Replies

I hope it was civil, because it certainly was meant to be.

Your past remarks do exasperate me, but most often for tone rather than content. I accept the reality that all of us see world events in different and unique ways. But to claim it is the "TRUTH" that bothers people is unfair. Many simply disagree with your perspective on the facts. I am not entirely clear, but I believe you are part of the crowd that regularly labels those who agree with the President on certain issues, or try to understand what circumstances might lead to certain decisions or even those who admire him personally as "Bushbots."

I think many here would be surprised at how often I disagree with the President and yet I am a supporter because he is the current leader of MY TEAM. I would be less hesitant to discuss those disagreements if this place had not degenerated into a 24/7 Bush-bashing intellectually vapid brawl.

More time is currently spent here saying that "Bush is an intellectual lightweight, idiot, anti-us sovereignty (insert other paranoid perspective here ) than honestly analyzing how decisions he makes and diplomatic games he plays. What bothers me, is that incessant drumbeat of negativity which becomes self-fulfilling prophecy and strengthens those who wish to push us deeper into our own territory. This forum has become as dangerously and viciously anti-Bush as almost any leftist site.

That only empowers our enemies, foreign and domestic. It does nothing to strengthen our hand, nothing to convince our opponents of the rightness of our cause, nothing to suggest we are are more emotionally mature than a bunch of petty three-year olds, content to pine for the glory days of our now deceased and sainted grandfatherly Ronald Reagan instead of doing the hard work, making the hard choices necessary today.

The greatest irony of it all, is that based on statements and writings from President Reagan, he would be appalled. Reagan understood what it meant to be a team player, the importance of moving forward, what it means to be patient and why you don't shoot the members of your own team in an effort to change the direction of the momentum. He understood that perfect is the enemy of good.

Early in the thread, someone mentioned that we can all sit around and come up with lots of great ideas. President Bush, SOS Rice, Secretary Rumsfield, VP Cheney and the entire team have a much bigger responsibility and task: They have to figure out how to get from here to there. They actually have to DO something. Having us sit around and shoot them in the head, whine and cry is akin to having the kids in the back seat of the car arguing and asking "why aren't we there yet. Go faster daddy, consequences be damned." Frankly, they don't need the distraction.

I want to also mention, that I am in no way free of guilt on this issue. I get so irritated with it, that I can fall right down the rabbit hole and bitch, moan and ad hominem just like everyone else. All I'm saying is that President Bush didn't set the conservative agenda back 10-20 years all by himself. WE ARE ALL GUILTY of it in a 1001 ways.

We have stood around on the field bitching and moaning, and instead of blocking, allowed our own QB to be sacked. All the while feeling righteous because "it was his own fault." We watch him scramble and occasionally miss passes, but instead of giving the guy a hand, we laugh at what an idiot he is and talk about how "our last quarterback wouldn't have done something that stupid." It's childish.

I am tired of it. I am irritated by it. And frankly, it is excruciatingly embarrassing.

From all your venting and whining, you certainly sound exasperated, however, that's not my fault. That's your fault. Maybe you need a little time away from FR to recharge your batteries. Whatever.

Otherwise, here's my response to you.

In the world of politics, the facts and the truth rein supreme. Period. The historic record stands on its own. Historic revisionism is an unwelcome liberal tactic and has nothing to do with reality. As a political conservative I view the world through the prism of a strong defense, limited government, tax reform and the right to life for the unborn. Call them, the four pillars of Constitutional conservatism. Even though I'm a life long Republican and team player, I place my country before my party affiliation.

In the USA, free speech and political dissent are two critical aspects to our liberties. And to that extent, every American has a right to stand up and speak out. When Bush makes the right decision, conservatives will support him. When he makes the wrong decision, conservatives will oppose him. When Bush advances the conservative agenda, I support him. When Bush behaves like a spendthrift, I oppose him. Simple as that.

If Reagan was alive today and of sound mind and body, I too believe he would be appalled. Reagan would be appalled at the current state of affairs in the GOP. Reagan would be appalled at how this GOP POTUS and this GOP Congress have abandoned the conservative policy agenda on domestic issues, in favor of an expanded bureaucracy and more big government.

Free Republic is a conservative website. I come here to advance the conservative agenda. Its that simple.