Fortunately I am neither Republican nor conservative, therefore I feel no outrage at his supposed apostasy. Too bad Goldwater is dead and Reagan a superannuated vegetable.

Eric? You're not? Color me fooled.

John, I am not politically conservative, a Republican, a Democrat, a centrist, or a moderate. Chances are we agree on very little. Except this: Bush is no true conservative. Good for you for performing such a valuable public service.

Do you remember former Sen. Charles "Mac" Matthias by chance?

Sorry, I don't buy this "Bush Is Not A Conservative" mantra. He opposes abortion, supports tax cuts for the rich, hates environmental regulation, supports massive defense spending, is against affirmative action and opposes gay marriage. How much more conservative can you get?

It's true he's not particularly concerned about the size of the government, but that's not unusual in the history of conservative politics. Limited government is a strand of modern conservatism, not its essence.

Actually, traditional conservatism is more like Libertarianism. It's all about being fiscally conservative and limiting the size and scope of government, though with a good deal of heart, NOT about peering into people's bedrooms. Sen. Matthias, referenced earlier, served the state of Maryland in Congress for many years. About 20 years ago, he resigned because he said the GOP was changing into a different animal than the party he had joined. (The difference between Mac and Vermont's Jim Jeffords is that JJ stayed in office and turned Independent.)

John's right, Mike -- it's the Republican Party and conservatism in general that has changed over the years. In Matthias' heyday, there were GOPs with hearts; Mac did a lot of good for the people and remained in office in an overwhelmingly Democratic state as a result. (Same with recently ousted Constance Morella, a pro-GLBT, pro-choice, pro-gun control, anti-school vouchers Matthias Republican thrown out of office by an icky Demublican elected because of disgusting party politricks -- gawd, I hate the Demublican party. Yeah, the Dems have changed too).

There are precious few Republicans like Mac Matthias in office now and far too many of the Dubya Bush/screw-the-people and salute-the-rich variety. The US is much the worse for it.

I would have to say that Mattias, whatever his virtues, sounds exactly like a Demublican. What possible tie to the Republicans could he have with the policies you mentioned? There have always been "liberal" Republicans, but both parties have moved pretty far to the right since the Reagan Revolution. And by the way, I was being facetious about Goldwater and Reagan.

You slander Matthias -- there's an H in the middle -- by comparing him to Demublicans. Demublicans are cowardly pols bought and paid for just like their modern GOP counterparts, more interested in spinning than serving anyone but themselves and the interests of their financial backers. Their rhetoric is a wee bit different than the GOPers; they have to talk the talk, as it were. They are worthless in every way.

I would vote for a decent Republican if I could find one. I would never vote for a Demublican.

Matthias' tie to the GOP -- government limited to what was important, serving the people, spending responsibly, etc. Those are hallmarks of traditional Republicanism. I never said Mac stood on the issues where Morella stood.

Sorry about the missing "h" - "take the 'l' out of lover and it's over"

Reagan was actually a true conservative who governed based on a set of beliefs that he cherished.

George W. Bush, on the other hand, governs based on Rove pollings and strategies, it is not governing based on conservative principal, hence, Bush is not a TRUE conservative. But he is a true politician, which is something to be proud of if you don't value character. Of course, I do value character, and sometimes people who are, but Bush is neither.

It's been said, though, that a man's character does define his destiny, and since the Republican base isn't passionate about Bush, it makes it all the more easier for voters to de-elect him in 2004. The Supreme Court will not be able to elect him a second time, because the public wouldn't tolerate it. Bush and Rove need to learn how to win elections with votes, rather than court rulings and chaos creation. It's not that hard. I did it quite a few times in college.

This brings me back to my "One Term, Jr." prediction. His polls keep slipping and There isn't any photo op or strategy that appears able to save him. Of course, I don't really care. It's not like he's a true conservative anyway.

Republicans, under Reagan, attempted to downsize government and implement real, true, conservative tax cuts, not these fake ones implemented by Bush, which were simply candy for votes to voting blocks.

Republicans, under Gingrich, attempted to balance the federal budget, and succeeded not long after Gingrich was thrown out of power. They also cut taxes, too, with the help of Bill Clinton, who was a fake liberal (he has to be if I agree with quite a few of his economic policies).

A true conservative is an economic conservative. One who believes our budget should be in balance and our taxes should be low and efficient. There are, of course, other factions of the party, and any Republican candidate must weave that support together to win an election, but my post wasn't about winning election, it was about Bush being a fake conservative, and until he proves to be a real one, I'm sticking with what the facts have already proven.

I do not expect Republican members of Congress or the Senate to be true conservatives, because the politics are a little bit different, but if you are the president, and you run on a campassionate conservative platform, then your policies should be compassionately conservative, and that does not mean "big government" policies, which Bush has implemented. I will show you why another time. For now I have to do some property research for my true conservative investor clients.

In closing, though, I will say this: I will not be taken advantage by the leader of my party. If he does not prove to be a true conservative, then there are other liberal options available, some who are even more conservative than Bush (i.e., Howard Dean). That said, if Bush wants his base to support him, he'd better start governing as a conservative, rather than as the do-boy for the rich and powerful, which is all he appears to be.

Cheers.

Actually, let me clarify that - he appears to be the do-boy for Halliburton, the company Cheney used to run, and perhaps for the energy industry. It does appear that energy is being massively manipulated right now. Gee, I wonder why...

Florida's Attorney General Charlie Crist is asking that question. Charlie, who was once named "Chain Gang" Charlie was re-nicknamed "Chalk Board" Charlie by President George W. Bush in 2000. Both are Republicans.

When one Republican investigates another Republican, well, the one being investigated must not be a very credible Republican.