My very first post discussed Bush's thinking:
I am amazed at how the mainstream media continues to underestimate and misunderstand President Bush. While I certainly do not agree with all of President Bush’s decisions (for example, his imposition of steel tariffs was a horrible mistake – for all his faults, Bill Clinton would have never done this), I do respect President Bush’s competence and think he is fairly predictable.I still think President Bush is fairly predictable and he is still confusing his critics. I have created a grid that may help explain his perspective.
In general, the Republican Party supports smaller government and traditional values. The Democratic Party usually believes all problems require federal programs except traditional values – to put the best possible spin on it, they believe this is none of the government's business. The Libertarian Party shares some of the characteristics of both mainstream parties. They believe in a smaller government, but also believe the government should be value neutral. I am obviously painting with a broad brush here, but this is a useful model for discussion. President Bush does not fall within any of these categories. He believes in traditional values, but he wants governmental programs to actively support these values. This is a major departure from the mainstream Republican Party and has confused many people. However, keeping my grid in mind, it explains his marriage proposal, his immigration proposal, and even his new drug entitlement program.
I am skeptical about all of these, especially the drug entitlement program. I am strongly in the camp of a smaller government. However, President Bush is the first president in recent times to try to use the power of government to support traditional values. Obviously, this is what he means by compassionate conservatism. Unlike the drug entitlement, which will cost a great deal over time, Bush's marriage support proposal will be a very small part of the Federal budget.
Marriages that last are clearly an effective way out of poverty. Recent studies have provided empirical support for the beliefs of our grandparents. Let's see if Bush's new approach can work. If not, at least we have tested a new idea and then will have an empirical reason for rejecting it.
My biggest objection to the marriage ban for same sex couples is that its basicly saying that these people are not citizens of the country, nor really even human beings with the same rights as their fellow americans.
I mean, they used the argument of "Tradition" to try and keep interracial couples from marrying in the 40's, 50's, and 60's. I wonder if Bush has even concidered this might be the same thing.
As for his defense of marriage on Biblical Priciple (he;s kept his low key, but has made a few statements to say his belief is based on his christian values) he also seems to miss the point that many things can be defebded by the bible...slavery for one. Segrigation for the other.
This disturbs me greatly. When our government starts treating human beings as second class people...or not as people at all....well the Nazi's did the same thing and we see them as evil. But this is ok? That boggles me.
First of all, establishing a law that prohibits same-sex marriage is not saying they are any less of human beings then we are. Does a law prohibiting people from stealing make the person who wants to steal nay less of a human being.NO. Its just that some things are wrong!!! Homosexuality is one of those. That is not at oppionion,its a fact. there is one right and one wrong. Just because we dont see it that way, doesnt change it. If everything was jsut based on our oppinion, then there would be no truth. But, there is a truth!! And, its found in Jesus Christ! He is truth! He lvoes gays! But, he will not allow this country to continue its moral decay.
Is this like a guestbook?
Hi Jim,
People are free to comment at this site on any post so long as they are polite. I encourage this, that is why I named the site a roundtable.
I agree--Bush has been nothing but consistent. My biggest problem is that I don't agree with so many areas of that consistency. It may not be in vogue to quote Derbyshire, but he said something today that I couldn't help but agree with:
"I'm starting to think that the only things I agree with my president about are war and tax cuts."
It isn't entirely true, but there is a whole lot of truth to it.