HOW CONSERVATIVE IS PRESIDENT BUSH?

The Cato Institute ^ | August 3, 2002 | By Veronique de Rugy

[Uncle Bill]

How Conservative Is President Bush?

The Cato Institute
By Veronique de Rugy
August 3, 2002
Source

Veronique de Rugy is a fiscal policy analyst at the Cato Institute.

President Bush may be repeating the sins of his father. Although elected on a Reaganesque, tax-cutting platform, the White House has veered to the left. President Bush has signed a bill to regulate political speech, issued protectionist taxes on imported steel and lumber, backed big-spending education and farm bills, and endorsed massive new entitlements for mental health care and prescription drugs. When the numbers are added up, in fact, it looks like President Bush is less conservative than President Clinton.

It makes little sense to discourage one's core supporters prior to a mid-term election. Yet that is the result when a Republican president expands government, which Bush is doing. Also, academic research on voting patterns shows that a president is most likely to get re-elected if voters are enjoying an increase in disposable income. Yet making government bigger is not a recipe for economic growth. After all, there is a reason why Hong Kong grows so fast and France is an economic basket case. But you can't tell that to the Bush administration.

Administration officials privately admit that much of the legislation moving through Congress represents bad public policy. Yet they argue either that everything must take a back seat to the war on terror (much as the first Bush administration treated the war against Iraq) or that compromises are necessary to neutralize issues such as education. But motives and rationalizations do not repeal the laws of economics.

In less than two years, President Bush has presided over more government expansion than took place during eight years of Bill Clinton. For instance:

• The education bill expands federal involvement in education. The administration originally argued that the new spending was a necessary price to get vouchers and other reforms. Yet the final bill boosted spending and was stripped of almost all reform initiatives. And there is every reason to believe that this new spending will be counter-productive, like most other federal money spent on education in the past 40 years. Children and taxpayers are the big losers.

• The farm bill is best characterized as a bipartisan orgy of special interest politics. Making a mockery of the Freedom to Farm Act, the new legislation boosts farm spending to record levels. Old subsidies have been increased and new subsidies created. Perhaps worst of all, the administration no longer has the moral credibility to pressure the European Union to reform its socialized agricultural policies. Taxpayers and consumers are the big losers.

• The protectionist decisions on steel and lumber imports make free traders wish Bill Clinton were still president. These restrictions on world commerce have undermined the productivity of U.S. manufacturers by boosting input prices and creating massive ill will in the international community. American products already have been targeted for reciprocal treatment. Consumers and manufacturers are the big losers.

• The campaign finance law is an effort to protect the interests of incumbent politicians by limiting free speech rights during elections. The administration openly acknowledged that the legislation is unconstitutional, yet was unwilling to make a principled argument for the Bill of Rights and fair elections. Voters and the Constitution are the big losers.

• New health care entitlements are akin to throwing gasoline on a fire. Medicare and Medicaid already are consuming enormous resources, and the burden of these programs will become even larger when the baby boom generation retires. Adding a new prescription drug benefit will probably boost spending by $1 trillion over 10 years. A mandate for mental health coverage will drive up medical costs, making insurance too expensive for many more families.

Those policy decisions make government bigger and more expensive. They also slow the economy and hurt financial markets -- read the headlines lately? For all his flaws, President Clinton's major policy mistake was the 1993 tax increase. Other changes, such as the welfare reform bill, NAFTA, GATT, farm deregulation, telecommunications deregulation, and financial services deregulation, moved policy in a market-oriented direction.

Perhaps most importantly, there was a substantial reduction in federal spending as a share of gross domestic product during the Clinton years. Using the growth of domestic spending as a benchmark, Clinton was the second most conservative president of the post-World War II era, trailing only Ronald Reagan.

To be sure, much of the credit for Clinton's good policy probably belongs to the Republican Congress, but that is not an excuse for bad policy today. And on one positive note, President Bush has "promised" to fight for partial privatization of Social Security. Yet, so far, President Bush has not vetoed a single piece of legislation. Needless to say, this means it will be rather difficult to blame "big-spending" Democrats if the economy continues to sputter.

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Compassionate Conservatism Means Big Government

No To 'Compassionate Conservatism'
"Marvin Olasky, the former Marxist journalism professor who coined the term. But he and George W. Bush are barking up the wrong tree if they think "compassionate conservatism" is going to rally popular support necessary to effect the real change needed to turn this country around."

President Highlights Compassionate Conservative Agenda for Inner Cities

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If You Want Increasing Huge Government, Vote Bush

BUSH SPENDING BILL LARGEST EVER

U.S. quietly OKs fetal stem cell work - Bush allows funding despite federal limits on embryo use

Bush Signs Largest Family Planning Bill In U.S. History

Un El día En El la vida de Jorge W. La arbusto

OPEN BORDERS

Bush's 'open door' slammed

"I told the Congress that I want to make sure that the Mexican citizen here is well-respected," Bush said. "And one way to do that is to pass 245I."

CFR - "I Believe In Free Speech"

Meanwhile, Back On The Farm

Bush Urges Congress To Deliver on Prescription Drugs For Medicare

• AARP Likes Bush's Prescription Drug Plan

GOP Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Advances in House - Another Trillion Dollars

Pig Book - 2002

Orgy At Federal Trough

Bush and House Republicans Push Legislation For Full Drug Subsidies For Low-Income Elderly

Bush Prepares 'Big-Time' Response To African Famine

Government Spending - War Against The Stock Market

Bush signs debt-limit increase

Bush Pushes Minority Homeownership

Bush's Food Stamp Plan Called Ethnic Pandering

Bush Wants Food Stamps For Non-Citizens

Worse Than Drunken Sailors!

Senate Clears Way For Trade Bill - More Spending

BUSH AND THE BIG GOVERNMENT GOP

Security Bill Loaded With Wasteful PORK

Senate Ok's $31.5 Billion Anti-Terror Bill Loaded With Pork

How Bad Can Things Get?

George W. Bush and Gun Control

Bush Pushes Gore Plan For Orwellian Government

Bush Backs Down From Immunity Demand - Caves Again

Bush administration has been "as bad, if not worse" than the Clinton administration when it comes to the transfer of sensitive technologies to the People's Republic of China

BUSH, G7 to pay $20 billion to get rid of Russian nuke stockpiles

George W. Bush - The Global Warming Sell-Out

• George W. Bush Told Americans Before Elected That He Was A Global Warming Wacko

• Conservatives Angered by Environmental Provision [Bush pulls another Al Gore]

Dubya's New Deal - The New FDR

• Roosevelt -- Man Of The Century?

Bush Won't Label Arafat A Terrorist

George W. Bush's Terrorist Buddy

"When peoplelose faith in their institutions they trust to enforce the law, justice is no longer possible."

Bush Caves On Airport Screeners

Bush's Latest Srategic Mistake

BUSH: NINE FORMER PRESIDENTS WRONG; CLINTON RIGHT!

CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS? GEORGE BUSH'S NEVER-ENDING DOMESTIC BUDGET BUILD-UP - Father Like Son

Bush Appoints Four More Homosexuals

Dr. James Dobson Criticizes Bush Appointment to the CDC

Bush Pushes $500 Million HIV/Aids Funding For Africa

Bush to Propose Another $100 Million Over Five Years for Education in Africa

Are You Fat? No Problem, George W. Bush Will Help

House Conservatives Budge on Arts Spending

Bush Cheers Government Support For Art

Bush to Name Justice Dept. BUILDING After Kennedy

GOP Right In Iowa Fear Purge

GOP Leaders Spurn Right in Key Races

Laura Ingraham's analysis of yet another Bush betrayal

Bush decisions rankle conservatives

BUSH PROPOSES LARGEST EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT SINCE TRUMAN

Bush's Record Calls into Question His Conservative Label

Conservatives Question Dubya's Direction

Conservatives not satisfied with Bush's record

Bush, Ashcroft Run Roughshod Over Bill Of Rights, Study Says

Republicans: Big Government Addicts

A Few Questions For Die-Hard Bush Supporters

Are Republicans losing their constituency?

Ann Coulter: BUSH PAYS HOMAGE TO THE FETISHISTIC RITUALS OF LIBERALISM

Compassionate conservatism is about socialism, not Americanism

Bush is jettisoning his principles for what?

Bush: stop the runaway federal spending and regulating!

Mark Levin Hammers Bushbots

Was Clinton More Conservative Than Bush? - Fox News

Bush: A Democrat in Republican clothing?

Bush continues Clinton Agenda

GEORGE W. BUSH: CLINTON'S THIRD TERM ©

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Bush's Court Jester

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"Another way to make sure that we foster growth and restore confidence is to hold people accountable for misdeeds in the public sector."
George W. Bush - University of Alabama at Birmingham Alys Stephens Center - July 15, 2002.

NOTE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do.

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A Bush administration insider has privately leaked word that a deal was struck between Democratic congressional leaders and the Bush White House not to prosecute Bill and/or Hillary Clinton

Bush Administration Lawyers Defending Hillary - Gratis

Bush and Ashcroft Justice Dept. Hamstringing Pardongate Probers.

Bill Clinton broke the law and the Republicans let him off the hook.

What we need is the tough Newt Gingrich back.

"As far back as April 7, 1998, then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich was asked on NBC’s Today if he were going to press for impeachment. His response: "No, we don’t have any evidence."
Source.

Al Gore Broke The Law and the Republicans let him off the hook.

"I don’t care if you have proof that he raped a woman, stood up and shot her dead, you’re still not going to get 67 votes."

Bush Says He Wants to Let Clinton 'Move On'
"Listen, here's my view: I think it's time to get all of this business behind us. I think it's time ... to allow the president to finish his term, and let him move on and enjoy life and become an active participant in the American system. And I think we've had enough focus on the past. It's time to move forward." - George W. Bush.

Bush Won't Dwell On Clinton Affair, "We're Moving Forward"
"B/S, Mr Bush. Clinton is a criminal and a traitor. We demand a thorough investigation and prosecution. Our Republic is dead and our liberty is at stake if the next administration does not clean up this mess for now and forever more. Corrupt politicians must pay the price for subverting our Constitution and using their offices for personal gain."
4 Posted on 01/20/2000 14:17:56 PST by Jim Robinson

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A Republic If We Can Keep It - Bush Trashing The Constitution

It's About The Republic, Not The Republican

How Big Is The Government's Debt? - $33.1 TRILLION

There Must Be Some Way Out Of Here

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"Not over my dead body will they raise your taxes,"
George W. Bush - SOURCE.

[sleavelessinseattle]

Now you have hurt my feelings. You know how sensitive I am.

I know you're scared of being banned because so much of your self worth comes from these little whizzing contests on line for starters. HOW do I know? Because you chickened out of posting Twodee's info...If you had a pair you'd email Twodees YOUR information, but you'd rather see him look over his shoulder for a drunk egomaniac from Texas.

OR you could actually post your info and his at the same time...I'm LAUGHING AT THAT...You never even thought of doing that! You've keyed too many cars in your life to go public. PLUS theres the fact that you'd be banned and you'd eat yourself alive without Free Republic to remind you what an amazing American you are! What does that make you? What did I call you? Do you know what you are? The answer sad chap is...I don't have to say it...

[Satadru]

Sure about what? I am sure that NIH is under HHS, but I am not completely sure whether CIA and the Postal Service are the only independent agencies of the federal govt. Who knows, maybe Bush has added another forty in the past two years?

[terilyn]

Yes, it would be much better if you were able to just post what you believe and nobody was able to post facts to refute it.

How embarassing it must be for you.

Facts can be such nuisances.

[Satadru]

If he vetoed it, then there would have been 2/3rd majority in Congress to overrule it. A better question is will he sign a bill banning tax-payer's funding of abortion.

[Texasforever]

I know you're scared of being banned because so much of your self worth comes from these little whizzing contests on line for starters. HOW do I know? Because you chickened out of posting Twodee's info...If you had a pair you'd email Twodees YOUR information, but you'd rather see him look over his shoulder for a drunk egomaniac from Texas.

You are hyper-ventilating again. Besides that I am still nursing the thrashing you have been giving me.

[terilyn]

Yes, I'm sure Bush added all of those in post #718 in the last 19 months...

Gosh, I'm sure glad it's just the "bots" that flame people. Welcome to the "clique".

[justshe]

You know......I read your heartfelt statement to Jim Robinson on the Bump the AFers thread. And you talked about the forum etiquette. You don't seem to practice what you said to JR.

Can you tell me...what part of "No personal attacks" don't you understand?

I spent 2 hours this morning catching up on this thread. From the beginning. And YOU are the one who seems to be attacking Texasforever. I thought he kept his cool rather well considering all the baiting that was going on.

[Texasforever]

If he vetoed it, then there would have been 2/3rd majority in Congress to overrule it. A better question is will he sign a bill banning tax-payer's funding of abortion.

LMAO. God what a hypocrite.

[Satadru]

Whao! I am impressed that you know how to access a govt website. I am sure you knew all those agencies by yourself, in alphabetical order. LOL! Looking at the list, I am glad I got the most important ones. But, if you want to have a third-grade level fight, invite the rest of the Bushibans to partake it with you.

[Cultural Jihad]

On a scale of 1 to 10 I give Bush a 2. The first thing on his agenda was meeeting with Gay leaders , therefore giving what NO President had given before, Presidential recognition of the Gay lifestyle as just another Lifestyle Choice. BS on that. It isn't true and no President should have ever done it.

What sort of dissembling does the Cato Institute engage in? They frown on homosexual behaviors as if they're almost as bad as passing a law to discourage the unneeded suffering of homosexuals. Meeting with homosexuals is not the same thing as fawning over them as Clinton did in 1993. After that meeting, Bill Clinton came out and declared his fondness for libertarianism.

[Republican Wildcat]

The only independent agencies under the federal govt are the CIA and the US Postal Service.

You are either incredibly ignorant or lying like you did in post #578.

[Keyes For President]

I have learned as a Christian I had better be extra careful what I do and say, because people are constantly waiting for a Christian to slip up, so they can jump on them and say, "AHAH!" People can then self righteously use that slip up to discredit everything I've ever stood for. It's a lesson I have learned, but have not learned it well enough.

Since you seem so intent on judging me, all I ask is that you judge me on the totality of all you know about me. Judge me on the way I have conducted myself on this forum over the years, not just on an odd post here or there where I may have slipped. Judge me on the way I have treated you personally. Judge me on what I have written.

I don't ever recall saying you weren't pro-life enough, conservative enough, etc. I don't think many of Bush's policies are pro-life enough, conservative enough, constitutional enough, etc. I thought that was up for debate and this forum was the proper place for it.

I've been trying to avoid the "In House Fighting" around here and have been posting a lot at Liberty Post lately because people there seem to be more receptive of my point of view. While there, I have not trashed FR nor have I ever said anything bad about John or Jim Robinson. But that wasn't good enough for one of your "cronies" who had to bait me by posting outright lies about me here. When I called him on his lies, he resorted to posting that off color remark I made. That was the worst thing he could find, and it had nothing to do with the point (lie) he was trying to make.

Are you going to admonish him for lying? You gladly joined him in pointing out my sin and seemed to rejoice at it.

[terilyn]

Well, I did go to kindergarten.

You were the one that claimes that the CIA & the USPS were the ONLY independent agencies of the federal government.

Maybe you skipped that part of kindergarten that showed you how to do an internet search so you didn't look like you didn't know what you were talking about.

[Satadru]

Hypocrite? Me, or Bush, or you? BTW, what does this law have anything to do with abortion. If you are born alive, you are already protected under the laws of all 50 states. This is nothing but election year pandering. Plus, there was a 2/3 majority in both houses.

[terilyn]

claimes = claimed

measure twice, cut once.

[Satadru]

I went to kindergarten a long time before the internet came out commercially. If you couldn't figure that out, then maybe you should go back. But, I am truly amazed that you knew all those agencies by heart in alphabetical order, not to mention their acronyms.

[Texasforever]

So, in your opinion Bush "held his nose" and signed a bill he did not like?

[2Trievers]

After reading some of the posts by sleeveless on a forum swwearch........I think he could help you out with some cristals and stuff."

GOOD HEAVENS! Have you looked into a newer version of a spellcheck? Personal attacks? BAAWHHHHHHHHHHHH! Haha

[justshe]

S'OK. He forgot, in a VERY short time that he had said:

The only independent agencies under the federal govt are the CIA and the US Postal Service.

SO.....he said THIS too--just a few posts apart:

I am sure that NIH is under HHS, but I am not completely sure whether CIA and the Postal Service are the only independent agencies of the federal govt

[Satadru]

Did he really? I wouldn't be surprised. Last time he did that(CFR), I can guarantee you that there was no 2/3 majority.