Of the three choices I guess I' d have to pick Moderate, (but with qualifications).
Just like most of us(qualifications that is).....I believe most of us would consider ourselves in some sort or another...one of those three. But then to confound the issue we may have points were we digress. Or specific issues that do not conform with our " label" . And if I were forced to " pigeon-hole" my characterization of Bush...it would be a Moderate with Conservative leanings. (And yes there are " breakout" issues for him.)
And I hate to go where you don' t want to go...but at " worst" .....I' d still label him an " improvement" . (If after an 8 year famine I sat at a table with two plates on it....and was told both plates have nourishment on it...and when I asked what do they taste like. " Well the nourishment on this plate is flavorless" . And the other I' d ask. " That nourishment taste quite a bit like s**t" . I' d say happily....give me the flavorless one!)
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By the time it is all said and done...I don' t know what kind of " grade" Bush will get for his presidency. History will be the best judge. And I know the comparison with Clinton goes on....and that is the best we have! To compare what we have today with what we had yesterday, (because in truth we do not know what tomorrow brings). And in that inevitable comparison...Bush is indeed a " breath of fresh air" compared to his predecessor.
I don' t believe that I practice " blind partianship" . There are most assuredly issues that I would like to see GWBush handle differently. As are there many others that feel the same way. But in truth, he or no one else, will do everything exactly the way either I....or any other individual would like. And when faced with that reality I opt for the candidate that comes closer to my beliefs than their opponent does. And without question.....I would have Bush before Gore.....every lifetime for the next xxxxxxxthousands of years! That is the reality we face politically in our system. (And as unperfect as it is....I don' t see many existing examples of better systems as I look about this little world of ours.)
For in truth....until there is a " real" and " viable" alternative to the current two party system. There are NO other choices. As it currently stands now if I were to cast my vote for say a " Libertarian" candidate....in essence I help to put the " greater of two evils" in office. Which is exactly how Clinton came to the Oval office in 92. Whether we like it or not....that is the reality.
We can never have " all that we want" or even " all that we' d like" . And that being the case we sometimes have to settle for " less of what we don' t like" . And until enough Americans shrug off their apathy...and become involved in a " grass roots" movement to bring about change to the current two party system. It is what we have to choose from. (Even a personality as great as Teddy Roosevelt couldn' t pull it off, both he and Taft loss.) So we really do have a great obstacle to overcome before you will see a change!
I personally think the best hope the average concerned American has....is rather than struggle against the juggernaut of the current two party system. Our best hope would to be establish a two term limit for ALL public office holders. At a minimum that would force a two term encumbent to relinquish that office and attempt to run for another office. But more likely it would prevent " career politicians" ......which have become the bane of American politics. That goal I think is within reach.....but will require an awakening of the American public in a political sense...before even that will happen. And I am ashamed to admit it...but from the American' s I know....I would not bet that the " will" exist to accomplish even that!
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And I know the comparison with Clinton goes on....and that is the best we have!
How about Reagan,or his Dad?
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I don' t believe that I practice " blind partianship" .
I was accusing you, but there are many that practice this isn' t that true?
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Our best hope would to be establish a two term limit for ALL public office holders. At a minimum that would force a two term encumbent to relinquish that office and attempt to run for another office. But more likely it would prevent " career politicians" ......which have become the bane of American politics
I agree with you there. The framers of the constitution didn' t want career politicians,neither do I.
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I understand your point.....and we could compare him to Jackson, or Cleveland, or Lincoln, .................but to maintain a relevance the best comparison for current considerations will always be between the current office holder...with their immediate predecessor. Simply because it contains the most relevance to current affairs.
And I certainly will not argue with you that many maintain blind partisianship. Just as I will not argue with you that there are many bigots....hypocrites.....whiners.....(fill in the blank). That has always been true, and as long as humankind exists...always will be true. There is very little either you or I can do as individuals to counter that....other than to raise our children, grandchildren, etc. in a way to help them have the skills to think critically for themselves. And to be " fair minded" in their treatment of others. What we can do though is to insure that things like bigotry, hypocrisy, etc. are not allowed to be condoned at an institutional level. And when they are....to challenge them in courts.
What we can do, other than just renumerate our dissatisfaction on these forums...yet again and again....is to become involved in the political process at some level. Be it locally, state, or federal. We can volunteer to monitor voting polls, pass out flyers, write letters to local news outlets, become involved in decision making processes at our public schools.....the list goes on. And as was pointed out on a different thread in regards to a completely different subject....we can start taking our duty as jurors seriously. You have no idea of how many times I have heard people talk about the numbers of methods they have attempted to use to AVOID jury duty. And these are frequently people that complain vigorously about their political situations. The last " line" that ordinary citizens have in our system of government is to insure that the law is being applied in a way that we believe to be consistant, fair, and impartial. Yet many citizens want no part of it!
You are right....in that there is room for much improvement in our government. And the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!
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By the " standards" I grew up with...I' d be inclined to agree with you! But by today' s standards I listed him as moderate with a conservative lean. (Of course by today' s standards.....if indeed you want to call them standards at all....if you are proud to be an American you are labeled a Right Wing, rednecked, gun nut, crank.)
Oh, how the pendulum swings!!!!!!
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Bush = Conservative??
