Bush and Conservative Movement Headed for Divorce

Human Events ^ | 18 October 2005 | Bruce Bartlett

[Smelly_Fed]

With today's revelation that Miers will likely vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, I think you're right... the left will go to the mattresses on this which means they'll fillibuster.

If taken to a vote, the Dems will vote no as a block and we'll likely see some defections from Conservatives.

I hope this nomination is turned back and a known conservative justice put forward - McConnell, Brown, Owens, Luttig etc. A justice who has a long history of judicial restraint.

[mlc9852]

But he's way better than Kerry!

[Atlas Sneezed]

Don't forget:
"I'll sign an extension of the assault weapons ban"

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

IMO the divorce is between the social and religious Conservatives and the "neo-cons"

I wouldn't say that at all. It wouldn't have surprised me if that had happened, but that's not what this is about, imo. I count myself as the social/religious/fiscal conservative but I'm with Bartlett on everything he said here.

BTW, "they" are not destroying the GOP. They are trying to preserve whatever principles it has left.

[A.Hun]

Actually, they are a lot lower than the Dems counterproposals.

[Cincinna]

Agree 100%

[Huck]

I haven't gotten that impression. He's been posting basically negative columns on Human Events for some time now. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but it's a fact. But my question remains: who did he vote for? Maybe he's forgotten, but the reason a lot of conservatives voted for him was because the other choice was clearly worse.

[SevenMinusOne]

GEORGE BUSH IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE!

Yawn - GWB received more support from the GOP and Conservative base then has ANY other President modern history (more so then R.R. even).

The Conservative base is made up of intellectual ideas and within those in our base there is some disagreement.

On the whole GWB has been a great leader. This whole "anti-GWB" within the GOP spin is being driven by the MSM (and some cheap whores within the party are falling in line just to get themselves on TV).

GWB is a conservative. He has found himself in positions where he has had to make calls that he might have made differently if circumstances were different (just like R.R. tax INCREASES in 84, 86). Not to mention R.R. putting SDO on the Court for NO other reason then she was a WOMEN.

[wouldntbprudent]

He is a lot more conservative than John Kerry.

Yup.

I'm not divorcing the GOP.

[Cincinna]

Isn't that exactly what I stated?

[Huck]

At best conservatives were naïve about Bush; at worst, they sold-out much of what they claim to believe in.

This is the line I object to. Who did he vote for?? Is he talking about himself??

[Buffettfan]

No divorce needed here. Bush and the republicans will see things our way (especially on immigration reform and the borders) or will hand power over to somebody else that will.

[Atlas Sneezed]

He is a lot more conservative than John Kerry.

---

True. Kerry is a fringe Boston leftist.

But I wonder if you think what Bush DOES (not merely says) is much different from, say, what Joe Lieberman would be doing.

[Huck]

IMO the divorce is between the social and religious Conservatives and the "neo-cons"

Which basically means the Chris Matthews/Don Imus crowd was right after all?

[TXBSAFH]

Please keep in mind I live just outside of Houston TX, and I have heard at least 6 times in the past few month GW called a rockerfeller republican.

[Smelly_Fed]

So that her presentation at the hearings does not reveal how badly they over-reacted and cause a loss of esteem among reasonable conservatives,

Your assertion is wrong. Conservatives haven't overreacted. The Bush Administration failed to recognize what issue most motivates conservatives - SCOTUS appointees who are Constitutionalist Originalists and who will exercise judicial restraint.

There is a laundry list of potential nominees who are known quantities and who fit that bill. Harriet Miers doesn't appear in the top 100.

[Huck]

But I wonder if you think what Bush DOES (not merely says) is much different from, say, what Joe Lieberman would be doing.

It's funny that you say that. I didn't vote for GWB in 2000. And in 04, I was really hoping that Lieberman would win the Dem nod, so that there might actually be a somewhat rational debate. But of course he got trounced. That's why things are the way they are. One party is overrun with moonbats.

[pollyannaish]

Ok, here's the thing.

If no one is truly conservative in the Senate and only a very, very few are truly conservative in the house...

When do I look around and think that maybe its me?

I'm not trying to pick a fight. I am just saying that it is HIGHLY probable that "being conservative" is as complicated an issue as "being a Christian." It means different things to different people and therefore, in order to win national and often regional elections, one must appeal to the broadest segment of where society is at the moment.

And even more shocking...that flattening out of competing ideas is exactly what the framers intended.

[advance_copy]

The conservative movement divorced "Human Events" years ago, and we told them they could keep the kids.

[Hank Rearden]

He is a lot more conservative than John Kerry.

"I don't suck as much as he does!" isn't much of a legacy foundation.