Low pollnumbers are nothing new to President Bush these days, but the latest surveys reflect a significant shift in the political landscape as growing numbers of conservatives — who have long and loyally kept their brooding private — are now going public about their deepest dissatisfactions with George W. Bush.
Bush won two presidential elections thanks in large part to conservatives to whom he appealed as the true heir to the Reagan Revolution. But the Gipper wouldn’t recognize Bush’s version of “conservative” government: Federal spending and debt have exploded. Ditto the unfunded liabilities of major entitlement programs. Federal regulation has been vastly expanded in education and health care. As National Taxpayers Union President Dr. John E. Berthoud told The Examiner, “You can’t tax like Reagan while spending like Dean.”
Even worse, Bush’s refusal to veto pork-barrel spending has compromised the efficacy of his tax cuts. Indeed, “limited government” never looked so big. Adding to Bush’s problem is the stench of scandal stinking up Capitol Hill on both sides of the aisle. Conservatives look at 12 years of GOP control of Congress and wonder why they don’t have much more to show for it.
On foreign policy, conservatives have admired Bush’s steadfast pursuit of the war on terror, but they are puzzled and frustrated that he so resolutely refuses to take concrete, credible actions to secure our borders. When they learn the U.S. Border Patrol is alerting Mexican authorities of Minutemen locations, many conservatives call it the last straw.
Karl Rove reportedly has a plan to “stir up” the base to again save the Republicans’ electoral bacon, but conservatives won’t be satisfied this time around with more token efforts on issues like marriage and dire warnings that “the Democrats would be far worse.” Conservatives have heard that song before and know it never has a second verse.
The White House need look no further than Hugh Hewitt’s “Painting the Map Red” for a credible strategy. That strategy begins with getting tough with Congress and vetoing all unnecessary spending, starting with the pork-stuffed emergency supplemental. Demand up-or-down votes on all of your federal judicial nominees as soon as possible. Challenge Congress to suspend the bureaucratic red tape that prevents building new refineries and open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other appropriate areas to energy exploration and production. Make clear that regardless of November’s election results, you will call a special session of this Congress if needed in order to accomplish what needs to be done to get spending and entitlements under control, sanity restored to the courts and gasoline prices made affordable again.
Most important, Mr. President, secure the borders. Build the wall now. Tell Mexico the border is officially closed to illegal immigration and demand respect from that country for all U.S. laws. And stop using our own Border Patrol against patriotic Americans who are simply trying to help protect this nation from intruders who mean us ill.
The time is short, Mr. President.
