Ryan-
Are you saying, based on his job performance in the field of foreign policy, you will not vote for GWB in 2004?
I did not support the war at the beginning, although I supported the 87B for Iraq and Afghanistan.
Well I’m not a dogmatic republican. I’m republican because I agree with most of the GOP platform and feel most comfortable with the ideology and bent of mind of the GOP. I have however voted for democrats on a case-by-case basis when they have good policies and are personally impressive. One example would be Sen. Breaux (D-La). I would vote for Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga) any day. Still most such candidates would be right of center and I wouldn’t consider a liberal democrat unless the republican alternative is really unpalatable.
In the case of 2004 the answer is yes I will vote for George Bush. (If you read my post carefully I never said I wouldn’t)
I want to make clear that I like and respect this President as do the vast majority of republicans and a majority of independents. I agree with at least 80% of his domestic policy.
On foreign policy (if you look at it over his entire term) I am STILL a strong supporter. The first time I had serious doubts were in May when though the threat from Saddam was clearly neutralized, it was clear we were still going to run the country. The concept of “nation-building” is a liberal and Clintonian concept not a conservative one. Conservatives do not believe that we should be building nations, in fact they believe that one nation cannot build another. The people of that country must do it themselves. Any help they ask for fine, but no other nation should be supervising it. I am unhappy that Bush has is not abiding by this concept but it is by no means enough for me to vote against him.
To expand further on my last post, though I have never seriously considered switching Dem in 2004, I did do some research on Joe Lieberman to see if he was someone I MIGHT consider supporting if other reasons came up. (after a look at his voting record all such thoughts ceased- I wont vote for someone so liberal)
Still, The fact that a generally committed republican like me could even think of doing that means there may be trouble down the line for Bush. Other more centrist republicans and independents may have had the same thoughts I had and may not have put them aside yet. As a matter of fact I know several of the above category that are in fact uncertain of voting Bush in 2004.
However lest the above give democrats too much joy I want to mention the following:
- The last few weeks have seen an almost incessant barrage of anti-Bush rhetoric in the media mostly fueled by the democratic race. Once the Presidential race begins in earnest The President and his team will have an opportunity to state their case and a lot of current doubters might be persuaded.
- If someone like Dean is nominated I can confidently predict that all doubting right-of-center voters will go back to being solidly Bush. We wont let a nutcase like him take over and screw up the country just because we are pissed with our President on one issue.
- My gloomy outlook on Iraq is predicated upon an indefinite long-term engagement there and continuing casualties. I still believe this is likely but it may well not be so. I admit that I didn’t think we would win the original war so easily and cheaply (casualty-wise) either.
- If the war goes better, remember to add that to a rapidly improving economy and this would be bad bad news for the democrats.
Still it will be an interesting race. Cheers.
