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.
I talk about what bothers me about our Republican leaders, but I know there is a world of difference between the parties and their agenda's and will vote for the Republican Candidate. I prefer to have my on in office pi$$ing me off, than to have that other bunch in office pi$$ing on America.
If you are thinking of entering into politics, you might want to consider another campaign slogan.
Tell me about it ;^)
If a president cannot do something so FUNDAMENTAL and BASIC to the primary responsibilities of the office of presidency--meaning the protection of Americas sovereignty as a nation, then he will never get my vote again. I can overlook a hell of a lot of his social spending and his trampling of the constitution but failing to protect Americas borders and, worse, openly encouraging more illegal immigration with amnesties, immigrant welfare and a steadfast refusal to enforce our immigration laws is just TOO MUCH.
Laz, IMHO you're in the first category. Put on your pants, get over here and say something.
??? Care to explain
Having trouble trying to figure a way to hook it up to a live current though.
When I get it done, I'll loan it to you.
(blink)
(blink)
(blink)
First of all, I never thought I'd be standing up here. (giggle) I mean, I am so honored. I'd like to thank my producer, and the makeup people, and the director, and all the other people who helped produce this. My agent! Oh, my agent made all this possible! Mom, you've been so supportive. And my wife -- honey, where would I be without you? And my friends who were right beside me during the toughest times....
You'd be up for Manslaughter inside of an hour.
So now you know.
Most of the chronic bitchers do not now, nor will they ever, understand politics.
The columnist has 'splained the situation, but it's so much easier just to complain, and complain, and complain.
Does that include voting???
You are not permitted to have that opinion. Get back in ranks.
For those who can't make it out, God's finger is over the SMITE key.
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