Dick Morris Restates "Big Theory" (Rush Limbaugh)

Rush Limbaugh ^ | June 24, 2003 | Rush Limbaugh

[TLBSHOW]

Dick Morris Restates "Big Theory"

June 24, 2003

by Rush Limbaugh

On May 28th of this year, I issued "The BIG Theory" on my program. I said that President Bush's strategy is to steal away Democrat issues by voting for big government programs. I then asked, "What happens when you get in office, and your goal is getting re-elected? Is there ever a point where you say, 'We have all the support we need. Now we can start rolling back government and expanding freedom'?" I'm deeply troubled by this tactic, because it involves rejecting our conservative principles in order to win elections.

Dick Morris calls Bush's strategery "triangulation," comparing it to Bill Clinton positioning himself between liberals and conservatives on issues such as welfare reform. Morris writes that "President Bush has stolen all the Democratic issues," and lists everything from Medicare drug benefits to Head Start to welfare called "tax credits" for people who don't pay taxes. Morris says that advancing big government in the name of "compassion" has helped to assure Bush's reelection. With the war issue faded, Bush has "gotten his political act together with a speed and sureness that shows what a magnificently gifted politician he truly is." So much for Democrats rerunning 1992.

There's just one thing that Morris did not get. Bush isn't just trying to win a second term. He's trying to attract new Republican voters. By acting like liberal Democrats who want to force taxpayers to fund new entitlements, Bush is in essence saying, "I'm your guy." If he's successful in getting even a small percentage of the minority vote that reliably goes Democrat, in addition to keeping conservatives happy on things like tax cuts, this could end up being a major realignment. A lot of people who've apparently been in the meetings with Bush send me e-mails saying, "No, no, no, Rush! Bush is going to get these huge majorities in the House and Senate, then use them to advance conservatism!" Well, I haven't been in those meetings - but even if that does happen, at that point you can wave good-bye to all those new voters.

[TLBSHOW]

By acting like liberal Democrats who want to force taxpayers to fund new entitlements, Bush is in essence saying, "I'm your guy."

Rush Limbaugh

[Sabertooth]

A lot of people who've apparently been in the meetings with Bush send me e-mails saying, "No, no, no, Rush! Bush is going to get these huge majorities in the House and Senate, then use them to advance conservatism!" Well, I haven't been in those meetings - but even if that does happen, at that point you can wave good-bye to all those new voters.

OK, which of you Freepers having pulling Rush's leg? Nice work, very funny.

[Dane]

By acting like liberal Democrats who want to force taxpayers to fund new entitlements, Bush is in essence saying, "I'm your guy."

Huh and Rush can bloviate from the safety of his golden microphone.

JMO, but I will take a good political thinker who is fighting in the trenches(Bush), rather than a name dropper(Rush) who goes on golf vacations to Ireland with ratty rat Today show second banana, Matt Lauer.

[Satadru]

There is a much better way for Bush to steal issues from Democrats. Why doesn't he simply change his party affiliation? That way, he will not even have an opponent in 2004. And, it will be more honest anyways.

[Weimdog]

In other words, Bush is a RINO.

[habs4ever]

I bet this is more likely: Bush will give the middle all the gov't it wants, and cut taxes as far as possible for the revenues to to meet those gov't programme expectations.I am suprised no Democrat ever got wise to this.Oh, the added bonus is that the Judiciary goes Right, and Defense is a top priority under Pubbies.

So Saber, Big gov't is here to stay, but as long as the top rates get cut every year, along with capital gains, the bite of gov't won't be as onerous as you may think.Did you really think anything but cutting gov't on the margins was possible?

[Miss Marple]

Oh, I see we have our evening Bash Bush thread up and running.

Reminds me of all the help Rush was in the 92 election.

Hope he gets his football gig; maybe then we will get a break from all this self-importance.

[TUX]

Ah Yes...its political season once again boys and girls and the Perot, Buchanan, people come out to play.

Time for the circular firing squad to form.

[Dane]

Hope he gets his football gig; maybe then we will get a break from all this self-importance.

Kinda of doubt it, he was passed over for an equally self absorbed Dennis Miller, and he crashed and burned.

JMO, but Rush is in a kinda of purgatory, where Rush's perpetual kneejerk(in Rush's words, "principled") devotion to malcontentism, will be his downfall, IMO.

[deport]

rushbo is still hacked because he's not been invited back to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom... Different Bush occupying the Big House now...

[Sabertooth]

Bush will give the middle all the gov't it wants, and cut taxes as far as possible for the revenues to to meet those gov't programme expectations.

If the prescription drugs vote-buying scam is passed and signed, those numbers won't add up and we'll go broke sooner. Maybe that's the real strategery, who knows?

So Saber, Big gov't is here to stay

So, the second half of "compassionate conservatism" is the lie it always seemed to be.

Did you really think anything but cutting gov't on the margins was possible?

I thought that not growing the government faster than Bill Clinton did was possible, but I'm somewhat starry-eyed.

President Bush is to the left of John F. Kennedy, but at least he's not a whoremonger.

[Satadru]

What does your tagline mean? It is only 2003 now.

[Satadru]

You honestly believe that Bush the Sr. would have been any better than Bill Clinton?

[TLBSHOW]

Thats for sure, a liberal acting one. Worst part is Bush isn't acting.

[DPB101]

Drug benefits and education are extremely popular. Be better to have RATS run the programs? I don't think so.

[Weimdog]

Not my opinion, Rush's.

[Sabertooth]

Oh, I see we have our evening Bash Bush thread up and running.

Reminds me of all the help Rush was in the 92 election.

Thanks for checking in with the first "Bushes are beyond accountability" response.

Bush 41 and his team were responsible for the fiasco of 1992, not Rush Limbaugh.

[Dane]

You honestly believe that Bush the Sr. would have been any better than Bill Clinton?

And you honestly beleive that a second Bush 41 term would have been worse?

Oh, BTW, for the historical record, if Clinton hadn't been elected in 92 , it is very doubtful that two of the five votes in the recent Supreme Court recent ruling on affirmative action(written by Reagan appointee, O'Connor) would have been there for that vote(Ginsberg and Breyer), thus nullifying Reagan appointee O'Connor's vote.

[Miss Marple]

You honestly are asking that question?

Begone, fringer!

Whatever else President George H.W. Bush was, he loved this country, supported the military, and conducted himself with dignity.