"but the strong economy, for which Clinton deserves some (I never said all) credit contributed greatly "
I never stated that he didn't deserve any credit. I don't want to debate who's responsible for what part of our economic history, but I do prefer repub fiscal policy over the dems. They (dems) seem hell bent on the "fact" that they know how to spend taxpayer's money better than the taxpayers do. Their message belittles the class that they claim to help (which doesn't help, btw) while they villianize a large portion of successful people (hollywood types excluded). Class warfare is not the proper tactic in our day and age.
Wow, super cynical view of GWB and the recount. You seem quite on top of the details but I think your view of the recount is dead wrong. As you may or may not know, I like to debate this topic. If you are interested I am curious about how you support that he used "James Baker to implement scorched earth legal tactics to shut down manual recounts that were entirely legal and proper under Florida law". I'm particularly interested in how you justify their legality.
Regarding Ashcroft, I hope you will judge him by how he does. The dems seem to like to trash people before they have even done anything wrong (the ends justifies the means I guess). Politics is pretty dirty on both sides I agree, but if the only stuff they can find from his whole career are two people with different idealogical backgrounds that were on the other side of one of his votes I'd have to say that is a pretty clean record. As the AG and Governor of Missouri and as a U.S. Senator I would think there would be jillions of non-controversial good decisions, right? Point being, don't you look better if you don't trash him, give him a chance, then if he fails you can string him alive. I think they are more worried that he will do good.
I know ideology is a part of politics, but the message the dems are sending is that we don't like his values, so he probably wont uphold the law. That's a stretch imo.
Regarding your final points.
1) Bush IS relatively to the center, imo. Not as close to the center as Bill, but he's not Jesse Helms. The praise he is getting from some demo bigwigs (like Ted Kennedy) is very impressive. George Miller is getting along with him famously and is working with him on the education issue. If more of the dem leaders respond that way you may be in trouble (since you seem to want him to fail).
2) EIGHT YEARS it is. We'll have a better feel for this in about a year and a half.
Scott |
