Printer-Friendly Version

Mutiny on Bush's Bounty?
By Chuck Muth
February 16, 2004

On the one hand, the right loves the fact that the President continues to kill and capture bad guys and has told the "international community" that he doesn't need a "permission slip" from them to do so. In addition, he's cut taxes in each of his first three years in office. So far, so good.

On the other hand he signed Teddy Kennedy's education bill with vouchers stripped out, federalized airport screeners, is blocking pilots from arming themselves in cockpits, has gone too far with some aspects of the Patriot Act, imposed steel tariffs (only to take 'em off when they didn't work), signed the anti-First Amendment McCain/Feingold bill, supports renewal of the Clinton assault weapons ban, pushed for the largest new government entitlement program (prescription drugs) since LBJ, has proposed an illegal alien amnesty program, wants $18 million in new money for the National Endowment for the Arts, wants to put a man on Mars and has chalked up the largest budget deficits in history.

No wonder so many conservative leaders are having a cow and so many grassroots activists are threatening to stay home or vote for a third-party candidate in November.

But on the other, other hand, as Clark County (Nev.) Commissioner Bruce Woodbury ® writes, "What about President Bush's strong position and clear differences from Democrats on issues like taxes, judicial appointments, gun control, national defense and security, the war on terrorism, foreign policy, support for Israel, the U.N., school choice vouchers, tort reform, affirmative action, welfare reform, free trade, protection of free enterprise from excessive regulation, Kyoto, energy self-sufficiency (ANWR), socialized health care, union accountability, crime, death penalty, abortion, religious freedom, and many, many other issues."

Valid points. And while many Republicans such as Commissioner Woodbury don't bat an eye defending the president's record, others simply dismiss the present conservative angst as overblown and nothing to really worry about.

Keith Koffler of the National Journal opined recently that the "fury of conservative leaders in Washington is not matched by their flock in the hinterland." For example, pollsters Ed Goeas and David Winton say they've seen no real concern by grassroots conservatives over the exploding deficits, and Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, says, "Nobody votes on total spending. It's not a vote mover." Ditto the immigration issue: "It doesn't move votes."

Such sentiment is echoed by David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, who wrote extensively on conservative unrest in a recent column.

"The conservatives I talk to are motivated...not to fire the captain (of the ship) but by a desire to get him to make a course correction for all our sakes. They like George W. Bush, believe that overall he's done a good job and are convinced that he is well-intentioned. They are certainly not prepared to suggest that the nation would be better off with the likes of a John Kerry in the White House, and most of them will be out working to re-elect Bush in November."

But Keene still warns of danger.

"(Conservative leaders) know, however, that given the topography of presidential politics these days, Bush is going to need the enthusiastic support of his base if he wants to win. They realize - even if his White House political advisers don't - that a dispirited conservative in Peoria who stays home or doesn't drag his worthless, but Republican, brother-in-law to the polls in November could make the difference between a second term and forced retirement."

Keene's once again hit the nail on the head. Were the election to be held today, it's hard to see the landslide for the president that many were predicting just a few short months ago. There may not be a mutiny in the air, but the passion for this president by limited-government grassroots conservatives simply is no longer there.

Fortunately for Mr. Bush, the election isn't for another nine months. There's still time to get back on the conservative reservation and pump up those in the flock who would just as soon plop down under a shade tree and sit this one out.

But just saying he ain't as bad as the guy on the other team ain't gonna cut the mustard. If the President doesn't do some significant and serious damage-control with his base, and soon, he could well find himself going down the same path as #41. And that means making a REAL course correction, not just giving the base some read-my-lips service.

Conservatives are too principled and too smart to be taken for fools - or taken for granted. President Bush pooh-poohs' conservative unrest at his own peril.

--------------

Chuck Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, a non-profit public policy advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Citizen Outreach. He may be reached at chuck@citizenoutreach.com.

--------------------

Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.