Why are there conservatives pretending?

Question

Almost evey conservative I know is now against Bush. So why are there still some on here pretending he is doing good things?

Thank you all for answering in the best sincere way. I have appreciated your thoughts on the matter.

Answer 1

Not really sure. Most conservatives know that Bush is NOT a true conservative. A true conservative would never start a preemptive, undeclared war, as one example...

Answer 2

Before I answer this question, I must ask you: how do you know the pro-Bush conservatives are "pretending" to support him? Can you not account for the fact that there may be some shred of legitimacy to their support? Or is your ideological adversity to conservatism so ingrained that there can be no perception of truth?

Now, to the answer. Here is the playbook that most conservatives, I feel, operate by:
1.) During a time of peace, we were struck by a surprise attack carried out, not by terrorists, but by Islamists (yes, there is a major difference). Bush, despite his undeniable unease and foibles before the cameras, had the "strategic vision" and the excellent support team, to coordinate a response and craft a national policy (the Bush Doctrine). Were there mistakes....yes. Did Bush learn from those mistakes....yes. Whether you want to hear this or not, the nature of war is highly unpredictable (especially when the previous President gutted the intelligence community and undermined the effectiveness of the military). To expect perfection and immediate success in an undertaking as broad and important as this is naive. There is something fundamentally profound between Bush and his adversaries, because while Bush is constantly reminding everyone how long and perilous this struggle will be in order to achieve victory (a lost concept for the Left), his critics are demanding we run away. The old 'fight or flight' reflex has revealed the moral corruptibility of liberalism and even 'on the fence' moderates.

2.) The result of the Katrina hurricane offered a glimpse into the civic irresponsibility of our citizens. I understand that FEMA and the federal government provides relief and assistance in times of national disasters, but the concepts rugged individualism, state sovereignty, and local governmental responsibility have disappeared. Those victims of Katrina whose first knee-jerk reaction was to let the federal government know their hand was out and waiting to be filled with all sorts of goodies, have abandoned the great characteristic of "American individualism". Personal action and personal responsibility have been replaced with the declared right of nannyhood. Bush's attempt to remind everyone of the role of every citizen and the state was drowned out by accusations of racism, ethnic indifference, lack of administrative skills, and politiking.

3.) The pursuit of increased security measures in this country has also drawn the ire of anti-Bush groupies. Bush has had to balance the critical requirements of shoring up our national security with the warnings to leave unfettered, the expansive civil liberties we all enjoy. Like Lincoln, Bush must try to impose martial rulings on a democratic populace in an effort to save that very system of governance. He has had the persistence, due to his understanding of the true nature of this global conflict, to carry forward his vision. Unfortunately, the liberals who have continually been bested by him, have taken out their anger by making Bush's team members step down (Rumsfeld, Rove, Pace, Gonzales, etc).

4.) One of the least reported good things Bush has done was his refusal to meddle in the economy (unless he really had to). His reliance upon the laissez-faire approach will of course go unnoticed because it entails less governmental manipulation of our private economy. Liberals tend to see a lack of federak action within the economy as blissful ignorance, and it is not. It is letting the private sector do what they do best; succeed.

These are just a few of the good things Bush has done. If you want more, let me know.

Answer 3

Evidently you don't know many conservatives.

George W. Bush doesn't have all the answers and never did, but he has done an honest job in possibly the most difficult time America has ever known.

No one else has all the answers either, particularly Hillary, Obama, Edwards, Joe Biden, or anyone else among the Democrat "leaders". Richardson of course has lost the race and had just as well pack his bags and back to his home state, where he HAS at least done some good as Governor. The others haven't even proven themselves in that manner.

Bush and Cheney have been continually abused and lied about throughout the current administration, and long before, for purely political reasons.

Answer 4

Perhaps the conservatives she knows are more intelligent than the ones you others know. I come from a very red state and the conservatives here, mostly, are also against Bush at this time. I have great hopes that the state is finally turning around.

Answer 5

My father, a life-long Republican, and I, a life-long liberal, have spent our lives in constant political conflict. He is 77, and I am 54. He hated Clinton and loved Reagan, and, of course, voted for Bush.

But the other day he went on and on about what a mistake it was to attack Iraq and to continue to try to police that country. I almost fell out of my chair.

My father still has his traditional conservative values, but he, like many other conservatives, are sick of this administations overspending and never, repeat, never doing anything to truly control and protect our borders.

So it's not just a bunch of moderates changing their mind about Bush and the Republican party. It is their core.

Many will just skip this election because of their disillusion with the party. And Hillary will win.

Answer 6

Every Bush supporter I know will say that they like Bush but will always add a "But" to their comments. I think they are afraid to admit to their mistake of voting for the guy

Answer 7

A character that is know by the name of God might not be the best one to voice opinions on being self-absorbed (sorry, couldn't resist, and no offense intended)

I'm not against Bush, and indeed support him, but there is no way in Hades' hell one can overlook the amnesty atrocity, last summers Dubai Port debacle, or this current Dubai-NASDAQ heresy.

All things considered, though, I am thankful to the actual God he [Bush] has been president the last seven years as opposed to Kerry or Gore.

Answer 8

I didn't like everything that Ronald Reagan did and I sure am not happy with everything that Bush has done. But, I have NEVER seen anything out of Al Gore or John Kerry to make me think that I made a mistake when I voted against both of them.
Get over it. They lost. They voted for war and they got war, solve the problem and stop spreading hatred. It is not productive.

Answer 9

You don't know me! We all believe different things. I disagree with many things that Bush has done, but he is still WAY better than kerry would have been, imo. So, you are being awfully judgmental by saying we are pretending. It would be like me saying, why do the democrats pretend that they have a conscious?

Answer 10

Against Bush? Any reasonable person should be in Bush's corner unless they actually SUPPORT his failure. I totally disagreed with going into Iraq in the first place but we did so there isn't much we can do about that. As we are in there and caused the destabilization of the country I don't think we in good conscience can leave yet. I disagreed with him going in but support him and HOPE he manages to find a positive resolution..............