Sowing the Seeds of GOP Domination

Washington Post ^

[yankeeman]

"Tennessee will be run by Steve."

"West Virginia -- we have three people."

"North Dakota is tough. You talked to Michigan?"

Diners brushed past the men unaware, as Ken Mehlman and Grover Norquist hopscotched across state lines, refining what Norquist calls, with a wink, "our secret plan to seize power." Mehlman, the Bush-Cheney campaign manager, and Norquist, gardener of the conservative grass roots, were discussing a new tactic for the 2004 election: The campaign would activate the conservative base as it never had before.

[The Old Hoosier]

The campaign would activate the conservative base as it never had before.

Too bad, Bush has already deflated these plans.

[yankeeman]

ouch- may i assume you refer to overspending. Care to elaborate. He has a lot of work to do, that is for sure but if one had asked in January of 2000 would he be president I wonder what the answer would have been.

dba

[Texas Federalist]

The campaign would activate the conservative base as it never had before. Too bad, Bush has already deflated these plans.

Oh, I'm active alright. I haven't been this pissed off at politics in about 10 years.

[The Old Hoosier]

The amnesty plan has upset people more than even the ever-growing domestic spending. This is the first thing, I think, that could actually endanger his hold on the conservative base. People were upset about the new drug entitlement, but they're more upset about this--way more upset--and it's a much more passionate issue among conservatives. I will not be surprised if there are some boos for our president at CPAC this year.

Bush is risking Arizona, New Mexico and Florida to pick up a few votes from so-called "nice people," center-left-leaning whites who will approve of the amnesty plan, and possibly one or two extra points of the hispanic vote.

If conservatives get upset and don't turn out like we did in 2002, he'll have no one to blame but himself. Of course I'd rather see him win, but I keep wondering why.

[Land of the Free 04]

After introducing Daniel Sutherland, the Department of Homeland Security's officer of civil rights and civil liberties, Norquist cocked his head: "Explain to us, are we for this or against this?"

When Joshua B. Bolten, director of the Office of Management and Budget, came, Norquist asked, "For those of us on the outside, when someone sticks a mike in our face and says, 'Spending is up! You guys on the right are failing,' what are the talking points?"

Bootlicker.

[CIB-173RDABN]

After reading the first few responses to this thread I see it is going to be another "Bash Bush" tread.

I for one am getting tired of this "I am a conservative and only what I define to be conservative can be one, and let me tell you that President Bush is no conservative."

To which I reply - tough, get over it.

President Bush is not a conservative by the standards of those that visit this forum, and the reason is quite simple.

This forum by definition is made up of like minded people to the right of center. If President Bush made us all happy, he would not be able to get elected dog catcher.

If you have not notice guys (and gals) we are not the center, and it is only someone that appeals to the center that can get elected in this country. Those are the facts of life, and if you don't like it, then find a conservative candidate that you do like and vote for them, as long as you understand that it is the same as voting for the Democratic Candidate.

We are all sitting around here having a good laugh as Dean panders to the far left wing of the Democratic party, and yet there are many here that want President Bush to "pander' to the far right wing of the Republican party. Well kiddos, if he did, he would have as much chance to win as Dean does.

If you don't like President Bush, then don't vote for him, but don't delude yourself into thinking you will ever find Mister Perfect, the knight on shining armor that will save this nation, it is not going to happen.

The only way this nation will be moved to the right is when the majority of the population wants it moved to the right. It is a very slow process, one I think we are in right now. It took 60 or 70 years to get as far left as we did, and it is going to take as long to move back the other way.

[KantianBurke]

"The only way this nation will be moved to the right is when the majority of the population wants it moved to the right."

Two questions. How was the free pills for granny act "moving towards the right?" Second, what possible political gain can be had for an act such as amnesty which is overwhelmingly opposed by most folks?

[BooBoo1000]

You are absolutely correct, we will never ever find a perfect President. We will have to settle for someone that seems to come close to what we want as conservatives. Bush would be in real trouble if he pandered to the far right, so I guess we have to hold our collective noses, and vote for him.He is better than any of the other choices/ Lets band together and really take control of the Washington Scene with a veto proof Senate.

[Sirloin]

I don't think it matters to these kool-aid drinkers. Getting re-elected is all that matters, principles be damned.

I realize that politicians won't do everything I want them to do (or even most of what I want them to do), but when the Bush Administration proposes and signs wave after wave of blatantly anti-constitutional legislation, I get disgusted.

Can you imagine the squealing if a Dem was making these kinds of moves? But no, as long as its our team doing the screwing of the public its ok.

[Texas Federalist]

If you have not notice guys (and gals) we are not the center, and it is only someone that appeals to the center that can get elected in this country. Those are the facts of life, and if you don't like it, then find a conservative candidate that you do like and vote for them, as long as you understand that it is the same as voting for the Democratic Candidate.

I think most of us recognize the realities of a Presidential election. However, this hostility against Bush comes from the fact that he has continuously sold out conservatives. Aside from the war on terror and the tax cut, he has governed as a Democrat. Ronald Reagan instituted a complete amnesty in 1986. Although conservatives may not have liked this, it did not invoke the hostility that Bush is facing because Reagan, for the most part, governed like a conservative. He was not a "knight in shining armor" like you claim we are looking for, but he was true to conservatives and, thus, is considered by conservatives as the prototype President.

Also, to say a conservative can't win a presidential election is a lie. Bush I governed as a centrist and lost. Reagan governed as a conservative and won reelection convincingly. Why? Because instead of adjusting his beliefs to match those of the mob, he adjusted the views of the mob to match his. That is called "leading".

[CIB-173RDABN]

Also, to say a conservative can't win a presidential election is a lie

---

I will stand corrected. What I should have said was someone who would make many on this forum happy, would not win election. We have a element on this forum that are mirror image of the Dean supporters. To those, I say, get a life.

[Land of the Free 04]

to say a conservative can't win a presidential election is a lie. Bush I governed as a centrist and lost. Reagan governed as a conservative and won reelection convincingly. Why? Because instead of adjusting his beliefs to match those of the mob, he adjusted the views of the mob to match his. That is called "leading".

Well said! Also, it didn't take as much "adjusting" as some Bushbots would have you believe, because this country is right of center on many issues.

[Pelham]

Mmm, yummy koolaid.