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Conservatives, Cut Bush Slack
The Chicago Sun-Times ^ | June 22, 2002 | Thomas Roeser

Posted on 06/22/2002 9:46:05 AM PDT by quidnunc

This summer will mark the 47th year since I took my first Republican job: as public relations director for the party in Minnesota. Since then I have rarely strayed from politics, or my party. I served as a staffer to two GOP congressmen, to a GOP governor, as a federal appointee to Richard Nixon and as a corporate executive who supported in Washington and Springfield much, if not all, of the Republican agenda.

You can describe me as a conservative. Thus I am qualified to say that although I dearly love conservatives, they tend to be querulous, disagreeable and threaten revolt when Republican office-holders don't please them. So it is now with George W. Bush. Here is a president who has surprised us all with the firmness and resolve he showed after 9/11. I must tell you I voted for him with less enthusiasm than I had for many of his predecessors. But his administration has pleased me often — most notably on two issues: defense of America and social policy.

Yet, Bush has to get re-elected in a country that is evenly divided on philosophy. Thus he must occasionally — on matters that sometimes offend conservatives — dip into the other side's ideology for support. He has done so on three notable occasions: on the issue of steel protectionism, where he departed his free-market proclamations; on the signing of a campaign finance bill tailored by his enemies, and allowing his attorney general (in the words of Libertarian Nat Hentoff in the Washington Times) "to send disguised agents into religious institutions, libraries and meetings of citizens critical of government policy without a previous complaint, or reason to believe that a crime has been committed."

In a perfect political world, where conservatives are in the majority, these things would be sufficient to encourage a boycott of the polls. Either that or a protest vote for the Democratic opposition. But we are not in a perfect world. We conservatives have a president who didn't receive a majority of the votes, and has one house of Congress against him. He must make compromises to get re-elected. Conservatives who do not understand the nature of politics ought to stay in their air-conditioned ivory towers and refrain from political activity altogether. If they cannot adjudge the stakes in this election and the difference between Bush and an Al Gore or a John Kerry (D-Mass.) or a Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.), they are foolish indeed.

-snip-

To read the remainder of this op/ed open the article via the link provided in the thread's header.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:
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To: Howlin
Well the 19% of the religious right with their Gore vote almost fulfilled their protest in 02......
41 posted on 06/22/2002 10:31:14 AM PDT by deport
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To: Randjuke
Are there really Republicans threatening to vote democrat because they feel it makes no difference? Even if it truly did make no difference, why desert their own? I hope they revive from their stupor before the next election.

I talk about what bothers me about our Republican leaders, but I know there is a world of difference between the parties and their agenda's and will vote for the Republican Candidate. I prefer to have my on in office pi$$ing me off, than to have that other bunch in office pi$$ing on America.

42 posted on 06/22/2002 10:31:34 AM PDT by F.J. Mitchell
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To: rockfish59
How much for AID$ in Africa?

If you are thinking of entering into politics, you might want to consider another campaign slogan.

43 posted on 06/22/2002 10:33:37 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Admin Moderator
MJY <
Salutes you, You need a weed whacker these days :-)
44 posted on 06/22/2002 10:34:08 AM PDT by MJY1288
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To: MJY1288
"You need a weed whacker these days :-)"

Tell me about it ;^)

45 posted on 06/22/2002 10:35:00 AM PDT by Admin Moderator
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To: quidnunc
Conservatives who do not understand the nature of politics ought to stay in their air-conditioned ivory towers and refrain from political activity altogether.

If a president cannot do something so FUNDAMENTAL and BASIC to the primary responsibilities of the office of presidency--meaning the protection of America’s sovereignty as a nation, then he will never get my vote again. I can overlook a hell of a lot of his social spending and his trampling of the constitution but failing to protect America’s borders and, worse, openly encouraging more illegal immigration with amnesties, immigrant welfare and a steadfast refusal to enforce our immigration laws is just TOO MUCH.

46 posted on 06/22/2002 10:35:02 AM PDT by WRhine
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To: Tabitha Soren
Why should I cut President Bush any slack?



You shouldn't but neither should you cut your other elected officials any slack either. Maybe you could expand on how it is that the President can change things without help from the Congress or Courts.....
47 posted on 06/22/2002 10:36:05 AM PDT by deport
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To: Tabitha Soren
As an independent voter who likes browsing this site and also those further to the left, it's amusing to note that Bush is getting hammered from BOTH sides. The liberals consider him somewhere to the right of Attilla the Hun, and the conservatives are aggravated that he has strayed too far toward the center. On the matter of civil liberties, however, both Left and Right seem to be on the same page- everybody is worried about Ashcroft....
48 posted on 06/22/2002 10:36:14 AM PDT by eagleye
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To: ShandaLear
"To those conservative who would whine about Dubya, think of what the alternative almost was."

Yes the alternative was bad, very bad...but that doesn't mean that conservatives can't be angry at things that Bush does. Anger does not equal me not voting for Bush in '04. And I think that many other "angry" conservatives feel the same way. I made up my mind in '00 when I cast my vote for Bush that I would vote for him in '04 as well.

I also wonder if we (the conservatives that whine) are in such a minority and our opinions don't influence why do the rest of the conservatives want to shut us up all the time?
49 posted on 06/22/2002 10:36:36 AM PDT by oline
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To: quidnunc; Lazamataz
I'd make a sharp distinction between those who say, "Mr. President, {insert name of policy} is a step in the wrong direction" -- call them the loyal opposition, or sincere but disappointed friends -- and the lunatic fringe, perpetually seething because their special 1% gets no respect.

Laz, IMHO you're in the first category. Put on your pants, get over here and say something.

50 posted on 06/22/2002 10:38:14 AM PDT by dighton
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To: valg
"Bush is a traitor to the american people and the constitution."

??? Care to explain

51 posted on 06/22/2002 10:38:34 AM PDT by MJY1288
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To: quidnunc
Thanks and bttt
52 posted on 06/22/2002 10:39:45 AM PDT by lodwick
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To: rockfish59
President Bush would like nothing better than giving you another $300 tax reduction-your gripe is with the congress.
53 posted on 06/22/2002 10:40:28 AM PDT by F.J. Mitchell
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To: Admin Moderator
I'm working on a prototype of this:

Having trouble trying to figure a way to hook it up to a live current though.

When I get it done, I'll loan it to you.

54 posted on 06/22/2002 10:40:57 AM PDT by Howlin
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To: dighton
Laz, IMHO you're in the first category. Put on your pants, get over here and say something.

(blink)

(blink)

(blink)

First of all, I never thought I'd be standing up here. (giggle) I mean, I am so honored. I'd like to thank my producer, and the makeup people, and the director, and all the other people who helped produce this. My agent! Oh, my agent made all this possible! Mom, you've been so supportive. And my wife -- honey, where would I be without you? And my friends who were right beside me during the toughest times....

55 posted on 06/22/2002 10:42:10 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Howlin
No key for you.

You'd be up for Manslaughter inside of an hour.

56 posted on 06/22/2002 10:42:58 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: quidnunc
Cripes, I never realized that my fellow conservatives could be so jackass-ignorant.

So now you know.

Most of the chronic bitchers do not now, nor will they ever, understand politics.

The columnist has 'splained the situation, but it's so much easier just to complain, and complain, and complain.

57 posted on 06/22/2002 10:43:48 AM PDT by Ole Okie
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To: quidnunc
Conservatives who do not understand the nature of politics ought to stay in their air-conditioned ivory towers and refrain from political activity altogether.

Does that include voting???

58 posted on 06/22/2002 10:43:48 AM PDT by al_possum39
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To: oline
but that doesn't mean that conservatives can't be angry at things that Bush does.

You are not permitted to have that opinion. Get back in ranks.

59 posted on 06/22/2002 10:43:49 AM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Howlin; Admin Moderator

For those who can't make it out, God's finger is over the SMITE key.

60 posted on 06/22/2002 10:44:29 AM PDT by dighton
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