THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume VI, Issue # 120, June 9, 2004
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS & THE NOVEMBER, 2004, ELECTION:
WHY PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH IS VULNERABLE
By Christopher G. Adamo
FULL STORY:
George W. Bush, a “wartime president” who has won two major military victories in the last three years and clearly put the forces
of terrorism to flight, ought to be the unquestioned favorite going into the November, 2004, presidential election. The economy,
a key component of any presidential race, is clearly robust and therefore in his favor.
That an arrogant northeastern Liberal like John Kerry is even on the radar screen indicates that something is amiss in the Bush
camp. For Kerry to be in a virtual tie with Bush in the pre-election polls stands as evidence of critical failings on the Republican
side. It is ludicrous to suggest that Kerry has garnered any “momentum” of his own. Americans truly enthused by him are a
rarity. In reality, the overwhelming bulk of Kerry’s “support” amounts to nothing more than anti-Bush sentiment.
The clock is ticking on towards Election Day, which means that time is running out for the Bush camp to recognize the nature of
its problems and take decisive action to correct them. Unfortunately, the events of the past two weeks suggest that quite the
opposite is happening. Both on the foreign and the domestic fronts, President Bush appears to be in retreat. This is particularly
unfortunate because an aggressive and proactive agenda is clearly needed, not only for the fortunes of his reelection campaign
but also for the good of the country.
In his dealings with the Democrats, the President has succumbed to their malicious partisanship to a far greater degree than can
possibly be justified. Rather than confront their unconstitutional usurpation of his authority to nominate federal judges, he now agrees
to cease making recess appointments, thus forfeiting his keys to the judiciary. No doubt this is an attempt to revert to his
ineffectual “new tone” philosophy. But regardless of his intentions, it is a political fiasco on the order of Bob Dole’s“Enough is
enough” capitulation during the 1995 budget battle.
While key members of the Bush administration still hope that such a move might reduce the level of partisan rancor Americans
find so distasteful, its real effect will only be to further demoralize the President’s already frustrated “base.” Hardly appreciative
of his conciliatory action, Democrats will merely move on to other issues with which they believe they can discredit him.
Some major voices among Conservatives contend that the shrillness of Liberal partisans in the media and on Capitol Hill makes
them look small and undermines their case. Though a possibility, any negative backlash will not occur until such time as the
Republicans attempt to meet them on some nonexistent “middle ground,” whereupon they begin to appear comparatively
resolute, and thus more credible.
Time and again, the President is handed opportunities to clearly define the
differences between himself and his opposition, but ultimately fails to do
so. He claims to advocate a federal constitutional amendment protecting marriage,
but supports it with only a tiny fraction of the zeal he devoted to such
dubious causes as the campaign for ultra-Liberal Republican Senator Arlen
Specter or congressional legislation establishing and funding new and expanded entitlement programs.
The Democratic Party's immigration policy, which Kerry supports, is a fiasco that would
essentially abolish America’s borders. This by itself could sufficiently
polarize the overwhelming majority of voters against Kerry, except that
President Bush’s immigration policy is merely a “watered-down” version of
the same thing.
Unfortunately, this same flawed thinking is apparently creeping into the
President’s formerly resolute foreign policy. Feeling the heat of the
intense media attacks that predictably follow even minor mishaps in Iraq,
and still reeling from the Abu Ghraib scandal, the Bush administration is
becoming increasingly conciliatory with Islamist thugs who hope to frustrate
American efforts to secure peace in Iraq. Furthermore, U.S. forces now
refrain from all-out assaults on Iraqi cities that hold significance within
the Muslim religion (Not surprisingly every wide spot in every Iraqi camel
trail is being designated as “sacred”). Predictably, such a show of moral
uncertainty will only serve to embolden America’s enemies.
In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan faced down a much larger Liberal political
machine domestically, while confronting the far more potent and disciplined
Soviet enemy internationally. Amazingly, he accomplished this without the
benefit of today’s alternative media. In short, Reagan’s success was due to
his resolute confidence in his unmistakably Conservative agenda, never
allowing his opposition to define him. If George W. Bush truly wants to win
in November, he must follow Reagan’s example with the full courage of his
convictions.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
American Politics & Political Competition
American Government & the U.S. Presidency
Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer who lives in southeastern Wyoming and works in the field of industrial instrumentation.
He is actively involved in Wyoming's political process, serving as a delegate to successive Wyoming State Republican Conventions
and as a member of the Wyoming State Republican Central Committee. He has assisted Republican candidates for local and state
legislatures and for the United States Congress. His articles, which appear regularly in The Progressive Conservative, U.S.A.,
and on a number of other websites, reflect a major concern with the damage being done to Conservatism and Conservative causes by
the Liberal Leftist faction in the Republican Party as well as by the much larger and more powerful Liberal Leftist faction in the
Democratic Party. During the early and middle 1990s, Adamo was Editor of the Wyoming Christian Coalition's official news organ,
The Wyoming Christian.
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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