Enough With The Neocon And Paleocon Carping—I'll Stand With George W. Bush In 2004

Enough With The Neocon And Paleocon
Carping—I'll Stand With George W. Bush In 2004

Like most Toogood Reports readers, I observed this year's battles within the conservative ranks with profound discomfort. In my mind, there are far too many real enemies out there to waste time and print fighting one another.

It seems that the world of conservatism has been split up between the "conservatives" and the "paleo-conservatives" or between the "conservatives" and the "neo-conservatives." Both sides present themselves as the bona fide article and the other side as the one in need of a prefix.

Personally, I just want to spit up this strife the same way the bleachers of Wrigley Field do the opposition´s home run balls. This qualifies as a "which side are you on boys" issue. It is my goal to conserve America's wonderful, non-living Constitution, and to forever preserve the personal and economic freedoms that embody our way of life. If you agree with me about these basic propositions, then you're on my side and the rest of your views are of secondary concern. Simply revering the spirit of the Founding Fathers puts you in the top 50 percent of the population on the Chap-o-meter.

Not only is an inter-journalist, inter-intellectual, conservative civil war fruitless, it is also detrimental to the nation as a whole. The country needs all of our efforts just to have a chance of mitigating the damage the culture war has wrought.

Our daily resistance may be the biggest obstacle to the federal pacman swallowing up fifty percent of the economy. We cannot afford to bicker amongst ourselves. The odds are too great. Obsessing over who said what about Taki, Buchanan, Frum, Lowry or any of the other public figures who make up the American right is counter-productive.

The neocon/paleocon debate is as bewildering as it is petty and misguided. Sadly, some conservatives now feel more comfortable with leftists than they do their own kind [I know of one who astonished me by saying that he regards the American Enterprise Institute as "The Death Star"]. Certainly, internal disagreements are to be expected, but they are trivial in comparison to accepting the positions advocated by the other side of the political spectrum. Socialism, cultural Marxism, white guilt, and radical feminism are eternal obstacles to advancing society. Other conflicts pale in importance when compared to them.

I propose that we abandon slurs like paleo-con and neo-con. Instead we should all evolve into "Logicons." The Logicon refuses to slash at the brethren who march alongside him because maintaining some level of public harmony is the only logical way in which we will succeed. Logicons realize that our fighting strength should not be diluted by internecine combat.

Much of the controversy currently centers around President Bush and whether or not one approves of his job performance. I've written here and elsewhere how much I personally admire him, but I also acknowledge that certain criticisms have been valid. Those who label him a big spender are correct in their assessments. He has not used his veto to curb the size of government and has developed a habit of hugging Ted Kennedy's voluminous appropriations.

While this is unfortunate, to pretend that Bush is not the best bet for advancing the country's interests is shortsighted. There are many conservatives out there who could do a better job of slashing outlays, but it is highly unlikely that any of them could get elected by our emotive and squishy electorate. On our side, George W. Bush "feels their pain" better than anyone. He brings in moderate voters the way my old Erie Dearie lures used to bag walleyes .

The problem is one of perspective. We can spend time complaining about steel tariffs or the administration´s pathetic capitulation on affirmative action last summer. Yes, I would have been greatly pleased if he disseminated a Michigan Law brief of his own after the decision entitled “O´Connor a Known Fruitcake,” but the fact is that he didn't and there´s nothing we can do about it. However, we must keep our outlook global by remembering what the alternatives are.

What would Al Gore do with affirmative action? How about Howard Dean, the neurotic would-be-king, with Al Qaeda? Makes you shudder doesn´t it? After the election, Al Sharpton would take his standup around the world as our Secretary of State and we´d hear Patricia Ireland lambasting “patriarchal textbooks” in her role as Secretary of Education.

In actuality, my examples really aren´t all that farfetched. The radical left has been carrying the Democrat Party since 2001 and, now, if the Democrats win, bills will need to be paid.

Rather than fantasize about an ideal future, conservatives need to think about how things can, and will, get devastatingly worse, should Bush lose. Be it Dean or Kerry or whatever burrito they decide to roll out of the Taqueria next summer, the fate of the country will be in jeopardy. By this time in 2006, there will be a foreign policy coward in every pot and a benefit check in the hands of every college drop out. Think France, think Germany, and then be grateful we have a president who doesn't spit after saying "tax cuts."

Besides, the Bush Presidency has produced many hidden benefits. His appointees may well be our salvation even though he backs obese budgets. In the latest issue of The New Criterion, we see that his appointments to the National Endowment of the Arts have had a wonderful effect. Under Dana Gioia, the agency is sponsoring Macbeth for military bases and has resurrected traditional Shakespeare at the national level [Shakespearean plays are now staged as in the days of old which means brothels and bath house scenes are no longer mandatory].

I don´t care if you insult him or trade in Karl Rove conspiracy theories, but, in November of 2004, this particular rightist is going to stand by George W. Bush just as the bumper sticker on my car promises. Our hopes for a better tomorrow rest in the White House on his bed. We must support him because heady days await and also because his reelection keeps the Democrat Party headless. Let´s proudly stand by our man as he loudly subsumes the popular positions of the left while promoting many of ours in the shadows though his judges, appointees, and minions.

I finally got around to a point by point. Thanks for the opportunity and for pointing out the ones I missed. Regards.

Presidency of George W. Bush --the first 36 months

(Banned Partial Birth Abortion ) – Will probably be overturned by the Supreme Court.

(Killed the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty.) – No, it was killed in the Senate when Clinton was President with a 95-0 vote. Bush just buried it.

(Killed U.S. involvement in the International Criminal Court.) – We never were involved. Another simple burial.

(Killed the U.S. - CCCP ABM Treaty that was preventing the U.S. from deploying our ABM defenses.) – That was a good one and I give him credit.

(Reversed Clinton's move to strike Reagan's anti-abortion Mexico Policy.) – Apples and oranges. It’s just like the NEA saying, “oh no, THAT money doesn’t go for politics”.

(Killed Clinton's CO2 rules that were choking off all of the electricity surplus to California.) – Not fully. And this was one of Clinton’s midnight decisions on the last day of his presidency. Just like the mercury in water E.O., it wasn’t fully reversed.

(Killed Clinton's "ergonomic" rules that OSHA was about to implement; rules that would have shut down every home business in America. ) – Same as above.

(Passed 2 tax cuts----1 of which was the largest Dollar value tax cut in history) – All to be moot in 2011. Am I to believe a “future Congress” or the President sworn in January 2009 will make them permanent? They tried that argument when Bush signed McCain-Feingold.

(Pushed through TWO raises for our military.) – Over and above automatic raises? Good.

(Increased Defense Dept funding which had deteriorated during the previous 8 years) – Sure. AFTER 9/11.

(Signed TWO bills into law that arm our pilots with handguns in the cockpit) – And how many are actually, to this day, armed? TSA is moving like a snail.

(Currently pushing for full immunity from lawsuits for our national gun manufacturers.) – Pushing is not getting or signing.

(Ordered Attorney-General Ashcroft to formally notify the Supreme Court that the OFFICIAL U.S. government position on the 2nd Amendment is that it supports INDIVIDUAL rights to own firearms, NOT a leftist-imagined *collective* right.) – I’ll give him another thumbs up for that. But it’s symbolic more than legal.

(Told the United Nations we weren't interested in their plans for gun control.) – Makes sense, another thumbs up.

(Successfully executed 2 wars: Afghanistan and Iraq. 50 million people who had lived under tyrannical regimes now live in freedom.) – The judgement of success is yet to be fulfilled and both those countries are still mired in muck but I’m optimistic.

(Changed the tone in the White House, restoring HONOR and DIGNITY to the Presidency ) – Yeah, and what good has that done? He’s more hated than Nixon and Reagan while, in my opinion, he looks like a fool sucking up to Ted Kennedy.

(Reorganized bureaucracy...after 9/11, condensed 20+ overlapping agencies and their intelligence sectors into one agency: the Department of Homeland Security.) – Only to spend more unaccountable money on bureaucrats, has done nothing to truly reform those agencies and picked Tom Ridge to become a worthless secretary. We still haven’t stopped the bleeding at our borders.

(Initiated discussion on Social security and individual investment accounts.) – Where’s the bill? Grabbing the third rail was brave. But that’s all we’ve gotten so far – talk.

(Improving govt. efficiency with .8 million jobs put up for bid...weakening unions and cutting undeserved pay raises. Wants merit based promotions/raises only.) – I don’t buy this one and surely don’t see it’s effects.

(Executed a WAR ON TERROR by getting world-wide cooperation to track funds/terrorists (has cut off much of the terrorist's funding and captured or killed many key leaders of the al Qaeda network) ) – World wide? We aren’t getting much cooperation from those that can really do something about those funds and give us better intelligence. But so far, I’ll give him thumbs up.

(Stopped foreign aid that would be used to fund abortions. ) – See my comments on the Mexico Policy above.

(Supported and upheld the ban on abortions at military hospitals ) – Upheld, which means it wasn’t changed before.

(Signed E.O. reversing Clinton policy of not requiring parental consent under the Medical Privacy Act) – But in many states, underage women can still get abortions without parental notification.

(Orchestrated Republican control of the White House, the House AND the Senate.) – The Republicans had control of the House and Senate BEFORE he became president.

(Killed the liberal ABA's role in vetting federal judges for Congress.) – Really? Have you read those Democrat memos? They are still having their strings pulled by the left and he’s losing on his Circuit Court judges with filibusters.

(GWB signed an executive order enforcing the Supreme Court's Beck decision (re: union dues being used for political campaigns against individual's wishes) ) – His father did this and Clinton didn’t reverse it, he just wouldn’t enforce it. Are union members getting their money back yet? No. Are the posters explaining their rights back up in the factories? I doubt.

(Brought back our EP-3 intel plane and crew from China without any bribes or bloodshed) – He let China save face and send the plane back in pieces in crates.

(Started withdrawing our troops from Bosnia and has announced withdrawal of our troops from Germany and the Korean DMZ.) – Huh? What withdrawls? I haven’t seen any troops leaving Germany and we just moved those in South Korea from the DMZ to a few more miles south. What about all those soldiers still in Haiti, Kosovo, Okinawa, etc?

(Signed the LARGEST nuclear arms reduction in world history with Russia ) – I’d think Reagan’s was larger. I hope we are verifying this reduction.

(Initiated comprehensive review of our military, which was completed just prior to 9/11/01, accurately reported that ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE was critical. ) – I’ll give him that. He’s let his people at the Pentagon do their jobs.

(Has CONSTRUCTION in process on the first ten ABM silos in Alaska, so that America will have a defense against North Korean nukes ) – Started already under Clinton, but I like it! I can’t wait for these to be operational.

(Turning around an inherited economy in recession.) – Tax cuts will do that. But this spending has got to stop or the added revenue with lower tax rates won’t keep up. And again, they expire in 2011 and business will again slow down if they think they won’t be maid permanent.

(Passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account as a result of corporate scandals.) – Didn’t need “new laws”. Should have just enforced the ones on the books. But it’s typical for government to just make new law all the time, it give the illusion of “doing something”. And why isn’t the SEC and IRS reformed to the point they don’t require corporations to treat costs one way on SEC forms and another on IRS forms? This is a big part of the problem of what looks bad.

(Reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains) – You said that already.

(In process of eliminating IRS marriage penalty. ) – But it never goes away, does it? And again, moot in 2011.

(Increased small business incentives to expand and to hire new people) – Too vague to comment on.

(Signed into law the No Child Left Behind legislation delivering the most dramatic education reforms in a generation (challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations) ) – Window dressing mostly. The NEA now just cheats on the testing and raises grades to comply. Should have forced the vouchers into the program, but he caved to Kennedy.

(Reorganized the INS in an attempt to safeguard the borders and ports of America and to eliminate bureaucratic redundancies and lack of accountability.) – You brought that up already with the Homeland Security Dept. above (which he opposed at first).

(Signed trade promotion authority) – Clinton wanted it, the GOP just wouldn’t give it to him. Not much good when he imposes and then removes steel tariffs.

(Committed US funds to purchase medicine for millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS in Africa) – Another thumbs up. He put up while the liberals just talked.

(Urging Medicare Reform) – Caved in the drug bill on real reforms. Urging and doing is two separate things.

(Urging federal liability reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits) – See above.

(Supports class action reform bill which limits lawyer fees so that more settlement money goes to victims ) – Then have Congress craft a bill and pass it.

(Submitted comprehensive energy plan--awaits Congressional action (works to develop cleaner technology, produce more natural gas here at home, make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy, improve national grid, etc.) ) – You mean that horribly bloated and pork filled bill that even the GOP couldn’t finally support? And, as usual, caved to the left on ANWR and loses the PR battle. The enviro-wackos are going to hate him even if he did 100% of what they want, so why bother playing footsy?

(Endorses and promotes The Responsibility Era ("In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. My hope is to change the culture from one that has said, if it feels good, do it; if you've got a problem, blame somebody else -- to one in which every single American understands that he or she are responsible for the decisions that you make; you're responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul; you're responsible for being involved with the quality of the education of your children; you're responsible for making sure the community in which you live is safe; you're responsible for loving your neighbor, just like you would like to be loved yourself. " -----this quote was too good to leave out) ) – Total fluff any president would say. But at least he said it.

(Started the USA Freedom Corps) – Can you say Americorp? A worthless organization that spends more of fancy office space and paying “volunteers”.

(Pushing for privatization of Medicare and CHOICES based on current Federal Employee Health benefits program.) – Caved in the drug bill. See above.

(Initiated review of all federal agencies with a goal to eliminate federal jobs (completed September 2003) in an effort to reduce the size of federal gov while increasing private sector jobs. ) – Sounds like “reinventing government” which is more window dressing while he let’s Congress fill up these agencies with more money and pork they wont’ control.

(Part of coalition (Russia, Israel, Palestine, USA) for Israeli/Palestinian "Roadmap to Peace" ) – No comment other than we know the “roadmap” is as dead as Oslo and everything before it. At least he won’t pretend Yassir That’s My Baby Arafat is someone to be bargained with.

(Challenged the United Nations to live up to their responsibilities and not become The League of Nations ( in other words, completely irrelevant) ) – Great. It’s like warning your kid to stop picking his nose. I say put some teeth in that challenge and threaten to pull out of the UN or kick them our of New York.

(Nominated strong, conservative judges to the judiciary.) – Who are sitting on their thumbs waiting…waiting…and waiting. He needs to use the bully pulpit more. Give an Oval Office address or something.

(Changed parts of the Forestry Management Act to allow necessary clean-up of the national forests in order to reduce fire danger) – Only after it was good PR after California burned. He wasn’t pushing it before that and didn’t even move when Tom Daschle sneaked in an exemption for South Dakota! He should have called Daschle on that as a hypocrite and demand action. But better late than never.

(As part of the national forests clean-up, the President restricted judicial challenges (based on the Endangered Species Act and other challenges) and removed the need for an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) before removing fuels/logging to reduce fire danger.) – See above.

(Significantly eased field-testing controls of genetically engineered crops.) – Good. But hardly something to run TV ads over!

And now the Supreme Court upheld McCain-Feingold that Bush signed while all the old “conventional wisdom”said not to worry, they won’t. Just like we are supposed to believe the tax rate cuts will stay in effect after 2011.

And I do like him telling France, Russia and in some part Germany to take a hike when it comes to OUR $18.6 billion.

And I’ll give you one more great thing he’s done – totally tick off the left to the point they are going nuts and acting like rabid dogs that will be heavily rejected by average Americans!

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