Muth's Truth's: "Mutiny on Bush's Bounty?"

[newsandviews_list]

If you are unable to view html within your email program please use the following link 
to view Chuck Muth's latest News and Views: http://chuckmuth.com/newsandviews/nv.cfm
To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.chuckmuth.com/remove
X-ListMember: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]

_______________________________
MUTH'S TRUTHS
February 15, 2004
_______________________________

"MUTINY ON BUSH'S BOUNTY?"

President Bush has put conservatives in a real pickle.

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 (R) 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED]