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HOW CONSERVATIVE IS PRESIDENT BUSH?
The Cato Institute ^ | August 3, 2002 | By Veronique de Rugy

Posted on 08/04/2002 8:30:36 PM PDT by Uncle Bill

How Conservative Is President Bush?

The Cato Institute
By Veronique de Rugy
August 3, 2002
Source

Veronique de Rugy is a fiscal policy analyst at the Cato Institute.

President Bush may be repeating the sins of his father. Although elected on a Reaganesque, tax-cutting platform, the White House has veered to the left. President Bush has signed a bill to regulate political speech, issued protectionist taxes on imported steel and lumber, backed big-spending education and farm bills, and endorsed massive new entitlements for mental health care and prescription drugs. When the numbers are added up, in fact, it looks like President Bush is less conservative than President Clinton.

It makes little sense to discourage one's core supporters prior to a mid-term election. Yet that is the result when a Republican president expands government, which Bush is doing. Also, academic research on voting patterns shows that a president is most likely to get re-elected if voters are enjoying an increase in disposable income. Yet making government bigger is not a recipe for economic growth. After all, there is a reason why Hong Kong grows so fast and France is an economic basket case. But you can't tell that to the Bush administration.

Administration officials privately admit that much of the legislation moving through Congress represents bad public policy. Yet they argue either that everything must take a back seat to the war on terror (much as the first Bush administration treated the war against Iraq) or that compromises are necessary to neutralize issues such as education. But motives and rationalizations do not repeal the laws of economics.

In less than two years, President Bush has presided over more government expansion than took place during eight years of Bill Clinton. For instance:

Those policy decisions make government bigger and more expensive. They also slow the economy and hurt financial markets -- read the headlines lately? For all his flaws, President Clinton's major policy mistake was the 1993 tax increase. Other changes, such as the welfare reform bill, NAFTA, GATT, farm deregulation, telecommunications deregulation, and financial services deregulation, moved policy in a market-oriented direction.

Perhaps most importantly, there was a substantial reduction in federal spending as a share of gross domestic product during the Clinton years. Using the growth of domestic spending as a benchmark, Clinton was the second most conservative president of the post-World War II era, trailing only Ronald Reagan.

To be sure, much of the credit for Clinton's good policy probably belongs to the Republican Congress, but that is not an excuse for bad policy today. And on one positive note, President Bush has "promised" to fight for partial privatization of Social Security. Yet, so far, President Bush has not vetoed a single piece of legislation. Needless to say, this means it will be rather difficult to blame "big-spending" Democrats if the economy continues to sputter.


Compassionate Conservatism Means Big Government

No To 'Compassionate Conservatism'
"Marvin Olasky, the former Marxist journalism professor who coined the term. But he and George W. Bush are barking up the wrong tree if they think "compassionate conservatism" is going to rally popular support necessary to effect the real change needed to turn this country around."

President Highlights Compassionate Conservative Agenda for Inner Cities


If You Want Increasing Huge Government, Vote Bush

BUSH SPENDING BILL LARGEST EVER

U.S. quietly OKs fetal stem cell work - Bush allows funding despite federal limits on embryo use

Bush Signs Largest Family Planning Bill In U.S. History

Un El día En El la vida de Jorge W. La arbusto

OPEN BORDERS

Bush's 'open door' slammed

"I told the Congress that I want to make sure that the Mexican citizen here is well-respected," Bush said. "And one way to do that is to pass 245I."

CFR - "I Believe In Free Speech"

Meanwhile, Back On The Farm

Bush Urges Congress To Deliver on Prescription Drugs For Medicare

GOP Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Advances in House - Another Trillion Dollars

Pig Book - 2002

Orgy At Federal Trough

Bush and House Republicans Push Legislation For Full Drug Subsidies For Low-Income Elderly

Bush Prepares 'Big-Time' Response To African Famine

Government Spending - War Against The Stock Market

Bush signs debt-limit increase

Bush Pushes Minority Homeownership

Bush's Food Stamp Plan Called Ethnic Pandering

Bush Wants Food Stamps For Non-Citizens

Worse Than Drunken Sailors!

Senate Clears Way For Trade Bill - More Spending

BUSH AND THE BIG GOVERNMENT GOP

Security Bill Loaded With Wasteful PORK

Senate Ok's $31.5 Billion Anti-Terror Bill Loaded With Pork

How Bad Can Things Get?

George W. Bush and Gun Control

Bush Pushes Gore Plan For Orwellian Government

Bush Backs Down From Immunity Demand - Caves Again

Bush administration has been "as bad, if not worse" than the Clinton administration when it comes to the transfer of sensitive technologies to the People's Republic of China

BUSH, G7 to pay $20 billion to get rid of Russian nuke stockpiles

George W. Bush - The Global Warming Sell-Out

Dubya's New Deal - The New FDR

Bush Won't Label Arafat A Terrorist

George W. Bush's Terrorist Buddy

"When peoplelose faith in their institutions they trust to enforce the law, justice is no longer possible."

Bush Caves On Airport Screeners

Bush's Latest Srategic Mistake

BUSH: NINE FORMER PRESIDENTS WRONG; CLINTON RIGHT!

CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS? GEORGE BUSH'S NEVER-ENDING DOMESTIC BUDGET BUILD-UP - Father Like Son

Bush Appoints Four More Homosexuals

Dr. James Dobson Criticizes Bush Appointment to the CDC

Bush Pushes $500 Million HIV/Aids Funding For Africa

Bush to Propose Another $100 Million Over Five Years for Education in Africa

Are You Fat? No Problem, George W. Bush Will Help

House Conservatives Budge on Arts Spending

Bush Cheers Government Support For Art

Bush to Name Justice Dept. BUILDING After Kennedy

GOP Right In Iowa Fear Purge

GOP Leaders Spurn Right in Key Races

Laura Ingraham's analysis of yet another Bush betrayal

Bush decisions rankle conservatives

BUSH PROPOSES LARGEST EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT SINCE TRUMAN

Bush's Record Calls into Question His Conservative Label

Conservatives Question Dubya's Direction

Conservatives not satisfied with Bush's record

Bush, Ashcroft Run Roughshod Over Bill Of Rights, Study Says

Republicans: Big Government Addicts

A Few Questions For Die-Hard Bush Supporters

Are Republicans losing their constituency?

Ann Coulter: BUSH PAYS HOMAGE TO THE FETISHISTIC RITUALS OF LIBERALISM

Compassionate conservatism is about socialism, not Americanism

Bush is jettisoning his principles for what?

Bush: stop the runaway federal spending and regulating!

Mark Levin Hammers Bushbots

Was Clinton More Conservative Than Bush? - Fox News

Bush: A Democrat in Republican clothing?

Bush continues Clinton Agenda

GEORGE W. BUSH: CLINTON'S THIRD TERM ©


Bush's Court Jester


"Another way to make sure that we foster growth and restore confidence is to hold people accountable for misdeeds in the public sector."
George W. Bush - University of Alabama at Birmingham Alys Stephens Center - July 15, 2002.

NOTE: Do As I Say, Not As I Do.


A Bush administration insider has privately leaked word that a deal was struck between Democratic congressional leaders and the Bush White House not to prosecute Bill and/or Hillary Clinton

Bush Administration Lawyers Defending Hillary - Gratis

Bush and Ashcroft Justice Dept. Hamstringing Pardongate Probers.

Bill Clinton broke the law and the Republicans let him off the hook.

What we need is the tough Newt Gingrich back.

"As far back as April 7, 1998, then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich was asked on NBC’s Today if he were going to press for impeachment. His response: "No, we don’t have any evidence."
Source.

Al Gore Broke The Law and the Republicans let him off the hook.

"I don’t care if you have proof that he raped a woman, stood up and shot her dead, you’re still not going to get 67 votes."

Bush Says He Wants to Let Clinton 'Move On'
"Listen, here's my view: I think it's time to get all of this business behind us. I think it's time ... to allow the president to finish his term, and let him move on and enjoy life and become an active participant in the American system. And I think we've had enough focus on the past. It's time to move forward." - George W. Bush.

Bush Won't Dwell On Clinton Affair, "We're Moving Forward"
"B/S, Mr Bush. Clinton is a criminal and a traitor. We demand a thorough investigation and prosecution. Our Republic is dead and our liberty is at stake if the next administration does not clean up this mess for now and forever more. Corrupt politicians must pay the price for subverting our Constitution and using their offices for personal gain."
4 Posted on 01/20/2000 14:17:56 PST by Jim Robinson


A Republic If We Can Keep It - Bush Trashing The Constitution

It's About The Republic, Not The Republican

How Big Is The Government's Debt? - $33.1 TRILLION

There Must Be Some Way Out Of Here


"Not over my dead body will they raise your taxes,"
George W. Bush - SOURCE.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial
KEYWORDS: biggovernment; bush; conservatism; constitution; fraud; socialism; spending; waste
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
I didn't miss the connection. I saw the post. It was a critical article about Alan Keyes from Strike-the-Root. I was simply pointing out that you were incorrect when you stated that Strike-the-Root is Alan Keyes' website. It's not. Your comment wasn't even close to being accurate, and I just wanted to point that out. Also, he wasn't banned for posting that link, which you also incorrectly claimed. He was banned for being a fraud, posing as various personalities (bushbot, anti-Keyster, etc.) for the sole purpose of attacking freepers and perpetuating flamewars.
581 posted on 08/05/2002 2:54:30 PM PDT by Sandy
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To: Uncle Bill
Now that's an article that is actually useful. Thanks!
582 posted on 08/05/2002 2:56:04 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: terilyn
Excellent post. You have named my two most important issues too. I have one other issue which I shall not post here, as it would take the discussion off in an entirely different direction. President Bush is NOT where I want him to be on that particular issue, but I am not yet convinced he won't be....WITH a Republican House and Senate.


583 posted on 08/05/2002 2:58:53 PM PDT by justshe
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To: justshe
Thank you.

Don't post your other item here. We sure wouldn't want this thread to get off track now would we LOL!

If it goes any further off track it'll be a full blown collision!
584 posted on 08/05/2002 3:03:09 PM PDT by terilyn
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To: Satadru; rdf
Satadru, the article you refer to has been posted here, linked here, discussed here, and you must know that you are completely misrepresenting the facts. If you have any doubt, go ask rdf, and I'm sure he'll tell you.

The grant in question was approved by the Clinton-appointed acting head of NIH on her last day in office, and the law forbade Bush from stopping the funding.

Do you have a particular purpose in mind when you misrepresent facts to show President Bush in a bad light?

585 posted on 08/05/2002 3:04:18 PM PDT by Amelia
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To: Amelia
"Do you have a particular purpose in mind when you misrepresent facts to show President Bush in a bad light?"

Can there be any doubt? That was a rhetorical question, right? ;)

586 posted on 08/05/2002 3:06:49 PM PDT by terilyn
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To: terilyn
LOL.........you mean we DON'T need another fire? Think most are running low on 'spit' to put them out?
587 posted on 08/05/2002 3:09:05 PM PDT by justshe
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To: terilyn
geez, teri. i am NOT PLAYING DUMB! I HAD NOT SEEN THAT INFO WHEN I ORIGINALLY POSTED TO YOU. i posted what i knew at the time.

i have never tried to hide that i post at libertypost. i wanted to clariy that you meant lp and not lf. for all i knew, registered could have posted there!

look, i can tell you are determined to believe that i was being deceitful so i guess we have nothing further to say to each other.
588 posted on 08/05/2002 3:13:27 PM PDT by christine
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To: Satadru
But, Bush violated it himself when he claimed that Congressional Republicans who oppose illegal immigration like to keep Mexicans in poverty and would rather see them suffer.

Did Bush really say this?

589 posted on 08/05/2002 3:14:25 PM PDT by EternalLife
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To: terilyn
The point is that permission to post was granted. However, the discussion about voting was clearly about a Larry Klayman/Judicial Watch poll. It was a JW press release thread.

Bingo! That is exactly how I remember it as well..
590 posted on 08/05/2002 3:14:41 PM PDT by cmsgop
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To: justshe
I know I am! LOL
591 posted on 08/05/2002 3:16:54 PM PDT by terilyn
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To: cmsgop
Good! Thanks for that confirmation.
592 posted on 08/05/2002 3:18:40 PM PDT by terilyn
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To: terilyn
also, i was *just* made aware that the posts of registered's that you are talking about are in the 'freerepublic' section at lp. i was not aware that that particular thread was there.

the posts that you copied above by me are from threads from the main forum on lp, but you have the right to continue to disbelieve me.
593 posted on 08/05/2002 3:22:04 PM PDT by christine
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To: Satadru
Stem cell research is not "Bush approving abortion". Try again.
594 posted on 08/05/2002 3:31:27 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: Sandy
I said "Strike The root" is Alan Keyes' website?
595 posted on 08/05/2002 3:33:20 PM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
What I find laughable is the fact they (registered, KFP, EV, rdf, rowdee, etc...the people who are posting AFer type material at LP, and also trashing John rob when he posts there) outted themsleves as to the ease of their ability to be decieved.

Liar.

596 posted on 08/05/2002 3:35:27 PM PDT by Keyes For President
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To: terilyn
That was a rhetorical question, right?

In the sense that I don't expect a coherent answer, yes.

I do think there are some here who delight in being "dividers".

597 posted on 08/05/2002 3:47:41 PM PDT by Amelia
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To: Southflanknorthpawsis
I remember that too...
598 posted on 08/05/2002 3:47:49 PM PDT by cmsgop
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To: RedBloodedAmerican
I said "Strike The root" is Alan Keyes' website?

Yep, you did...
leaders website (Keyes - "Strike The root") was the exact phrase.

599 posted on 08/05/2002 3:48:29 PM PDT by Sandy
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To: All
Is Free Republic A Fraud? Is it time for FR to go away?

Starting with post #3418

This bump is deidcated to the LibertyPost anti-FReepers.

3418 posted on 8/5/02 2:13 PM Pacific by Jim Robinson

600 posted on 08/05/2002 3:48:30 PM PDT by justshe
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