Bush undermines conservatism

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | July 24, 2003 | GEORGE WILL

[Vindiciae Contra TyrannoSCOTUS]

This is the summer of conservatives' discontent. Conservatism has been disoriented by events in the last several weeks. Cumulatively, foreign and domestic developments constitute an identity crisis of conservatism, which is being recast--and perhaps rendered incoherent.

George W. Bush may be the most conservative person to serve as president since Calvin Coolidge. Yet his presidency is coinciding with, and is in some instances initiating or ratifying, developments disconcerting to four factions within conservatism.

[Vindiciae Contra TyrannoSCOTUS]

Bush only feeds LEVIATHAN.¹ Any democrat would feed us to LEVIATHAN.² Although, LEVIATHAN is far more destructive and dangerous to this Nation than any terrorist, the electorate is too dependent on LEVIATHAN, to elect an independent.

1.Leviathan II 17

2.Leviathan II 18 & RJ Rummel

[Nonstatist]

Two weeks ago, the administration reaffirmed the unfair implementation standards of the Title IX ban on sex discrimination in college athletics. Those standards are now immortal, having received a conservative administration's approval.

All of you who LOVE this guy , please sign in. Conservative turnout is going to be LOW. Just wait and see.

[MattinNJ]

Depends on who he runs against. Admittedly Dubya has tacked left to gain the middle ground causing him to erode his base. However, if HRC is the Dem nominee, the GOP will come out in droves.

[Bikers4Bush]

I think you're right. Turnout will be low and he will lose over his stance on this and other liberal issues.

[Dane]

All of you who LOVE this guy , please sign in. Conservative turnout is going to be LOW. Just wait and see

Yawn, just like it was in 2000, but what the hey you purists had Pat Buchanan and Harry Browne to vote for in 2000.

JMO, but I think most of the most vocal against Bush didin't vote for him but voted for the BB's, Buchanan and Brown, and just like a BB, their impact was small, a whole 1%.

Again JMO, but don't shoot with a BB gun. Like your Mom said , you'll shoot your eye out.

[stainlessbanner]

bttt

[Catspaw]

Already posted

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/951620/posts

[Cyber Liberty]

A few times, I'd wager.

[kevkrom]

Today a conservative administration is close to asserting that whatever the facts turn out to be regarding Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, the enforcement of UN resolutions was a sufficient reason for war.

This is very misleading. The violation of the UN resolutions was a violation of the terms of the 1991 cease-fire. In essense, we resumed hostitlites against Iraq because the violated their agreements with the US, not the UN.

[Catspaw]

Oh, I'm sure that it's been posted a few times already--and will be posted again & again & again.

[Beck_isright]

"All of you who LOVE this guy , please sign in. Conservative turnout is going to be LOW. Just wait and see."

Ditto. I'm only voting in the local elections. I've had enough of the shams in the House, Senate and White House. If he had backed his conservative judges and forced the Senate to go to the mat, I might respect him more. But he's nothing more than a pale imitation of his father in my book. And just a tad to the right of the last anal retentive individual who was in charge the previous 8 years. This conservative in Florida is on the sidelines, financially and with my vote.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Unless a strong left wing Rat runs agains him, the conservatives will stay away in droves. If he continues to alienate his base for the next 15 months seeking some pie-in-the-sky "big tent", no matter who the put up against him, turnout will be low.

[Cyber Liberty]

The day is young, and it's a long time to November '04.

[Dane]

Unless a strong left wing Rat runs agains him, the conservatives will stay away in droves

Are you gunning for Ms. Cleo's job?

[Cyber Liberty]

You forgot the obligatory, "He didn't throw Clinton & Co. in orange jumpsuits, so Bush and all Republicans have lost my vote forever."

Really, you lack verve without it.

[Dane]

The day is young, and it's a long time to November '04

This mirrors the summer of 99, when FR was inundated with Buchanan articles and later, Feb. 2000 when the McCainiacs flooded the forum.

[Mr. Bird]

I certainly do like the man, if not all of the actions (or inactions) he has taken. I'll vote for him again, and I won't hold my nose when I do it.

[Cyber Liberty]

Ah, yes.....I remember those days. Remmeber when we were all waiting with baited breath at when A+Bert was going to get his mail-in ballot for the Deformed Party?

Sigh....there were giants in those days....

[Cyber Liberty]

Actually, this election reminds me more of 1972 than 2000.

[BonnieJ]

Well, I voted for a 3rd-party candidate in 1992 and I have regretted it ever since, as have most likely about 19% of the voting population from that year. We helped strap us all with Clinton by choosing a loser in Perot.

I wish I could persuade you who believe that Kerry, Dean, Gephardt, Hillary, Lieberman are no worse than President Bush that a vote for a moderate Republican is better than an ultra liberal. And...there IS a difference and you must know it.

You could let your voices of protest be heard in many other ways but not voting or voting for someone destined to have very few votes can ultimately be VERY counter-productive.

And of course you will say you would rather stand by your principles. Honorable approach. But having to say President Dean or Rodman-Clinton for 4-8 years does not feel very promising to me! Does it really to you?