[George W. Bush]

I think the most serious problem to getting out a GOP vote this year will be overcoming Bush's support for his don't-call-it-amnesty policy. And the tremendous expansion in spending and the money squandered on the Department of Education and other liberal moneywasters. The SOTU threw a bone to the religious right on banning sodomite marriage but it won't be enough unless Bush really pushes for a constitutional amendment.

But it's the amnesty that will hurt the most in '04. The big-spending grousing will disappear as the economy recovers more.

I don't think any of these issues will make any great number of conservatives or religious righters switch to voting Dim, Libertarian, Constitution Pary, etc.

They'll just stay home. Like 3 million evangelicals did in 2000. Rove is still wailing about it and has no solution, it seems. I expect even more stay-at-homes this time around.

Bush did very well to recess-appoint Pickering. He needs to follow up with the other two appointments the Dims blocked as well. We were promised conservative Scalia-style judges in 2000. He needs to appoint the other two and do it now.

[ohioWfan]

If evangelical Christians stay home, they are not being true to their faith, and they are being lousy Americans on top of it.

Bush has well over 90% of the support of Republicans.....his BASE.....and he has NOT lost them (us) because of immigration.

He may have lost the fringes of the right, but he never 'had' them to begin with. The rest of us are bright enough to understand that we will disagree on issues with ANY President, and don't threaten to abandon him if he goes 'astray' from our litmus list.

Most of this "I won't vote for him NOW" stuff going on here is BUNK.

[Wolfstar]

See my Post #51.

[deport]

He needs to appoint the other two and do it now.

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And what if they don't want the recess appointment? You going to force them?

[ClancyJ]

I heard the offer was extended to several nominees but Pickering was the only one accepting the offer.