Bush circles the wagons as approval ratings slip

The Washington Times ^ | June 3, 2006 | Joseph Curl

[namvet66]

With just five months to go before the midterm elections, President Bush, whose once-faithful base has abandoned him in droves, is turning to the same conservative hot-button issues that won him re-election in 2004 -- homosexual "marriage" and judicial nominees. The president, now fully aware that his plummeting approval ratings could cost the Republicans control of one or both congressional chambers in November, will use his radio address today and a speech Monday to push a constitutional amendment banning same-sex "marriage," just as the Senate prepares to vote on the issue. The crux of his argument is simple: A majority of Americans support the idea that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman, and activist judges across the country are thwarting the will of the people.

[tomnbeverly]

Yep just goes to show that the liberals learned a lot from Karl Rove....

[holyscroller]

If I hear him say, "I was wrong. As of this moment, the borders are closed. If you are here illegally, leave now! If you hire illegals, we will be after you. We will be billing the home countries for all services received by illegals..." then I'll listen to whatever else he has to say.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Yep and the socialists led by hillary and company infest this board supporting legislation that will sell our nation's sovereignty down the drain if it passes.

[SmoothTalker]

"The truth is, many of "our side" are really the opposition."

The opposition to the liberal/internationalist policies of the President. Perhaps but I see no shame in that. I am loyal to my ideology not to that of any specific elected offical.

[gathersnomoss]

"...homosexual "marriage" and judicial nominees"...

Way off base Bush. This guy is clueless and doesn't give a piss. This apple did not afterall fall far from the tree. His daddy got very weak in the end. Watching HWB, during a televised interview, eating an apple and drooling during his reelection attempt was sickening.

We need leadership now. Mid term elections be damned.

[freedumb2003]

Either they're liberals pretending to be conservatives or they're groups like the old Pat Buchanan Brigades

Or they are real conservative who believe that amnesty rewards lawbreaking and that Bush's many actions AGAINST Conservative values such as steel and farm subsidies, bloating the Federal Government, signing into law the largest Socialist Boondoggle ever, timid support of the SSI change proposal, etc. etc. finally hit the wall with his amnesty proposal WHICH HE CONTINUES TO TRY TO SELL.

[gathersnomoss]

..."Here is a picture of him doing so:"

Yeah, whatever. Sham!

[Paladin2]

No one was voting for reform, we were voting for a continued WOT. The hope was that once reelected W, could finally back away from an open border. Stil waiting.

[Walkin Man]

Finally, while we Conservatives are extremely disappointed in so many areas and issues you have supported (or conversely not supported);and while many of us are criticize and condemn, we have NOT forsaken you or the Republican Party—which unfortunately, is the ONLY viable political party which closely reflects our views.

Speak for yourself friend, not all conservatives and not me for sure!

The Bush administration and the repub party lost me a long time ago.

Now instead of doing the right thing, the constitutional thing, the thing GW swore on the Bible he would do...protect this nation from invasion...

Our president will trot out the tired tactic of mis-direction with the anti gay marriage proposal.

Not gonna fall for the dog and pony show this time repubs.

Seal the borders and repel the illegal invaders or let the damn rat party take over. Maybe then any real conservatives left in the repub party will discover a spine and choose the USA over party!

[Soul Seeker]

"Democrats will make a huge mistake if they're too partisan and refuse to give us a hearing on the nominees. So it's not even the vote that matters, it's what Democrats do when the nominations come in," the former official said.

Not even close to understanding. It does matter that there are votes.

If Democrats move to squelch the nominations, the president plans to hammer home the split on core values between the two parties in an attempt to woo back his base.

You aren't getting back your base by playing partisan games, calling them names and still pushing for amnesty.

"We need to remind Republicans to hang together because the alternative is much, much worse," the former official said.

Whatever.

"Pushing these two issues is going to shore up the base, because it will remind them of our core values, what is important to us."

To us? Gee, now you WANT to associate with us crazy right wing yahoos? Well don't I feel so special. :-)

Kill the Judicial filibuster. That will win you some support. Pretending you can't confirm judges because of DEMOCRATS won't play this time, not with 55 Senators. I'm aware they are Liberal but that's your problem. Why don't you sell them on the line they have to do it for the good of the party and Dems are worse?

Bottom line you can't yank our chain anymore. No amnesty, enforce the border, and kill the filibuster. That will win you support.

[Biblebelter]

When a Republican President sides with Teddy Kennedy and the Democrats against a 2 to 1 majority of Senators in his own party, then that President is in a wilderness he and only he can get himself out of. Political posturing on gay marriage just emphasizes how badly he has lost his way. As far as the congressional elections go, it is every Republican for himself. And at least the Republicans in the House are a little closer to the will of the people than Bush and the RINO's and they know no immigration bill is very bad for them, but the Bush-Fox-Kennedy plan is doomsday for hopes of retaining the House.

[Gay State Conservative]

Um, do you even know how the legislative process works?

Yah,I think I do.The Sovereign hands down a decree to his Privy Council who,in turn,publishes it to all the King's subjects.

How did I do?

[isthisnickcool]

Yeah, whatever. Sham!

Well that's the first time I've ever been called a decorative cover made to simulate an article of household linen and used over or in place of it.

Not a sham, I was once a huge supporter of "W" and likely was so way before you ever heard of him. It was people like me that got him elected Gov. in Texas. He's so wrong-headed on this issue it makes my teeth hurt. And he better get right with it fast. It's a huge issue and getting larger every day as the illegals move further and further "inland" in to the US.

I have not desire to live in Mexico. But that is what Texas is turning in to. I was recently at a downtown Houston eatery and several hispanics had tee shirts on that explain how we stole several states from Mexico and we are the invaders, etc. I also witnessed the recent marches in Houston. They are getting more radical and letting in huge numbers of new ones will eventually destroy this country. You may not like to hear that but that's what is going to happen.

[Vision Thing]

Wow that about sums it up. I never heard Bush say he was going to takle immigration in his SOTU or in any of his 04 campaign promises....

In 2000, 9/11 was not one of Bush's campaign promises. Why? Because it didn't happen yet. But boy, he sure did make it his top priority.

In 2004, illegal alien threats against the American social and political structure was not a campaign issue. Why? Because it didn't happen yet.

Their protests --- which brought out several million of them --- happened in 2006, which is two years after Bush could have made any campagin promises about them in 2004.

Capiche?

[ruschpa]

agree with you 110%... remember when we had the two SC picks and all the arguement and debate gong on here at FR? i don't remember anybody here saying that the border issue was more important. Who sits on the judiciary is just as important or more...

[tomnbeverly]

Sorry that went way over my head.. no capiche.... So you are trying to equate the terrorist attacks on the U.S. with Illegals that have been coming across the northern borders, southern borders, container ships, airplanes, boats for the last couple hundred years or so.... I am a little lost here 9-11 an event that happened on this Presidents watch was more then handled... His Big picture goal to solve this problem is to establish peace and democracy in the middle east... talk about a big ticket item.... should get him on Rushmore but the idiot dems know that and so try to make him solve everything from cancer to world hunger and if he can't then we drive immigration wedge issue and split his base.... This is a direct page from Karl Rove political handbook... sorry but I thought Conservative were a little brighter then that.... so the liberals have won a majority of the people here over.... not surprising... so when you get Hillary and Nancy Pelosi solving them Illegal immigration issues... hahahahhahha I will be on this board saying you should have stood behind W at the time and you might have got at least 75 percent of what you wanted done instead of opting for the 100 percent or noting mentality... Jeez...

[RJL]

Find them and deport them.. will take years and years... probably through my lifetime... so easier to offer some type of guest worker program...document them and get them on the path to citizenship... This is exactly the right (common sense) non-emotional, compassionate .. approach..

The illegals got here by themselves, if we remove the incentives for them to stay they will get home themselves as well.

[Uncle Hal]

It is obvious that Bush and Rove are pushing this gay marriage ban with the hope they will get some conservatives back on the reservation after they defected over the illegals issue. It will not work. Although I am against gay marriage, right now it pales in comparison to the immigration problem.

[STARWISE]

It is an issue now.

It's been one for decades. Why now? Because Bush is the first president to take it on, and the MSM has decided to focus on the MinuteMen and the rallies, and lofty speeches of the do-nothing-congresscritters (who've looked aside all these years) who are using it, in many cases, for their own political gains?

[namvet66]

"I am 100 percent behind this President who by the way remains a true U.S. hero"

I respect and like President Bush as a person.

As a Hero?

Yes he was (and could still be) an inspirational, charismatic, Hero (and leader we would gladly follow anywhere) if he could only find himself and revert back to the George Bush (we knew and loved) who stood at Ground Zero, moved many of us to tears, and made us proud (in spite of the attack and our losses) to be AMERICANS!

This is the President Bush I so wish we could have today and taking a "Leadership" role (and taking it right to the people as the Gipper did) on so many issues, near and dear to our (Conservative) hearts.

"I hear you," he said!

He may still "hear us" but sadly, I don't believe he is any longer listening--at least to the majority of us who supported and voted for him.