Is President Bush A Conservative--Sullivan's Question

Andrewsullivan.com ^ | July 21, 2003 | Andrew Sullivan

[jagrmeister]

Cutting taxes by over $1,000,0000,000,000 (yes, that's $1 trillion!) is pretty damn conservative. Look, even Reagan expanded domestic spending. Bush has been conservative on so many domestic issues including cutting corporate welfare (think ATV and OPIC subsidies), abolishing environmental regulations (ie: shortening time for environemntal review of sale of land), and opening up government jobs to the private sector. The list goes on and on but my basic message to fellow Republicans- now is not the time to bellyache. We have much work to do and Bush, while not perfect, is getting a lot of good done.

[AntiGuv]

I think we agree, the federal government taxes too much and spends too much. And something must be done to slow down the advance of the federal bureaucracy.

On that we do. Above all else, I'm suspending judgment in hopes that Bush will unveil the FairTax reform as a central part of his '04 platform. In the absence of that, I'll await to see what his central issues become since I'm rather confident he's holding a few cards up his sleeve. I'll be severely disappointed if he bases his campaign on the singular WoT issue.

[Reagan Man]

>>>I agree, but how are we to wean people off these programs?

We can't wait until medicare and social security eat up 90% of the federal budget, before we take serious action. Privatization is the only answer to the social security problem. Medicare needs to be limited to those elderly poor, caught in the worst personal situations. Fighting waste, fraud and abuse is also critical. And real tax reform is something that needs to happen.

To accomplish these great goals, its crucial that more conservative Republican's are elected to public office and its just as crucial, that we don't allow liberal Democrat's to regain the power they once held in WashDC. The idea is to push the conservative agenda, year after year and appoint more and more conservative judges to the federal courts.

Remember, politics is a slow process.

[Gracey]

Thus far, the evidence suggests Dubya is a social conservative AND fiscal liberal.

Right now, our country should be concerned more about the Military preparedness and securing our country. Thanks to Carter and the Shah of Iran controversy during his administration and the DO NOTHING militarily where the Islamofacists became strong during the Clintonista do nothing administration (except tear down the military) we finally have a president who understands that there is nothing more important than keeping this country SAFE and SECURE from those who wish to do our country and it's citizens, HARM.

THANK YOU PRESIDENT BUSH!!!

Every day I thank him for CARING about me, my children OUR wonderful country. He's a man of his word. The rest is BS if we don't have security.

[nyconse]

I don't believe that for a minute. I've seen your posts before. LOL

[nyconse]

I agree with your entire post. In order for this to happen, we must not elect another Dem President.

[Gracey]

I am passionately against electing democrats. LOL

LOL. I must meet you sometime. YOu're great!!! I'm an ex smoker. LOL Hey, but I still like my booze and Republicans.

[nyconse]

That would be great. I like to relax with an adult beverage now and again also. Recently, I had a new drink-chocolate marini. It contains two of my favorite things vodka and chocolate: yum. LOL

[Gracey]

I plugged in "nyconse" on google and came up with several of your freeper posts. LOL

Now lady, what is nyconse. I can rest tonight without knowing.

[nyconse]

that's martini-must preview, must preview.

[Gracey]

It contains two of my favorite things vodka and chocolate: yum. LOL

Yummy. Some nice freeper gave me a gift, Saturday, at our picnic. It was Lady Godiva (chocolate) coffee. Never heard of it but might try it with my vodka. Care to join me? LOL

[Reagan Man]

I think anything is possible with George W.Bush and Karl Rove at the political controls. While I support a flat tax as the centerpiece of any legitimate tax reform to reduce the tax burden on American's, I wouldn't turn down a national retail sales tax/consumption tax. But I wouldn't bet the farm on PresBush making that a goal of his 2004 re-election campaign.

OTOH, I wouldn't be surprised if he pushed for some form of real tax reform during his second term in office and a also made a strong effort to battle waste, fraud and abuse in the federal bureaucracy.

The WoT will be his #1 priority in the 2004 campaign.

[AntiGuv]

The WoT will be his #1 priority in the 2004 campaign.

I can deal with the WoT as his #1 priority, just not as his singular priority. I want to hear some substantive presentation of his fiscal policy reform plans - assuming they exist - rather than vague platitudes. I can also deal with it not being the consumption tax itself, so long as it's a meaningful amalgam of policies I support. The FairTax is my ideal.

I know Bush despises any tax with a passion otherwise reserved only for terrorists. That much I acknowledge.

[nyconse]

My husband is from the Bronx. He had the handle NYconserv. This was shortened when we got Bell south DSL to nyconse (too many characters). I meant to change the name-pick one of my own, but alas I am lazy and not that creative. After 9-11,(my husband lost many friends; he went to Manhattan College/pages and pages of obituaries in the alumni mag), I didn't want to take the ny out so there it is. We live in Georgia now. I am the proud Mother of four great kids. I probably should change the name. Someone asked me not long ago if I was an ex-con!

[nyconse]

I sure would!

[nyconse]

bump

[nyconse]

where are you from-if you don't mind me asking? I didn't know there were freeper picnics-still pretty new.

[Gracey]

Our Austin Texas (HOT) chapter of FR had a picnic Saturday. I handle the communications (e-mail, etc) for the club. Consequently, a nice freeper brought me the Godiva... just to say thanks. But I'll share with you.

Here are a couple of links to our event. Check out some of ValerieUSA pics.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/945548/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/949471/posts

[Sir Gawain]

You frighten me.