Conservatives grumbling at Bush

Reuters ^ | 01/21/04

[Pokey78]

Analysts at Cato, Heritage, Club for Growth unconvinced by Bush's pledge to cut deficit.

WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush faced open rebellion on Wednesday from some members of his fiscal conservative base for not laying out concrete plans to reduce government spending and the budget deficit.

[RiflemanSharpe]

After last nights speech I decided to vote for the constitution party in November.

[Texas_Dawg]

After last nights speech I decided to vote for the constitution party in November.

Wow. Big surprise there. Good riddance. A lot more voters will fill in to fight liberalism and terrorism in the place of you and your fellow reactionaries.

[Nonstatist]

Prime Minister Rove is on the path to pandering his President's base away. Spending like a drunken sailor is not winning over as many "Independents" as he'd like, is it? But there's nowhere else to turn at this point; just keep throwing those dollars around and hope the election comes soon.

[Texas_Dawg]

Prime Minister Rove is on the path to pandering his President's base away. Spending like a drunken sailor is not winning over as many "Independents" as he'd like, is it?

Can you show me a poll that does not have GWB winning in November?

[RiflemanSharpe]

Alot of things can happen between now and then. Bush needs to protect his base. His dad did not, and he was a one termer.

[phil_will1]

During Pres. Bush's first few months in office, he criticized congress and former Pres. Clinton for the spending spree that congress went on during the last 18 mos or so of the Clinton administration. I would be willing to bet that that rate of growth is every bit as high during his 3 year tenure as it was during the last 18 mos of Clinton.

I don't know if Mr. O'Neill's quote of Dick Cheney is accurate or not (Reagan proved that deficits don't matter), but if it is, that attitude is chilling, indeed.

[KantianBurke]

"After he proposes his budget, Bush aides plan to reach out to conservatives to try to smooth over the differences."

If he wants conservative support he'd better reach out and outline BIG cuts in spending BEFORE he makes his budget. Otherwise the timing of his "reaching out" is suspciously timed for his re-election. Me thinks his aides will simply say, "Yeah Bush is spending billions. But he's up for re-election soon so shut up and get on board."

[chris1]

I am sure his father felt the same way. This fight could be tougher than 2000.

[blowfish]

Bush would have to be caught in a Mexican brothel to be beaten in November, so he doesn't care about conservatives. And Rove et al figure the vast majority of Republicans will just hold their noses, bend over and vote for him no matter what.
It's the Al Davis credo: 'Just win, baby!'

[RiflemanSharpe]

If GWB was anymore of a RINO he would have horn in his forehead and be running across the plains of central Africa.

[Nonstatist]

Can you show me a poll that does not have GWB winning in November?

No. OTOH, it's not November yet. Just ask Captain QueegDean how quickly the worm turns.

All this pissing on his base (immigration, Prescription entiltlement, huge spending increases, etc) may eventually add up to tangible resentment 10 months from now.

Reagan could tolerate short term unpopularity, Rove can't.

[RiflemanSharpe]

Exactly, the republican base is not the stay on the plantation type, we are for the most part individualist. We are the burn the plantation down types. Many I have read here and talked to are not happy at all.

[F16Fighter]

"If GWB was anymore of a RINO he would have horn in his forehead and be running across the plains of central Africa."

LOL

[phil_will1]

In a recent speech, Majority Leader Delay stated that our goal should be to double the size of the US economy within the next 15 years. He then went on to explain that that would require a 4.8% average rate of growth over that timeframe and that you could not have that high a growth rate over a sustained period with tax cuts alone - you would have to have fundamental tax reform. Mr. Delay is a co-sponsor of HR25 - the FairTax bill.

If we would make a commitment along these lines, the deficit would be gone long before the 15 year period has elapsed - even if congress continued to spend like "drunken sailors". If we were to make that committment and commit to exercising some spending restraint at the same time, my guess is that we would be experiencing surpluses again at the end of Pres. Bush's 2nd term.

Its really sad that this administration is letting this golden opportunity slip through its hands - and giving the Democrats a legitimate campaign issue on a silver platter.

[Owen]

In the same year of his presidency, GW Bush's domestic discretionary expenditures as a percentage of GDP (and note he's been fighting a recession) are LESS than Ronald Reagan in the same year of his presidency. These big spender accusations all focus on growth rates and ignore what really matters, magnitudes. With an increase in GDP now assured for 2003 and very likely for 2004, we can expect that domestic discretionary expenditures as a % of GDP will maintain *or possibly even reduce* their magnitudes -- which tend to float between 3 and 4%.

Again, GW Bush's numbers in this regard are LESS than Ronald Reagan in the same year of their terms. Total spending (including military) has risen because Clinton gutted the military in his years.

Note that this powerful data above *includes about 20 billion of Homeland Security's budget* which was categorized domestic discretionary for the % of GDP calculation. Despite that inclusion, GW Bush's numbers are LOWER than Ronald Reagan's in the same year of presidency.

[Lazamataz]

Liberals will assail you. Do not bother with them. Because they are Republican liberals, they do not matter.

I will not vote for a liberal no matter what party he is in.

[RiflemanSharpe]

Hear, Hear!!!

It is a sad state of affairs when we are having a hard time telling the two parties apart on so many issues.

[phil_will1]

"No. OTOH, it's not November yet."

Well said. My recollection is that at this point in early 92, the 1st Bush was running WAY ahead of any Democrat in the polls - including a certain unknown governor from Arkansas.

[Cobra64]

Many I have read here and talked to are not happy at all.

Count me in. With the huge entitlement programs that W signed; as well as the legalisation of illegal immigrants, amnesty. Talk about holding one's nose!!