATTACKING President Bush when he is ON our side? In 1966 I told EVERYBODY about ROTTEN fruits and now they SEE what I mean. When we win the WAR you will be all ALONE. Try to BE on our SIDE and do not be a ROTTEN fruit.
2,019 posted on 06/24/2002 10:43:42 AM PDT by Wordee
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To: Sabertooth
Uh, Laz... obtuse can only be on purpose.

I dunno. I'd never accuse him of being obtuse on purpose.

2,020 posted on 06/24/2002 10:43:54 AM PDT by Roscoe
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