Thursday, September 09, 2004
More Republican Buzz That Bush Is Not Acting Like a Conservative
Big government. Big spending. Phrases typically reserved for the Democratic party are now accusations leveled at President Bush. It's a whisper right now, but I predict it will become a roar. In fact, my first blog post was about the growing dissatisfaction among conservatives with Bush's fiscal irresponsibility.
What others are saying:
Today, Bush was speaking in Johnstown, PA. The local paper endorsed him in 2000. Today's headline: "Mr. President, you're the true heir to your father, both in a familial sense and a Big Government Liberal Republican sense," the Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown wrote. "We're so saddened with your tenure in office." The Tribune Democrat (Registration required; email me if you want the full text of the editorial and I'll send it to you.)
Conservative columnistAndrew Sullivan : "Bush is slowly destroying conservatism's small government credentials and commitment to expanding personal freedom."
This just in from Salon.com. Written by Reaganite Doug Bandow:
"Quite simply, the president, despite his well-choreographed posturing, does not represent traditional conservatism -- a commitment to individual liberty, limited government, constitutional restraint and fiscal responsibility. Rather, Bush routinely puts power before principle. As Chris Vance, chairman of Washington state's Republican Party, told the Economist: "George Bush's record is not that conservative ... There's something there for everyone."
Even Bush's conservative sycophants have trouble finding policies to praise. Certainly it cannot be federal spending. In 2000 candidate Bush complained that Al Gore would "throw the budget out of balance." But the big-spending Bush administration and GOP Congress have turned a 10-year budget surplus once estimated at $5.6 trillion into an estimated $5 trillion flood of red ink. This year's deficit will run about $445 billion, according to the Office of Management and Budget."
Heard any others? Post them in the comments section.
What others are saying:
Today, Bush was speaking in Johnstown, PA. The local paper endorsed him in 2000. Today's headline: "Mr. President, you're the true heir to your father, both in a familial sense and a Big Government Liberal Republican sense," the Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown wrote. "We're so saddened with your tenure in office." The Tribune Democrat (Registration required; email me if you want the full text of the editorial and I'll send it to you.)
Conservative columnist
This just in from Salon.com. Written by Reaganite Doug Bandow:
"Quite simply, the president, despite his well-choreographed posturing, does not represent traditional conservatism -- a commitment to individual liberty, limited government, constitutional restraint and fiscal responsibility. Rather, Bush routinely puts power before principle. As Chris Vance, chairman of Washington state's Republican Party, told the Economist: "George Bush's record is not that conservative ... There's something there for everyone."
Even Bush's conservative sycophants have trouble finding policies to praise. Certainly it cannot be federal spending. In 2000 candidate Bush complained that Al Gore would "throw the budget out of balance." But the big-spending Bush administration and GOP Congress have turned a 10-year budget surplus once estimated at $5.6 trillion into an estimated $5 trillion flood of red ink. This year's deficit will run about $445 billion, according to the Office of Management and Budget."
Heard any others? Post them in the comments section.
