by DemFromCT
Why upset 2/3 of Americans on the stem cell issue? Because the restive Bush base needs its ration of red meat.
At a moment when his conservative coalition is already under strain over domestic policy, President Bush is facing a new and swiftly building backlash on the right over his handling of foreign affairs.
Conservative intellectuals and commentators who once lauded Bush for what they saw as a willingness to aggressively confront threats and advance U.S. interests said in interviews that they perceive timidity and confusion about long-standing problems including Iran and North Korea, as well as urgent new ones such as the latest crisis between Israel and Hezbollah.
As noted before, Bush is on a short leash with conservatives because of perceived inaction on social issues (abortion is still legal), immigration (guest worker programs are a non-starter), gas prices (Iraq will pay for itself with oil) and the deficit (spending still not under control). To make nice with France, let alone Iran, is not on the conservative agenda.
Conservatives complain that the United States is hunkered down in Iraq without enough troops or a strategy to crush the insurgency. They see autocrats in Egypt and Russia cracking down on dissenters with scant comment from Washington, North Korea firing missiles without consequence, and Iran playing for time to develop nuclear weapons while the Bush administration engages in fruitless diplomacy with European allies. They believe that a perception that the administration is weak and without options is emboldening Syria and Iran and the Hezbollah radicals they help sponsor in Lebanon.
Most of the most scathing critiques of the administration from erstwhile supporters are being expressed within think tanks and in journals and op-ed pages followed by a foreign policy elite in Washington and New York.
That's because the "scathing critiques" are written by people who don't have real jobs. Nonetheless, it's part of the huge divisions within the Republican party that journalists don't write about (only Democratic divisions over Iraq are newsworthy). And it's why Bush has to veto the stem cell bill. This group of think tank whackjobs trying to start WW III is part of his shrinking base, and he can't afford to alienate them on everything, or even alienate any of them on anything.
Bush's weakness is real, but these people have come to the right conclusion for all the wrong reasons.
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who is considering a bid for president, called the administration's latest moves abroad a form of appeasement. "We have accepted the lawyer-diplomatic fantasy that talking while North Korea builds bombs and missiles and talking while the Iranians build bombs and missiles is progress," he said in an interview. "Is the next stage for Condi to go dancing with Kim Jong Il?" he asked, referring to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the North Korean leader.
It'd be amusing were it not for recent history.
But the Bush White House has always paid special attention to the conversation in these conservative circles. Many of the administration's signature ideas -- regime change in Iraq, and special emphasis on military "preemption" and democracy building around the globe -- first percolated within this intellectual community. In addition, these voices can be a leading indicator of how other conservatives from talk radio to Congress will react to policies.
No matter how often the real world proves these people wrong, there's someone (or a bunch of well-fed, well-paid someones) willing to do it again, only worse, and to everyone else besides themselves. Stupidity without consequence. What a country.
I'm not sure who's the ultimate driving force behind this "base uber alles" attitude in the administration -- is it Cheney et al., or Rove, who's truly convinced it was those alienated evangelicals he got to vote in '04 who swung the election (rather tham, say, the 45-47% of moderates who went Bush's way on fighting terrorism)? But it has been clear for some time that, whatever else the polls tell them, the GOP brain-trust believes as long as the faith-based/nuke-em-all conservatives are firmly in line, the party's in good shape. (This faux-analysis reached some sort of zenith last Fall, when, after Schiavo, the privatization debacle, deterioration in Iraq, and catastrophe following Katrina, Bill Kristol went around convincing people Bush's biggest problem was nominating Harriet Myers)
It's a collective folly for which I believe they'll pay dearly on Election Day. In the meantime, of course, we're all paying.
Posted by: demtom | July 19, 2006 at 11:35
It is ironic that in the summer of 2001, when Bush should have been paying attention to "Bin Laden Determined to Attack in US" he was crafting his benighted policy on astem cells. We seem to have gone full circle here. What it means I shudder to think.
Posted by: Mimikatz | July 19, 2006 at 12:00
No matter how disastrously their policies turn out, their logic begins with the premise "we are certain we are right" and derives everything else from there. This leads to conclusions that the only problem is that they didn't do enough of whatever insanity they pursued (regime change, bombing them into submission, etc.)
"Clap louder!"
Posted by: Redshift | July 19, 2006 at 12:40
Apply for master card apply for master card
Master card offers master card offers
Chase Master Card Chase Master Card
Tribute Master Card Tribute Master Card
Prepaid Master Card Prepaid Master Card
MBNA Master Card MBNA Master Card
GM Master Card GM Master Card
Western Union Prepaid Master Card Western Union Prepaid Master Card
Platinum Master card Platinum Master card
Citibank Master Card Citibank Master Card
Imagine Master Card Imagine Master Card
HSBC Master Card HSBC Master Card
Orchard Bank Master Card Orchard Bank Master Card
Chase Platinum Master Card Chase Platinum Master Card
Reward Master Card Reward Master Card
Master Card Debit Card Master Card Debit Card
Bank of America Master Card Bank of America Master Card
Air Miles Master Card Air Miles Master Card
Forex News Forex news
Forex software forex software
Forex trade forex trade
Forex market forex market
Forex broker forex broker
Forex trading system forex trading system
Forex seminar forex seminar
Forex currency trading currency forex trading
Forex online trading forex online trading
Forex chart forex chart
Forex training forex training
Forex trading course forex trading course
Forex trading books forex trading books
Forex trader forex trader
Forex trading strategy forex trading strategy
Forex profiting forex profiting
Forex trading education forex trading education
Learn forex learn forex
Forex day trading forex day trading
Forex trading software forex trading software
Forex forecast forecast forex
Forex trading training forex trading training
Forex education education forex
Forex day trading system forex day trading system
Forex online currency trading forex online currency trading
Forex premier trade forex premier trade
Forex books forex books
Apply for credit apply for credit
credit repair credit repair
bad credit debt consolidation bad credit debt consolidation
home equity line of credit home equity line of credit
bad credit loan bad credit loan
bad credit personal loan bad credit personal loan
free credit report free credit report
credit report credit report
credit union credit union
credit score credit score
bad credit refinance bad credit refinance
bad credit mortgage bad credit mortgage
online credit card approval online credit card approval
eliminate credit card debt eliminate credit card debt
consumer credit counseling consumer credit counseling
credit card application credit card application
credit counseling credit counseling
bad credit auto loan bad credit auto loan
free credit score free credit score
credit card consolidation credit card consolidation
credit card debt consolidation credit card debt consolidation
online credit report online credit report
instant approval credit card instant approval credit card
unsecured credit card unsecured credit card
low interest credit card low interest credit card
no credit check loan no credit check loan
credit and debt counseling credit and debt counseling
free instant credit report free instant credit report
credit card debt management credit card debt management
credit reporting agency credit reporting agency
business to business credit union business to business credit union
free credit report online free credit report online
business credit business credit
free annual credit report free annual credit report
free credit check free credit check
credit debt credit debt
buy domain names buy domain names
To qualify for a credit card you must be at least 18 years old and have a regular
source of income. Despite invitations from credit
card issuers, you will still have to demonstrate that you are a good risk
before they grant you credit.
The proof is in your credit report. Before you submit a credit
card application, you may want to obtain a copy of your credit
report to make sure it is accurate. Credit
cards by type could be following:
0% Intro Low APR credit cards - 0% Intro Low APR credit cards
,
Rewards credit cards - Rewards credit cards ,
Instant Approval credit cards- Instant Approval credit cards,
Airline Miles Cards - Airline Miles Cards,
Business Credit Cards - Business Credit Cards,
Gas Credit Cards - Gas Credit Cards,
Student Credit Cards - Student Credit Cards ,
Low Interest Credit Cards - Low Interest Credit Cards, ,
American Express credit cards ,
Bank Of America credit cards - Bank Of America credit cards,
Chase credit cards - Chase Manhattan credit cards,
CitiBank credit cards - Citibank credit cards
Columbus Bank credit cards - Columbus Bank credit cards,
Discover credit cards - discover credit cards
HSBC Bank credit cards,
New Millennium Bank credit cards - Millennium Bank credit cards, and
U.S. Bank credit cards
Calculator
Mortgage - calculator free mortgage, calculator mortgage rate
Mortgage
Calculator calculator interest mortgage, mortgage interest calculator, calculator
mortgage.
Read more about personal
finance , earnings,
stock
markets and economy
at online business news. More offers
can be found at credit cards
offers.
Master card
Master Cards and Mastercards best offers
Chase master card
Chase master cards offers
Master Card gift
card
Master card gif cards listings
Platinum Master
Card
Platinum master card listings
Prepaid Master
Card
prepaid master card offers
Citibank master
card
Citibank master card offers
Master Card credit cards
Master Card credit cards top offers
Citi master card
Citi master card offers
Shell Master Card
Shell master card best offer!
Orchard bank
master card
Orchard bank master card - get here!
Gold Master Card
Gold Master Card best offers
Bad Credit Master
Card
Bad Credit Master Card offers
HSBC master card
HSBC master card listings
Master credit card
Master credit card listings
You can search, compare and apply for
a credit card online - and in some cases even get a credit
decision within 60 seconds!
Low Interest
Credit cards low interest credit cards
Cash Back Credit
Cards cash back credit cards
Fixed APR Credit
Cards fixed APR credit cards
Balance Transfer
Cards balance transfer credit cards
Reward credit cards
reward credit cards
Gas Rebate Cards gas
rebate cards
Shopping Rebate
Cards shopping rebate cards
Travel Rebate Cards
travel rebate credit cards
Airline Credit
Cards airline miles credit cards
Business Credit
Cards business credit cards
Student Credit
Cards student credit cards
Pre-paid Debit
Cards prepaid debit cards
Bad Credit
Credit Cards bad credit credit cards
Catalog Credit
Cards catalog credit cards
Advanta credit
cards advanta credit cards
Amex credit cards
amex credit cards
Chase credit cards
chase credit cards
Citibank credit
cards citibank credit cards
Aspire visa card
aspire visa card
Discover credit
cards discover credit cards
HSBC Bank credit
cards HSBC bank credit cards
New Millennium
Bank credit cards New Millenium Bank credit cards
Pulaski Bank credit
cards Pulaski bank credit cards
Worlperks visa
credit card Worldperks visa credit card
bad credit repair bad credit repair
bad credit report repair bad credit report repair
bad credit mortgages bad credit mortgages
bad credit loans bad credit loans
bad credit auto loans bad credit auto loans
bad credit home loans bad credit home loans
bad credit personal loans bad credit personal loans
bad credit home improvement loans bad credit home improvement loans
bad credit refinance bad credit refinance
bad credit debt consolidation bad credit debt consolidation
bad credit motorcycle loans bad credit motorcycle loans
bad credit boat loans boat loans
bad credit military loans bad credit military loans
bad credit signature loans bad credit signature loans
bad credit mortgage loans bad credit mortgage loans
bad credit repair bad credit repair
bad credit credit cards bad credit credit cards
bad credit visa cards bad credit visa cards
bad credit california mortgage bad credit california mortgage
bad credit help bad credit help
bad credit lenders bad credit lenders
bad credit second mortgage bad credit second mortgage
bad credit loan bad credit loan
bad credit debt consolidation bad credit debt consolidation
bad credit personal loan bad credit personal loan
bad credit credit cards bad credit credit cards
bad credit mortgage bad credit mortgage
bad credit home loan bad credit home loan
bad credit refinance bad credit refinance
bad credit car loan bad credit car loan
bad credit auto loan bad credit auto loan
bad credit refinancing bad credit refinancing
bad credit home equity loan bad credit home equity loan
bad credit loan mortgage bad credit loan mortgage
bad credit people credit cards bad credit people credit cards
guatanteed bad credit personal loan guatanteed bad credit personal loan
bad credit debt bad credit debt
bad credit people loan bad credit people loan
bad credit home loa bad credit home loa
bad credit student loan bad credit student loan
bad credit mortgage refinance bad credit mortgage refinance
bad credit financing bad credit financing
bad credit repair bad credit repair
bad credit unsecured loan bad credit unsecured loan
bad credit debt consolidation loan bad credit debt consolidation loan
bad credit people car loan bad credit people car loan
bad credit payday loan bad credit payday loan
bad credit home mortgage loan bad credit home mortgage loan
bad credit small business loan bad credit small business loan
bad credit business loan bad credit business loan
bad credit mortgage refinancing bad credit mortgage refinancing
bad credit people auto loan bad credit people auto loan
bad credit second mortgage bad credit second mortgage
bad credit college student loan bad credit college student loan
bad credit mortgage lenders bad credit mortgage lenders
bad credit auto financing bad credit auto financing
bad credit student private loan bad credit student private loan
bad credit buy car bad credit buy car
bad credit fast cash loan bad credit fast cash loan
bad credit report repair bad credit report repair
bad credit instant loan bad credit instant loan
bad credit cash loan bad credit cash loan
bad credit auto refinance bad credit auto refinance
bad credit equity loan bad credit equity loan
bad credit mortgage financing bad credit mortgage financing
bad credit signature loan bad credit signature loan
bad credit car financing bad credit car financing
bad credit auto financing loan bad credit auto financing loan
bad credit home improvement loan bad credit home improvement loan
bad credit home refinancing bad credit home refinancing
bad credit mortgage company bad credit mortgage company
bad credit consolidation loan bad credit consolidation loan
bad credit business credit cards bad credit business credit cards
bad credit card debt bad credit card debt
bad credit report fix bad credit report fix
bad credit gas card bad credit gas card
bad credit home buying bad credit home buying
bad credit remortgage bad credit remortgage
bad credit guaranteed loan bad credit guaranteed loan
bad credit personal signature loan bad credit personal signature loan
bad credit checking account bad credit checking account
bad credit 2nd mortgage bad credit 2nd mortgage
Posted by: financial | September 13, 2007 at 08:02
Nice post.
Posted by: Fred333 | February 12, 2008 at 15:42
Dear Trader, Here’s your chance to tap into the world’s most comprehensive “brain trust” of market experts right from the comfort of your own home and watch your trading results skyrocket! INO TV is the first collection of its kind ever made available to the public. This extensive library of trading seminars features 154 expert wealth builders on 547 streaming video and audio seminars. Each seminar is a step-by-step trading course that will show you how to generate a consistent approach in every market, using tested and proven techniques to create massive amounts of wealth.
Posted by: Forex Trading Blog | May 23, 2008 at 11:03
Used car are always better to buy especially when you taking about bad credit car loans. They are more affordable but more importantly a new car losses 15 to 20 percent of its value from the time it leaves the car lot
Posted by: car man | June 05, 2008 at 23:45