Reagan also knew what was POSSIBLE at any given time, and how to maximize the gain for his cause, based on the situation. The conservatives have to stay vocal, because there is always the possibility that, otherwise, they will be taken for granted. Limbaugh, etc., can hardly sit back an not criticize the recent variances from reasonable conservative policy, as well a threaten that the base will decide not to vote as a result of those variances. The left has been struggling with the same task-both during and after the Clinton administration.
There are, simply stated, strategic arguments for signing CFR, waiving through steel tariffs, and splitting differences on education, etc. While there are no merits to any of those ideas, I see no evidence that Bush has lost his course on principle-simply that he's working toward a political fight where much of the socialist agenda that might otherwise draw the marginal (i.e., uninformed) voter can be deflected, no matter how well gift-wrapped it is by the slanted media.
Politics is the name of the game. American politics is a very subtle version. There are some talk radio people out there who are sandbagging a little-because they also know the drill... |
