A Concerned Bloc of Republicans Wonders Whether Bush Is Conservative Enough

[Gordon B]

NY Times article

I'd like to point out that many of the dinner guests, invited by the American Conservative Union, criticized the President both for profligate domestic spending and for the Patriot Act.

Mr. Cheney drew a less enthusiastic response when he called on Congress to extend the antiterrorism law, the USA Patriot Act, which is due to expire next year. Many conservatives fear that the act and other administration moves give the federal government too much power. In recognition of a new alliance on the issue, the American Civil Liberties Union set up a booth at the conference for the first time this year, Mr. Keene of the conservative union said. A few hours later, Bob Barr, the former congressman from Georgia, denounced the administration's expanded powers as a dangerous threat to liberty. "We don't want a surveillance society," he said.

[Captain Hate]

Goddammit Gordon; don't you know that after giving the secret vast right wing conspiracy handshake we're supposed to march in lockstep behind Bush!?!?!? Oh wait; this is just a dodge to throw the toolboxes off. Never mind.

[Gordon B]

Where are Chris A, Uli, and Goodspeak to comment?

So, am I to understand that Bush is not nasty enough for some conservatives?

[Uli]

It's good to see that at least some Repubs can get out of lockstepping.

Originally posted by Uli
It's good to see that at least some Repubs can get out of lockstepping.

Of course, to them, it is Bush who is out of step.

[lynn]

A neo-consevative I have the supreme priviledge of working with actually stated that Bush is too liberal for his tastes and has actually betrayed the people that put him in power. I just had to say "Tough shit", I didn't vote for the ass.

That must have been very comforting.

[Captain Hate]

Originally posted by lynn
A neo-consevative I have the supreme priviledge of working with actually stated that Bush is too liberal for his tastes and has actually betrayed the people that put him in power. I just had to say "Tough shit", I didn't vote for the ass.

I used to say the same thing regarding Clinton.

[Gordon B]

Originally posted by Uli
It's good to see that at least some Repubs can get out of lockstepping.

Conservative Republicans at that, Uli.

It looks like you and Chris do not have identical views on this thread. I thought that was worth noting.

Captain Hate, can you look my pixels in the eye and say that you'd rather have Kerry as President than Clinton?

Anybody up for a JC hang at Dillon's on West 54th Street in Manhattan?
I'm sure Chris A can tell everybody who's about to start an engagement there. Hint: the junior Senator from NY will not be showing up.

[Captain Hate]

Originally posted by Gordon B
Captain Hate, can you look my pixels in the eye and say that you'd rather have Kerry as President than Clinton?

Geez Gordon, why don't you just call names rather than ask difficult questions. I guess since the country survived eight years of Kenny G on the White House stereo, that should answer that question; although that's a choice I'd prefer not to even contemplate.

Lynn called me Boob, does that help at all?

[Captain Hate]

Originally posted by Scott Dolan
Lynn called me Boob, does that help at all?

Human Rights Watch is all over this one.

[steve(thelil)]

If conservatives or republicans think all us liberals will find this story distressing rather than tremendously amusing, I guess there really is little hope of us ever understanding each other, even when we agree. Or something.

[moneyp]

Mr. Cheney drew a less enthusiastic response when he called on Congress to extend the antiterrorism law, the USA Patriot Act, which is due to expire next year. Many conservatives fear that the act and other administration moves give the federal government too much power. In recognition of a new alliance on the issue, the American Civil Liberties Union set up a booth at the conference for the first time this year, Mr. Keene of the conservative union said. A few hours later, Bob Barr, the former congressman from Georgia, denounced the administration's expanded powers as a dangerous threat to liberty. "We don't want a surveillance society," he said.

I'm lost. How does fearing that the government has too much power and worrying about civil liberties equate to being concerned that Bush is not conservative enough?

[Captain Hate]

How's that post count going, thelil?

American Conservative Union == Limited Federal Power.

[Gordon B]

Originally posted by Captain Hate
How's that post count going, thelil?

American Conservative Union == Limited Federal Power.

Bingo!

[moneyp]

Originally posted by Captain Hate
American Conservative Union == Limited Federal Power.

So then the only people who aren't worried about the erosion of civil liberties are... what? Moderates?

[Captain Hate]

Originally posted by mone peterson
So then the only people who aren't worried about the erosion of civil liberties are... what? Moderates?

To judge by most of the posts here, I guess so.

Bob Barr is a strange case who pretty much defies categorization. He caught a lot of heat for a stunt he did of shooting a bullet into a watermelon to prove that Vince Foster (I think) couldn't have committed suicide. I remember James Carville used to bring it up on every Sunday talk show he appeared on and it was pretty wacky; of course Carville would run it into the ground with his incomprehensible speaking style and propensity to laugh at his own jokes, which made you wish that Barr would put a slug through his empty dome. To be nonpartisan they could also shoot his whiny conservative wife, Mary Matelin, just to see if a solid point could make it through the garish makeup she seems to apply with a trowel. But Barr is pretty much in league with the ACLU on most privacy issues.

Dammit! I have repeatedly stated that Republicans are looking in my window.

Do you fucking people CARE about that??!!

I think that the biggest problem with the erosion of civil liberties is the overblown way they are portrayed.

On the flip side, I have noticed a marked decrease in libs when I go to the library.

That helps soften the blow a little.

[GoodSpeak]

Originally posted by Gordon B
Where are Chris A, Uli, and Goodspeak to comment?

Right here:




BTW...it's a broken record.





















[har]

[Monte Smith]

Good Lord! If ever I change my avatar from the cranially beswathed Nabob, it'll be to the record label that Goody directs our attention to.

Remarkable!

[GoodSpeak]

Glad to be of service, Old Boy ;-)