For the moderates

[Norquist Nemesis]

regardless of whether you normally "lean left" or "lean right". Given the actions of the Bush administration, do you think these are a) motivated just to win the election then do whatever he wants; or b) honestly re-thinking strategy/policy but still with a right-wing focus

Just to be clear, my take is that any move they are making now is simply a ploy. IF (big IF) he should take the election, we are in big trouble. The election is not a slam dunk at this point and that he (read Rove) is reaching out to undecideds.

[west michigan]

1. both...

..I'm afriad, but we wil win.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. How both?

Maybe I'm not clear on my alternatives of a and b. Either he's playing more toward the center to reach out or he's truly moved toward it and would continue it through a second term. :shrug:

[Syrinx]

5. there's no way govern from the center in a second term. no way.

Second term would make the last four years look like a picnic.

Please read this column by Robert Reich:

Musings about a second Bush term typically assume another four years of the same right-wing policies we've had to date. But it'd likely be far worse. So far, the Bush administration has had to govern with the expectation of facing American voters again in 2004. But suppose George W. Bush wins a second term. The constraint of a re-election contest will be gone. Knowing that voters can no longer turn them out, and that this will be their last shot at remaking America, the radical conservatives will be unleashed.

A friend who specializes in foreign policy and hobnobs with subcabinet officials in the Defense and State departments told me that the only thing that's stopped the Bushies from storming into Iran and North Korea is the upcoming election. If Bush is re-elected, " Cheney and Rumsfeld are out of the box," he said. "They'll take Bush's re-election as a mandate to wage the 'war on terror' everywhere and anywhere."

The second term's defense team will be even harder line than the current one. Colin Powell will go. Condoleezza Rice will take over at the State Department. Rumsfeld will consolidate power as the president's national-security adviser. Paul Wolfowitz will run the Defense Department.

Domestic policy will swing further right. A re-election would strengthen the White House's hand on issues that even many congressional Republicans have a hard time accepting, such as the assault on civil liberties. Bush will seek to push "Patriot II" through Congress, giving the Justice Department and the FBI powers to inspect mail, eavesdrop on phone conversations and e-mail, and examine personal medical records, insurance claims, and bank accounts.

Right-wing evangelicals will solidify their control over the departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services -- curtailing abortions, putting federal funds into the hands of private religious groups, pushing prayer in the public schools, and promoting creationism.

*snip*

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0407-12.htm

[west michigan]

6. I guess ....

I lean towrds choice A. To give him the benefit of the doubt he may be rethinkinking strategy but can only see it through a right wing prism with the short term goal in mind. Whatever makes it most palatable to the swing is where he will go. To be honest I read through it quickly and responded. He may be "truly" moved toward it as a means to an end, but this is a "leader" who goes and trusts his "gut" or so they say.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

2. I think Bush is being an opportunist.

The lineup at the GOP convention is a sop to moderation, but they will also have Zell Miller who (tho, ironically, a "Democrat") will put the ugly face back on the party. Lets hope Zell unintentionally fucks them over in the message they are trying to send.

The real deal here is to push the conservative agenda legislatively prior to the 2006 midterms, when the GOP could be hit hard.

And to seed the Fed judiciary with righty judges. Not just the USSC, but the lower level judges too.


We already know what their foreign policy is all about, but I think theyve played close-hold w. domestic policy until W gets his second term.

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Geez, I wish Zell gave me some hope

but at this point I just don't see anything that would do that. :(

I believe you're absolute on target about the judges and no doubt about the foreign policy.

[Poiuyt]

7. Everything Bush does is based on increasing his political power

I don't believe that Bush is moving towards the center philosophically. He's doing it now to get re-elected.

I would hope that if Bush wins a second term, Congress would be less "friendly" to the administration. Face it, after 9/11, Bush has had a virtual blank check to do what they wanted. Recently it seems as if Congress has been a little tougher on them. Not much, but a little.