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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: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
I don't even know where the abuse button is. However; you are too pathetic to bother with.
481 posted on 06/22/2002 5:53:08 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Texasforever

CONSTITUTION (Better?????)

"I am SURE you have the Rosetta stone that will unlock its true meanings and why we have LOST it."

"lost": That's pretty simple ... we lose a little of it every time another unconstitutional government program or hand-out is implemented via congress or executive order.  It becomes a shadow of what it once was.  As Walter Williams said, "Where in the Constitution does it say anything about midnight basketball?" There is a means for implementing these programs and hand-outs and it's called an amendment.

"true meanings"What are you talking about?  Who said anything about true meanings????

But if I had to answer your question, I'd say that the true meaning of the constitution is that it is our set of rules by which we live.  It is not a living (ever changing) document.  That makes it worth less (2 words).

..."when you think about it that's exactly what non-adherence to the constitution and the political whores have turned us into.... a democracy heading down the path to destruction like every democracy before us."

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"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."  
.....  Somebody Very Smart.....


482 posted on 06/22/2002 5:59:21 PM PDT by Texas Yellow Rose
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To: Sabertooth
You are right, way too close is much better wording

483 posted on 06/22/2002 6:00:15 PM PDT by jeremiah
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To: Registered
The Senate must be controlled by the Republicans else it will be controlled by Democrats and the Judiciary will continue to be filled with liberal activist judges for the next century or more.

484 posted on 06/22/2002 6:01:15 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: Texas Yellow Rose
But if I had to answer your question, I'd say that the true meaning of the constitution is that it is our set of rules by which we live. It is not a living (ever changing) document. That makes it worth less (2 words).

Too bad the founders did not agree with you.

485 posted on 06/22/2002 6:02:03 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: All
Memo
 

To:        Bush Bo...  Bush Supporters

From:    RNC Central

Subject: More Bothersome Terminology
 

Just a reminder folks.  This is a...

That's right.  It's "a moderate turn signal."  Very good.
 

Thank you.
 


486 posted on 06/22/2002 6:03:06 PM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: Registered
I'm beginning to understand now, we have to make sure that the Senate goes to the Republicans in NAME only, who cares about ideology!?

Ideology is preferable, but when there's no ideologically pure choice, do you vote for the GOP candidate so that hopefully our side gets control of the committees and the agenda, and can get some judicial nominees confirmed and hopefully some conservatives on the Supreme Court....

or do you take your ball & go home? And whine?

487 posted on 06/22/2002 6:03:20 PM PDT by Amelia
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To: Jim Robinson
Jim, what good is it if they are Republicans that are virtually indistinguishable from a Democrat?
488 posted on 06/22/2002 6:05:35 PM PDT by Registered
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To: DoughtyOne
You really are not very good at this.
489 posted on 06/22/2002 6:05:55 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Howlin
Http://www.freerepublic.com/fo cus/news/70398/posts should get you the link,
490 posted on 06/22/2002 6:05:58 PM PDT by jeremiah
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To: Don Myers
I just thought of Bush's 2004 slogan:

Re-Elect Bush
At Least He's Not Clinton!

491 posted on 06/22/2002 6:06:46 PM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: Theodore R.
Who should replace him?
492 posted on 06/22/2002 6:08:08 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Texasforever
Then it shouldn't bother you at all. I'm glad. Thanks.
493 posted on 06/22/2002 6:09:18 PM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: Registered
Well, the Republicans are not the ones holding up Bush's Judicary appointments. And I definitely do not want anymore Clinton/Gore appointees. I will continue supporting the Republicans. There is no viable alternative.
494 posted on 06/22/2002 6:10:03 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: Texasforever
"Who the hell is trying to keep anyone in "line"? Paranoia runs deep."

As deep as blind loyalty?

495 posted on 06/22/2002 6:10:55 PM PDT by Don Myers
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To: Theodore R.
It will do if you have nothing better. Thanks, Jim
496 posted on 06/22/2002 6:11:04 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: Texasforever
Oh gee, whatever we do let's not look for a conservative.
497 posted on 06/22/2002 6:11:12 PM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: Don Myers
As deep as blind loyalty?

I wil ask you. Who should replace Bush, regardless of party?

498 posted on 06/22/2002 6:12:20 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: PhiKapMom
you have an email which explains exactly what these conservatives are up to!

Ma'am,
This phrase stood right out when I read it. Could I ask what you meant by these conservatives?

Mind you, I've nothing at all against the 'Bush Bot' gals. I think you're good , decent ladies.
But I've always assumed that we all aspired to conservatism, but disagreed on which road will lead us there the quickest.

Have I been mistaken in my assumption? Do we really wish for the same type of government?

I ask this sincerely so I can better understand if there is any chasm between us.
I don't think we can progress without the fine ladies of the G.O.P. standing alongside us.

499 posted on 06/22/2002 6:12:21 PM PDT by jla
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To: Registered
Instead of being so high and mighty about who NC sends to the Senate, you might want to consider who Michigan sends.

And while your at it, consider the House delegation.

And while you at it, consider those electoral votes for Clinton and Gore.

500 posted on 06/22/2002 6:12:35 PM PDT by Ben Ficklin
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