See, you can dream too Jim
The Bush Enigma
How then can one explain George W. Bush, the man on whom so many Americans placed such great hope? All we can say is that there are several theories to choose from, all of which fall in the realm of speculation.
One theory holds that he is a good man with fine instincts and excellent intentions, but is such a hater of confrontation that he has effectively been steamrolled by the non-conservatives who surround him.
Another theory holds that he was never a real conservative in the first place, but i8 a very capable orator who can read a good speech and produce a convincing image. The United Republicans of Texas published such a view after having experienced all of the years that George W. Bush governed their state.(37)
One individual who shares the view that Mr. Bush's political effect has never been conservative is Thomas Gale Moore of Stanford University's Hoover Institution. In a syndicated column appearing in, (38) he discussed the much-publicized Bush plans to cut spending and reduce bureaucratic regulation. But Mr. Moore then cautioned:
Skeptics find President Bush's record as governor, often alluded to during the campaign, far from reassuring, especially since he used much the same rhetoric during his gubernatorial campaigns as appeared later during his campaign for the presidency.
While in Austin, he converted the state income tax into one of the most progressive in the nation, introduced withholding taxes, raised sales taxes, and sharply increased taxes on business.
While he was in office, Texas government expenditures increased faster than was typical of other states. Notwithstanding his campaign rhetoric, welfare expenditures alone escalated 61 percent in real terms during his two terms as governor.
That is hardly a record that should merit the label "conservative."