ZOT! Can there be a serious challenge to Bush in the GOP primaries?

John Buchanan is a journalist and magazine writer based in Miami Beach ^ | november 29, 2003 | john buchanan

[Republican Challenger]

I am a nationally published journalist who has been drafted to challenge George W. Bush in the Republican Presidential primaries, beginning in New Hampshire on January 27. My aim is to prompt legitimate debate and genuine new ideas, but I start with a question:

HAS GEORGE W. BUSH BETRAYED TRADITIONAL GOP VALUES?

He has failed in his promise to control spending. Nondefense spending has skyrocketed under Bush. The Congressional Budget Office reported that for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, nondefense spending rose 7% – nearly double the 4% discretionary spending caps Bush promised to enforce (Source: Washington Times). Since Bush took office, nondefense spending has leapt 13% -- 21% if spending on the war on terrorism is included. “My impression of Bush,” says Chris Edwards, director of fiscal policy at the libertarian Cato Institute, “is that I’ve never seen him give a speech in which he says government is too big and we need to cut costs.”

He has failed in his promise to keep America strong. Under Bush, U.S. foreign policy and international esteem have reached historic lows. After spending hundreds of billions of dollars since 9/11, the Bush administration has failed to catch Osama bin Laden, failed to find Saddam Hussein, failed to defeat Al Qaeda, and failed to stabilize Iraq after an invasion that his own Pentagon policy adviser, Richard Perle, now admits was “illegal.” As a result, the geopolitical balance of power has been jolted, traditional allies have been severely alienated, and as a result, the European Union – led by Great Britain – is now conducting secret talks about the formation of an EU military force outside NATO.

He has failed in his promise to be a “compassionate conservative.” Perhaps never before has a U.S. President so divided the country, according to a recent Time cover story. Despite Bush’s promise to be “a uniter, not a divider,” he has turned Republican against Democrat, rich against poor, Christian against Muslim. He has eroded our civil liberties and Constitutional rights in the name of “national security” and aided and abetted a corporate elite class in the theft of the Republican Party and the two-century-old values that made it the Party of Lincoln. “Corporations have been enthroned,” Lincoln said presciently before he died. “…An era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people…until wealth is aggregated in a few hands…and the Republic is destroyed.” Under Bush, Lincoln’s ominous – and accurate – prediction might find its final manifestation unless he and the “neo-con” corporate juggernaut are stopped.

DO YOU AGREE? Please let me know your thoughts. There will be more to come from me, including a detailed platform and agenda for ending the corporate reign in this country, shrinking the federal bureaucracy, and restoring Constitutional freedoms to pre-9/11 levels. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your comments and questions.

[Cultural Jihad]

If it was up to me I'd nominate the guy wrote wrote "I'm a Bad American"!

Pinging the FReeper who wrote that!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I wouldn't go quite that far but I do understand.

The question is would this guy be any more conservative? From his own mouth, no. In fact he would be a lot less.

Therefore the issue is moot. Like I said earlier, I trade up, not down, when I trade.

[eddie willers]

Seems you are hung up with the Nazi angle...........

Which Joe Conason (of all people!) convincingly dispproved.

[stands2reason]

He posts it then whines about the "corporate media"...

[dcwusmc]

I'd sooner vote for Ron Paul if he would consider running again! At least he's a CONSISTENT champion of the Constitution for the United States.

[stands2reason]

But George Bush is a socialist. So is today's GOP.

Then why do you care who runs in the Republican primary?

[Da Mav]

This guy Buchanon is too funny. There are a lot of things I disagree with Bush on, but you would have to be a real moron to try and aid and abet the Democraps by running against him in the primary.

Besides, based on the articles people have dug up Buchanon has a screw loose and rattling around.

[Republican Challenger]

The Democrats are bankrupt of their own volition. Some political scientists and journalists believe the party will virtually implode if we win big next fall across the board and strengthen the mandate in the Senate.
However, as a lifelong journalist and registered Republican who believes in smaller government, lower taxes and strong foreign policy (but not Iraq), I am asking that we reassess our core values for the 21st century and take a different path.
My primary issues are: 1) ending the corporate stranglehold on government and politics, 2) an end to war profiteering by former government officials and Washington insiders, and 3) major media reform.
Are you not interested in those issues?

[Republican Challenger]

The Democrats are bankrupt of their own volition. Some political scientists and journalists believe the party will virtually implode if we win big next fall across the board and strengthen the mandate in the Senate.
However, as a lifelong journalist and registered Republican who believes in smaller government, lower taxes and strong foreign policy (but not Iraq), I am asking that we reassess our core values for the 21st century and take a different path.
My primary issues are: 1) ending the corporate stranglehold on government and politics, 2) an end to war profiteering by former government officials and Washington insiders, and 3) major media reform.
Are you not interested in those issues?

[dcwusmc]

Agreed. But make him stake out his positions and then defend them. See how well he does. THEN bite his head off... or do whatever the Black Widow does to her mate... eat him alive after you're done (unless he brings you a fly to take your mind off him...).

[Sparta]

Dude, I've read your stupid website. You're just another RINO.

Go on now, become the tenth dwarf in the RAT race.

[Republican Challenger]

I've had the intellectual capital to found an award-winning magazine and nationally acclaimed advertising agency. My record on human rights earned me an audience with Nelson Mandela on June 30, 1990 when he came to Los Angeles on his world tour after being freed from prison.
I have met and talked with or interviews three Presidents and various memebrs of Congress. My references include former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, who I wrote about in 1976 when he ran for the Senate.
I am serious about introducing genuinely new ideas into the Presidential debate. I am not "against" Bush. I am in favor of an entirely new approach that favors the middle class, not the global corporate interests.
Give that choice, how can you not side with the people?

[Krodg]

Despite Bush’s promise to be “a uniter, not a divider,” he has turned Republican against Democrat, rich against poor, Christian against Muslim.

That whole sentence is untrue the way you have stated it, but the last part is totally absurd. Regardless of all the conspiracy theories, Bush neither flew the planes into the towers nor did he order it done.

[Uncle Miltie]

Q: "However, I am troubled that while you believe he has indeed betrayed GOP values, can you explain why you believe there can be no challenge?"

Check your own language: No "SERIOUS challenge."

A: To shortcut an otherwise lengthy interchange, Bush's betrayal of conservative values is trumped by his willingness to defend Western Civilization. That is sufficient, differentiating, and well appreciated by the average American. Ain't nobody (statistically speaking) gonna vote otherwise.

[Revolting cat!]

It's been reported, here among other places, that she's a Republican!

Why not me on a rainy day
Why not me to love your cares away
Why not me
Why not me when the nights get cold
Why not me when you're growin' old
Why not me!

[stands2reason]

I am in favor of an entirely new approach that favors the middle class, not the global corporate interests.

Big, nasty corporations hire middle class people.

Class warfare is so last millennium.

[Torie]

Give that choice, how can you not side with the people?

Beyond the fact that your running for president is ludicrous, my main problem with you is that you evince the paleo con agenda of isolationism, protectionism, and populism (you haven't tipped your hand on the nativism aspect yet), and I find all of that totally opposed to my core values. Regards.

[Cultural Jihad]

Give that choice, how can you not side with the people?

As if these evil corporations are not actually owned by elderly retirees and others, whom we generally classify as 'people.' Take your leftist classism elsewhere, bud. You'll have no receptive audience here.

[Republican Challenger]

Thank you very much for your kind-hearted and open-minded response. Please understand that I am not running "against" George Bush. I am running with a new set of ideas for making this country better, truly big ideas that could change the course of human history. I think, after a career that has taken me around the world as a journalist for 34 years, I have a right to be heard, in the name of the people. I have no agenda other than serving my country with fresh solutions to pressing problems. I hope you will visit my web site at www.johnbuchanan.org and learn more about my concerns and positions. Thank you.

[Torie]

found an award-winning magazine

By the way, what mag was that?