The Evil Genius Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Hmmmm...what's the damage Mr. Spock? Bush's Political Base Seems Restive, Anxious By Alan Elsner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some of George W. Bush's conservative political supporters are increasingly restive and anxious about the president's economic policies as well as his attempts to justify the war against Iraq (news - web sites). Popular conservative television news anchor Bill O'Reilly, usually an outspoken Bush loyalist, said on Tuesday he was now skeptical about the Bush administration and apologized to viewers for supporting prewar claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. "I was wrong. I am not pleased about it at all and I think all Americans should be concerned about this," O'Reilly said in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America." Pollster John Zogby said Bush was on the defensive with some polls showing him slightly behind Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), his probable Democratic opponent in the Nov. 2 presidential election. "The president is on the ropes right now. The question is, how will he adjust? Right now, the issues are not in his favor. Many Americans still think the economy is poor and his rationale for the Iraq war seems a little thin," he said. "Bush's greatest asset was his unimpeachable integrity in the eyes of most Americans. But with no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, that integrity has been chipped away and right now some large lumps are falling off it," Zogby said. Bush's White House interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday was designed to calm some of these doubts. But while some pundits gave Bush good marks for his performance, some prominent conservatives were not impressed. 'TIRED AND UNSURE' Peggy Noonan, a speechwriter for former President Ronald Reagan (news - web sites) and for Bush's father and an outspoken conservative commentator, said: "The president seemed tired, unsure and often bumbling. His answers were repetitive, and when he tried to clarify them he tended to make them worse. He seemed in some way disconnected from the event." Conservative columnists George Will and Robert Novak and former Republican congressman Joe Scarborough, now a cable TV commentator, have also recently criticized Bush's fiscal programs and his attempts to explain them. Such doubts, if they persist, could spell trouble for Bush's re-election campaign. But conservative political consultant Keith Appell said Bush would soon be able to unify and energize his base. "The White House has had a string of misfires but I believe they will soon regain their stride. This last month has been a wake-up call, but maybe that's what they needed," he said. In the past month, Bush's State of the Union Address and his initiative to send manned spacecraft to Mars failed to generate much enthusiasm. Conservatives and liberals both criticized his budget for failing to seriously confront the country's growing deficit problem. On Monday, Bush delivered an economic report to Congress promising to create 2.6 million jobs this year. Last year's economic report predicted that 1.7 million jobs would be created. Instead, there was a net loss of 53,000. "Congress has the power to censure the president -- to formally reprimand him for betraying the nation's trust. If ever there was a time for this, it's now," the group said in a statement posted on its Web site. Democrats hope they can plant seeds of doubt now. "If you can create a drumbeat of criticism in February, it's easier to make the case when it really counts in September and October," said Democratic consultant Jennifer Laszlo. But Brown University political scientist Darrell West said he expected Bush to recover. "It's damaging when your friends criticize you in public, but by November they will all be supporting Bush," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Bill O'Reilly is not a conservative Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinInsite Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by luckydevil Bill O'Reilly is not a conservative HAHAHHAAH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 The problem from the beginning is that while Bush is a man of principle on SOME matters, he is a politician on too many, including what are supposed to be core right-leaning values. He is no way, shape or form related to the libertarian-influenced Contract with America. Indeed, he seems to take his lessons(or Rove does) from the Clinton/Morris triangulation strategy. That works for a man like Clinton who appeals to everyone and yet satisfies no one, and somehow comes out cool. It does not work for Bush who is seen as actually having some integrity, whether this is true or not. I mean, the LAST straw for me was wanting MORE money for the arts. talk about a 180 from the 94 "revolution." What many simpletons on the right(AND their leftist critics) fail to understand is that the intellect and core values of the Republican Party are supposed to be something of a libertarian-lite. Religion is supposed to inform the morals of the people, but not be imposed from above. Science and reason are to be CELEBRATED not derided and impeded. It seems both parties are slouching towards platforms that are amenable to fascism, economic authoritarianism or at least some form of neo-corporatist dominance and slavery. They need someone like me to head that damn party. SkinInsite--Lucky is right. The guy is a populist mushhead. No conservative would constantly be calling for fed intervention for every problem he imagines is going to lead to the fall of the Repubic. At least none before the last couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 HAHAHHAAH He is a right wing populist. He has a very authoritarian streak in his politics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by luckydevil Bill O'Reilly is not a conservative I'l second that. O'Reily is many things, but conservative he is not. Look up his stance on gun control and abortion, it should answer your questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinInsite Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 What about his stance on illegal immigrants while differ from Bush is in-line with most of GOP. Cutting tax of the working class, reorganize spending oversight effectively. (loves Dick Cheney) Standarize testing and against teacher's Union. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 And there are left-wingers that believe in the right to bear arms. There is SOME variation on these issues among the so-called divisions in the political spectrum. But he's not sophisticated enough, in my opinion, to be representative of any particular faction. I am personally for eating fetuses, testing our children in zero_G environments and for using teachers as slaves to feed us grapes and fan our faces in the hot sun of Rome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by Ghost Who Talks And there are left-wingers that believe in the right to bear arms. There is SOME variation on these issues among the so-called divisions in the political spectrum. But he's not sophisticated enough, in my opinion, to be representative of any particular faction. I am personally for eating fetuses, testing our children in zero_G environments and for using teachers as slaves to feed us grapes and fan our faces in the hot sun of Rome. ding ding ding. He's also a bandwagon Jerk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 What about his stance on illegal immigrants while differ from Bush is in-line with most of GOP. This is no longer a conservative-liberal issue anymore. Check Sierra Club( last time I checked fairly left) stance on immigration. You clearly have no idea what it means to be a conservative. He's also a bandwagon Jerk. That too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinInsite Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Tell Congress "NO!" on the multi-trillion dollar prescription drug "benefit" Tell the Senate "Enough!" on Tobacco Industry Regulation! Real Conservative Medicare Reform a Must! "Tell the House to Support Class Action Reform!" End Lawsuit Abuse and Protect the Second Amendment Support H.R. 5: Reasonable Medical Liability Reform a Must! Support Political Speech Protection! Support Funding for Missile Defense! Right, all those aren't conservative issues. He may be a bandwagon jerk but most of his belief are still rooted to the right. Despite his claim as an independent. More like Rush Limbaugh light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Popular conservative television news anchor Bill O'Reilly, usually an outspoken Bush loyalist, That told me all I needed to know about the article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Problem is, there were lots of left groups that were upset with the McCain-Feingold CFR. I think the difference is that Limbaugh comes from a semi-coherent(though not completely lol) POV that is rooted in right-wing precepts. I think O'Reilly actually comes MORE from the old blue-collar/lower middle class Democratic values which are often NOW identified as conservative values, but were more likely shared by most Americans to some degree or another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by Kilmer17 That told me all I needed to know about the article. You know I find it amazingly funny how conservatives use the term "liberal" like an insult, but if a paper mentions "conservative" in a story that isn't positive they act like you just looked up their skirt. hehehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 The reference was that O'Reilly was a Bush loyalist. Which is completely false. He's hammering at him DAILY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by Kilmer17 The reference was that O'Reilly was a Bush loyalist. Which is completely false. He's hammering at him DAILY. We must have different definitions of "hammering" then eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Bush has not yet begun campaigning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 Originally posted by Kilmer17 The reference was that O'Reilly was a Bush loyalist. Which is completely false. He's hammering at him DAILY. You're right. He routinely criticises him for not following the religous right closely enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OaktonSkins/BushFan Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 Originally posted by Larry You're right. He routinely criticises him for not following the religous right closely enough. Larry - Two words for you: Qtips Eyeglasses :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Williams Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 :laugh: I thought this thread was about all the fairweather fans for the bucs.....ya know the ship.......rats....:doh: :paranoid: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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