[Changleen]

As if we didn't know already.

This article made me laugh so much. "We're behind the president, but we're not." Who could respect these fools? (Mind you who could respect the Dems either?)

Republicans look to a future without Bush

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Reuters) - Republican contenders for the White House walked a political tightrope at a weekend gathering of party activists -- expressing solidarity with President George W. Bush while stressing differences over issues such as deficits and big government.

While praising Bush's leadership, they condemned runaway government spending, rising debt and expanding bureaucracies -- which have grown under Bush and added to a flood of political difficulties that have sent his approval ratings plummeting.

"These last five years we've been hit with unexpected challenges -- a recession, 9/11, homeland security, the war on terror, Katrina. They've required action and investment," said Republican Senate Leader Bill Frist, one of a half-dozen 2008 White House hopefuls who addressed nearly 2,000 mostly conservative activists from 26 states at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference.

"But they're not justification for a one-way ticket down a wayward path of wasteful Washington spending," he said.

The conference offered a glimpse of the future for a party contemplating life after Bush. With November's congressional election looming and approval ratings skidding for Bush and the Republican-led Congress, attendees said the party had strayed from its core principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility and conservative social values.

"Conservatism sells. Our poll numbers right now are not about us being conservative, our poll numbers are because people don't know who we are anymore," said U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

While every speaker pledged loyalty to Bush, many attendees said it was time to move on. Something was broken in Washington, and they want a leader who can fix it, they said.

"I'm not blaming George Bush, I support the president, but I'm looking forward to the future," said Rick Mayhan of Corinth, Mississippi. "It would be nice to go six months without a controversy out of Washington."

Melba Isbell of Marietta, Mississippi, said she liked Bush "but they have let things slip. I'm looking for a good conservative."

WIDE-OPEN 2008 RACE

Frist, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, and Sens. John McCain of Arizona, George Allen of Virginia and Sam Brownback of Kansas, all potential 2008 candidates, appeared at the conference.

They are among nearly a dozen Republicans who could seek the White House in 2008. Opinion polls show McCain and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani are the most popular possible Republican White House contenders. Giuliani did not attend.

Conference participants voted in a straw poll to choose an early favorite. Frist, who packed the home-state crowd with supporters, won easily over second-place finisher Romney. McCain urged participants to support Bush by writing in the president's name, and Bush finished in a tie for third with Allen.

"We all love George Bush and follow George Bush, but everyone is looking for who will be next," said Linda Roberts of Dyersburg, Tennessee. She said she liked Frist and Allen but was not sure about McCain.

"He is a bit more liberal than I would like," she said.

David French, a Columbia, Tennessee, lawyer, said he backed Romney because he was a conservative who could work with opponents in heavily Democratic Massachusetts.

"In '08 we need a standard bearer who is not going to be in the same mold as Bush," French said. "People are tired of the polarization. In Romney, you have someone who is articulate, charismatic and believes what the heartland believes."

Most of the activists said they would support any Republican who wins the nomination. Their biggest concern was finding someone who can beat the Democrats.

"I'm for any Republican who can get elected," said Craig Capehart of Dallas, Texas. "It would be nice if they also had policies that would be good for the country."

I especially like that last paragraph. What a ****in' jackass. Sheesh.

 

[kinghami3]

As if we didn't know already.

This article made me laugh so much. "We're behind the president, but we're not." Who could respect these fools? (Mind you who could respect the Dems either?)

I especially like that last paragraph. What a ****in' jackass. Sheesh.

Talk about stuck in the party lines . I think everyone's brain passed with their last crap.

 

[pixelninja]

"I'm for any Republican who can get elected," said Craig Capehart of Dallas, Texas. "It would be nice if they also had policies that would be good for the country."

Wow. I mean...um...wow. I can't even begin to express how stupid this is.

 

[BurlyShirley]

They're so stupid....they're in charge of YOU! (with exception of course to our foreigners)

Seriously though, if they are so stupid, how is it that they're so successful? Could appearing so simple be just good enough to hide their TRUE motives from simplistic voters? That wouldnt be a stupid move...

 

[Changleen]

They're so stupid....they're in charge of YOU! (with exception of course to our foreigners)

Seriously though, if they are so stupid, how is it that they're so successful? Could appearing so simple be just good enough to hide their TRUE motives from simplistic voters? That wouldnt be a stupid move...

Well, you probably have a point because there a still a hell of a lot of people who don't even acknowledge the link between the current administration and the military-industrial/oil industries.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Well, you probably have a point because there a still a hell of a lot of people who don't even acknowledge the link between the current administration and the military-industrial/oil industries.

Well lets be realistic though. There's always going to be a link between the party that's more likely to go to war and those who profit from war. It so happens that our conservatives are the most war-bent, so their voters have never known anyone aligned with their political/social ideals who werent aligned in such a way.

 

[Tenchiro]

Democrats: Stupid also.

 

[Changleen]

Well lets be realistic though. There's always going to be a link between the party that's more likely to go to war and those who profit from war. It so happens that our conservatives are the most war-bent, so their voters have never known anyone aligned with their political/social ideals who werent aligned in such a way.

So do these voters just think war is OK or do they just ignore that aspect of it because they want the 'moral leadership'? (And how do they not see THAT hypocracy either?)

 

[BurlyShirley]

So do these voters just think war is OK or do they just ignore that aspect of it because they want the 'moral leadership'? (And how do they not see THAT hypocracy either?)

The moral side is what's most important obviously (see the gay marriage red herring that doesnt matter) and the leadership usually finds a way to relate the wars back to that morality so they're equally supported. Kind of like calling it "Iraq freedom" instead of "Operation Rape and Pillage" The right wants to be doing the right (proper) thing, and if the war is justified as moral by people who want to follow a moral leader, they will do all in their power to see and support it as such.

 

[kidwoo]

Democrats: Stupid also.

Yeah but they sometimes have better hair I just found out.

Speaking of stoopid, anyone remember gary hart and his little challenge to the media? Classic.

 

[Changleen]

The moral side is what's most important obviously (see the gay marriage red herring that doesnt matter) and the leadership usually finds a way to relate the wars back to that morality so they're equally supported. Kind of like calling it "Iraq freedom" instead of "Operation Rape and Pillage" The right wants to be doing the right (proper) thing, and if the war is justified as moral by people who want to follow a moral leader, they will do all in their power to see and support it as such.

Which brings us back round to: "Why can't people think for themselves?"

 

[kidwoo]

Which brings us back round to: "Why can't people think for themselves?"

Yeah!!

What he said......

 

[ohio]

Which brings us back round to: "Why can't people think for themselves?"

You think it's a coincidence that Bush is destroying our public school system simultaneously with his other ass****ery of our nation?

 

[Changleen]

Some days I really can't believe Bush is actually really the President of the USA. It is just beyond belief how fvcked up it all is. It's the sort of thing you read about in ancient History and go 'uh oh - these guys have it coming!'

 

[kinghami3]

Some days I really can't believe Bush is actually really the President of the USA. It is just beyond belief how fvcked up it all is. It's the sort of thing you read about in ancient History and go 'uh oh - these guys have it coming!'

Thanks, that's encouraging.