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There was something very troubling about Presidential candidate George W. Bush's speech to the Manhattan Institute recently. In that speech Bush took aim at those conservatives who he claimed were against government, saying that this was not in the tradition of our Founding Fathers who, he said, had a robust respect for government.
I'm not sure which Founding Fathers Bush had in mind, but it isn't any of those whom I've studied. Were any of those great men to come back to life to observe government as currently constituted in the United States, they would soon wish they were dead again. This government bears no resemblance to that which our Founding Fathers established. Indeed, they respected that government because it had so many checks and balances built in it that it overrode human nature and the tendencies of mankind to use government to oppress people which had been the case down through the ages since the fall of the Roman Republic.
Today's government is immoral in that it uses our tax dollars to fund death and blasphemous art; today's government is confiscatory in that citizens have to work from the beginning of the year until the end of May to satisfy its demands. Today's government is repressive because it has constructed rules and regulations to cover every activity known to man. Most of us are in violation of some government regulation or another. It is just a matter of the government catching us; Today's government is intrusive because it collects information on every one of us and seeks to monitor our every move.
This is not your Founding Father's government, folks. Nor is Bush's idea that we use government for conservative ends. He suggested that the long held conservative position to do away with the Department of Education is dead and instead proposed several schemes to consolidate programs and turn more federal money back to the states and local governments. This sounds good and maybe under a Bush Administration it would work with minimal government control. But as soon as someone else wins the Presidency, someone such as Hillary Clinton, for example, local school districts would end up totally subservient to Washington, even more so than they are now.
One of Bush's rivals for the Republican nomination, Steve Forbes, has it right. He says that Bush "is embarrassed by those who believe in less government and more freedom".
Bush has been pushing the notion that he is a compassionate conservative. For a long time no one seemed to know what that meant. Now we know. Compassionate conservatism is big government conservatism. And big government conservatism is, in reality, not conservatism at all.
Republicans in the Congress and at the grassroots level by the boatload have jumped on George W. Bush's bandwagon without having any idea what he stood for. They just wanted a winner. Well, Bush may win with this big government platform. In fact, he sounds a good deal like one Bill Clinton did when he ran in l992. Perhaps the same voters who voted for Clinton will be attracted to Bush since he sounds as if he is for reform, but without any of the hard choices needed for real reform.
These Republicans in Congress who so eagerly embraced Bush may find that in helping to elect him they will have to oppose his policies, that is if his statements don't end up electing a Democratic Congress which is entirely possible.
Government has become the enemy of the people in this country. Ask the survivors at Waco, Ruby Ridge and a host of other places where government has taken after its own people. No big government conservative, no matter how nice his rhetoric may sound, is going to stand in the way of further government control.
It is good that Bush is so up front with us this early. Perhaps there is time for some of those who bought his good name to listen to what he is saying. Perhaps there is time yet for a real opponent of big government to emerge as a genuine contender in the pivotal year of 2000.
Lisa Dean is vice president of the Free Congress Foundation's Center for Technology Policy.
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Bump!
Too bad Lisa Dean, and many other "conservatives," can't see the distinction between the "limited government" (the traditional conservative position), and "anti-government" positions.
amen. Bush wants to run a smart, kind, and conservative administration. Our methods are kinder. They just haven't always sounded that way.
Maybe you'd care to explain how Reagan, Bush, Sr., and now Dubya would practice limiting government. Another Gorish 'reinvention'? I am proudly anti-(big)government, and Dubya is way way down on my list. (Probably a tie with Lyndon LaRouche.)
Government has become the enemy of the people in this country. Ask the survivors at Waco, Ruby Ridge and a host of other places where government has taken after its own people.
I think the author made her point: the words above capped a very reasonable analysis. If one does not have a righteous "anti-government" attitude after those arrogant acts against American citizens, that person does not have a healthy respect for life and liberty.
In all things, charity--
John Collings
Where do you find justification in the United States Constitution for the positions Bush takes? Will he veto all spending bills that involve spending taxpayer money for activities not enumerated as a rightful power of the federal government, as Howard Phillips promises to do?
Ignoring the Constitution is not, and has never been, consistent with "conservatism." Liberal socialists like George Bush are just a mildly different flavor from Gore and Bradley for this reason.
Maybe you'd care to explain how Reagan, Bush, Sr., and now Dubya would practice limiting government
Well Reagan increased the size of government during his 8yr tenure. I don't seem to remember the Department of Veteran affairs before Reagan.
As for the Department of education. Hey I'm all for getting rid of it but anyone with a lick of brains understands you can babble all you want about getting rid of it, you're still going to need 60 votes in the Senate to do it.
So why not use it to break the union monopoly?
Vote Republicrat for more of the same.
" Were any of those great men to come back to life to observe government as currently constituted in the United States, they would soon wish they were dead again."
Arc, I disagree with the lady here. Those things written in the Declaration of Independance that were wrongs perpetrated against the people by the king, have been dwarfed by the RepOcrats Internationale in the name of "bipartisan compromise". Those men would do as they had to do then. Take up arms against an unjust government. TODAY, IMHO they would do as many of US ARE doing and try their best through the ballot box. I hope it never comes to blood, but when/if they strike the first blow, it is ours to destroy them as was done before to give US our Constitution and its attendant amendments. We have only to defend it in whatever way is necessary. Peace and love, George.
GO PAT GO!!!
"you're still going to need 60 votes in the Senate to do it."
Freedom, The president made it, the President can take it away. Peace and love, George.
GO PAT GO!!!
My2, What laws have the Republicans given US that made government smaller. The ONLY thing the RepOcrats have made smaller is the military budget while increasing the mission of the military to include now even be LEOS in other countries and soon our own. Even their "tax simplification bill" made fro bigger government. Their Welfare to work made for bigger government including many of those "coming off welfare". The budget has INCREASED every year. The national DEBT has increased EVERY year. Peace and love, George.
GO PAT GO!!
Ditto! GO PAT GO
Too bad Lisa Dean, and many other "conservatives," can't see the distinction between the "limited government" (the traditional conservative position), and "anti-government" positions.
I've starting to hear this b.s. statement too many times. There has been a growing adversion to big government in this country for several years....and yes, it is "the traditional conservative position".
What YOU fail to differentiate is the fact that government (to include Republicans and Democrats) has truly gotten to the point to where anti-government sentiment is the rule of the day.
Get your RINOs out of office and replaced with more constitutionally minded representatives and things will probably calm down.
George, methinks you need to study up on the way congress works.
"One of Bush's rivals for the Republican nomination, Steve Forbes, has it right. He says that Bush "is embarrassed by those who believe in less government and more freedom"."
FORBES/KEYES 2000--Rich in the ways God meant us to be rich. For the purpose of loving Him and loving our neighbors as ourselves. A 'winning ticket' in according to His Book and mine.
"Too bad Lisa Dean, and many other "conservatives," can't see the distinction between the "limited government" (the traditional conservative position), and "anti-government" positions.">>
And exactly how has the moderate GOP Congress of the 1994 'revolution' limited government? Big government has actually EXPANDED in the past five years--not contracted.
And George Bush has positioned himself (not been painted there by a Buchananite, but POSITIONED HIMSELF) to the Left of the aforementioned Big Government-expanding GOP moderates.
Bush is not a conservative of any make, shape, or form, and neither are his supporters, who know better.
Yeah, right. Every time the government decides to be "kind" I end up with less money in my pocket.
Bush can take his compassionate conservatism (e.g. big-government spending) and shove it. This is the same guy who wants to expand the Department of Education, tell parents how to school their children, and establish federal educational goals. His stand on education sounds vaguely familar to that of a certain German dictator who rose to power in the 1930s.
I'm afraid that after four years of a Bush presidency, his idolators on this site will be crying out for conservative leadership, without all the budget-busting "compassion."
Bush is not a conservative of any make, shape, or form, and neither are his supporters, who know better.
Bush supporters are, in fact, socialists, and participate in FR benefits under false pretenses.
#12. We have a problem in the Senate, and in the House of Representatives. There are too many Republicans in both houses from the east coast who are basically liberals. There has not been enough of the vast majority of Conservative Republicans and the VERY few surviving Congressional Conservative Democrats to over ride this momentum. Our problem is that too many Americans have their hands in the government cookie jar, and vote accordingly.
Will all due respect you're such an idiot it's beyond belief.
Care to tell me what Conservatism of the Heart means.
#19 Arcane means secret. Are you a democrat disruptor? GWB a socialist? You gotta be kidding. I am a Conservative supporter of GWB, and a former elected Official, and get pretty po'd when somebody says anybody who is for GWB is a socialist.
Bush supporters are, in fact, socialists, and participate in FR benefits under false pretenses.
Geee, I wonder why the Neo-Marxist rag "The Nation" has nothing but praise for your guy, Paddy Boy while at the same time they hate the Texas Gov. You ain't the brightest or best that's for sure.
Steve Forbes, has it right. He says that Bush "is embarrassed by those who believe in less government and more freedom"."
Like Steve was embarrassed by the pro-life wing of the GOP back in 96. And I con't care what the Forbes supporters on this forum say, he ran as a pro-life candidate back in 96.
The Nation's most recent articles, tore Pat a new anus, even attacking one of their own, Fulani, for her association with him. They, like so many here, started out trying to dismiss, even encourage, him as a fringe element, but suddenly, they got scared. Sound familiar?
Don't like being in the socialist camp? A much wiser man than I once said, "By their fruits shall they be known."
Be hereby advised that THE Kinder Comservative Mr Bush, governor of Texas has the sales tax rate of 8 and 3/4 percENT!!!!!!!!!!! BIGger GOV`T----------HELL YES............
Freedom, If the President uses his line item veto, the Congress don't work. Course there wouldn't be much difference today anyway. Peace and love, George.
GO PAT GO!!!
Scuz me, several of the big shots at the Nation are Jews. They're blasting Buchanan for having lunch with a known supporter of Calypso Louie. Throw that out and the Nation has nothing but praise for Pat
National Review Online
Comrade Pat
In its May 25 issue, the left-wing magazine The Nation examines The Great Betrayal, Pat Buchanan's recent book blasting free trade and promoting protectionism. Summarizing the author's analysis of the U.S. economy in the 1990s, reviewer David Corn asks, "Has Buchanan been reading The Nation?" More: "These days, Buchanan practically sounds like Jesse Jackson."
Alas, the Left will never accept Pat as one of its own. He receives a drubbing for his "shrill, race-oriented divisiveness" (which Corn says is not on display in the new volume), as well as for letting strong nationalist sentiments form the foundation of his economic thinking (apparently The Nation is no fan of the nation). "Once upon a time Buchanan was a free trader," writes Corn, who makes it clear that the Left won't do business with "Comrade Pat" (their words, not ours) until he completes his political transformation by also forsaking cultural conservatism.
Like I said, you ain't the best or the brightest.
One fairly simple question--
Does George W. want the world to become like the America he grew up in?
Or, does George W. want America to become like the world everyone else is growing up in?
Americans can't be a help or blessing to anyone when the government makes them so dependent that they can't even help themselves. We want our workers to have similar conditions to the Russians, Chinese, Indians, Pakistanis, or be semi-employed like the Europeans? I think not.
Old timer, I'm running against one of them this year. Wayne Gilchrest {R} of Maryland. That though is why I think that Pat would be the best President in a LONG time. He would be able to work well with the MANY disaffected congresscritters who are holding office today. Peace and love, George.
GO PAT GO!!!
Does George W. want the world to become like the America he grew up in?
Or, does George W. want America to become like the world everyone else is growing up in?
Well as a Forbes supporter you sure do have a doom and gloomer outlook.
I'd hope Bush would say that with all our problems we still are that Shining City on the Hill
As I said, at first the left-wingers thought Buchanan's populism could be used to their advantage. You're quoting from 6 months ago. Try this from the current issue
This is the Buchanan-Fulani project: an authoritarian, bigoted populism in which resentment matters more than overt content. It is a tradition, going at least as far back as the anti-Catholic Know-Nothings of the nineteenth century, that has repeatedly scapegoated immigrants, the poor, intellectuals and the left. Buchanan and Fulani propose a phony populist coalition in which the only "leftists" to gain a foothold will be those willing to sell out all the gains of feminism, gay liberation and civil rights in return for a narrow economic nationalism. This is the meaning of the new Buchanan-Fulani alliance--an axis that can only divide, not unite, America's disaffected and disempowered constituencies.
Yep. Now they're scared. Like the Republicrats.
Be hereby advised that THE Kinder Comservative Mr Bush, governor of Texas has the sales tax rate of 8 and 3/4 percENT!!!!!!!!!!! BIGger GOV`T----------HELL YES............
You advise us of nothing. Did the ST go up? Go down? Go sideways? Was it part of a tax shift? Was it separate of a tax shift?
[I'm reminded of the German commander of Das Boot screaming, "I want ACCURATE damage reports!"]
Look son, you got up here and called the Texas Gov a socialist.
When I pointed out that the Neo Marxist rag the Nation loved his book the Great Betryal you start babblin and floppin around like a fool.
Admit you don't have a clue and we'll leave it at that.
Wolf: Bush has NO intention of reducing the size of the government; in fact, he will increase the size of the government. His "compassionate conservatism" is phoney baloney... he is NOT a conservative and is, indeed, a member of the Trilateral Commission -- a part of the New World Order.
"Well as a Forbes supporter you sure do have a doom and gloomer outlook."
If you sense a 'gloomy' outlook from me, it is not due to the prospect of a Forbes Presidency. It is due to having 3 daughters with less than promising futures due to a public school system that gave them B+ grades and failed to give them an education.(Sure, as a parent, it's my fault for trusting the education establishment to do the job they were being paid, my dollars, to do.) Meant to mention, that the government now is 'giving' education credits, so that the money I spend for 'remedial math and english' junior college courses is now 'costing me less'!!! Big government education is now 'giving me a break' because they failed in the 'basics' to begin with. My girls all know about Earth Day, safe-sex, and the homosexual lifestyle. Thank you.
"I'd hope Bush would say that with all our problems we still are that 'Shining City on the Hill'"
Who wouldn't say that, looking at the rest of the world? We are better 'free' than as government 'slaves', however. To be the 'city on the hill', you must control the HIGH ground, else you be the 'VILLAGE in the valley'.
Look son, you got up here and called the Texas Gov a socialist.
When I pointed out that the Neo Marxist rag the Nation loved his book the Great Betryal you start babblin and floppin around like a fool.
Admit you don't have a clue and we'll leave it at that.
You're the one floppin around like a fool doing that anti-conservative, Foghorn Leghorn, cartoon chicken act again.
bump
You are running Reform? against a liberal Republican Congressman, and I hope you win. I watched the show "Town Hall" meeting that Christopher Shays produced on the Impeachment proceedings, and I said to myself that this guy is what RINO is all about. In Texas, districts are pretty much aligned CONSERVATIVE vs liberal. As in black and white. When Ralph Hall who is one of the last of Conservative Democrats hangs it up the district will go Republican. If I didn't have so many miles on me, I would probably run. Anyways, let's get rid of the RINO's (AND GWB IS NOT ONE OF THEM) Good luck.
If you don't remember the Department of Veteran Affairs before Reagan, you got to be a baby! Probably none of us will recognize it AFTER clinton!
Maybe, but your guy is running as a conservative (compassionate) and while he may be compassionate he is no damn conservative. Forbes is right now the issues and you know it. Forbes really is a conservative and you know it. Forbes would be a far better president and you know it.
Re-elect Ronald Reagan
Vote Steve Forbes
Ha! Ha! No need to ask 'who duped him'! Pridefully arrogant, huh? FreedomWins 'what'?
I live in Texas, if taxes went down, I missed it. Besides an 8% sales tax (not all of which is to the state) our property taxes are KILLING US.
A socailist supports the progressive income tax. Bush supports the current progressive income tax. End of story, Bush is a socailist.
I shouldn't be so bold
A socailist supports the progressive income tax. Bush supports the current progressive income tax. End of story, Bush is a socailist.
Well another real winner adds his 2 cents worth. By the way, Reagan supported the progressive income tax so I guess that makes him a socialists too.
d14truth
--- Steve Forbes, has it right. He says that Bush "is embarrassed by those who believe in less government and more freedom"."
ditto ditto
bttt
Reagan, had a democratic congress to deal with, BUT even so he reformed the tax code as best he could under the circumstances and implemented a FLAT TAX. One bracket, for everyone. You Bushies, really are something else, I am ashamed to call myself a repubican. More and more it appears there is zero difference between the Bushies and the
How do you feel about Gore?
It is not that complicated! Compassionate Conservatism means LIBERAL. A word Geo. Bush is afraid of because he is a LIBERAL.
Actually, it was Bill Bradley's tax reform act in 86. Kemp helped, but it was Bradley's plan Reagan signed off on.
Too bad Lisa Dean, and many other "conservatives," can't see the distinction between the "limited government" (the traditional conservative position), and "anti-government" positions.
I understand the distinction just fine. "Anti-government" is what liberals call people who believe in limited government.
"(AND GWB IS NOT ONE OF THEM) Good luck. "
Old Timer, I'm pretty well convinced that you are wrong on the first part, considering Bush's support of expanding immigration, his acceptance of federal "guidelines" for education in Texas and other things as saying that, "That is a local issue." when speaking {Through his office people} concerning the operations by the military in a live fire demonstration that wasn't announced to the residents where it occurred in Texas. He wants to be "the Commander in Chief" of these guys. But I DO thank you for the "good luck". Peace and love, George.
GO PAT GO!!!
You have we there, I can't remember all the details, Kempt being involved does not suprise me, bill bradley? hmmmmm, that is surprising.
Bush needs to come out and soon in support of fundlemental tax reform. If he does and he wins the nomination then he will be able to keep me in the GOP this election. I have two concerns about Bush, 1) He a country club, rockefeller republican. 2) He is an empty suit, not qualified to be president. If he can convince me that I am wrong on one of these concerns I'll support him should he win the nomination. I honestly think Forbes is a vastly better candidate. I am surprised "conservatives" on this forum support Bush then they could be supporting the much brighter Reaganite Steve Forbes. Forbes is much better on conservative issues and his integraty is above reproach.
Reread the article CAREFULLY this time. She does say just that.
Bumpity
BTTT
Texas has a Sales Tax, but they don't have an income tax, there are less than a handful of states that can say that. Most other States have both an income and sales tax.
BTTT
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
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