Poll: Hillary or George W.?
Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 05:13:08 AM PDT
When my few conservative friends and I talk politics --- something they do with less and less fervor, I might add --- the message I'm getting is similar to what you see on the national level: a walkback from the current administration. Usually, it'll be a variation of a "he's not a true conservative" theme.
This seems like a load of crap disingenuous to me. The mantra for the conservatives has been tax cuts for the rich, and I'm sorry to say, that's something Bush was able to deliver, as was stacking the court with conservative judges too afraid to reveal their true opinions during their congressional hearings lest they be rejected. But rejection of science and evolution, proffering faith-based initiatives --- with the exception of a milquetoast immigration policy, it'd been a conservative administration through and through, most of which with a conservative congress.
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So I'll admit, I can't help but laugh when they try to distance themselves from Chimpy McCoconuts. (You see, if the country is falling apart, it's not a reflection of conservative ideals of greed and divisiveness and hate; no, it's because Chimpy wasn't conservative enough.) And in a way, it's true: despite his best attempts at shredding the constitution and starting World War III, Chimpy wasn't able to achieve the not-so-secret gold standard of conservatives: getting rid of the minimum wage and establishing a new feudalism. After all, the best way to compete with sweatshops abroad is to have them here at home!
So this year, the Republicans are joining the chorus of anti-Chimpy sentiment, and isn't it funny you don't hear any candidate telling the throngs of supporters how he'll continue in "the George Bush tradition," probably because the paper shredder is busted from overuse. I'm curious, though, as to the depth of the desire for change on the Republicans' part.
I'd be interested in a poll question that read something like this.
Let's pretend George W. Bush could, and does, run for a third term as president. If the general election were between him and Hillary Clinton, whom would you vote for?
Of course, he can't run for a third term, because the laws of the land forbid it, and George Bush, above all things, always upholds the law. (And I guess putting Hillary in there might be baiting a little too much, though I just can't help it.) However, despite Bush's low approval ratings and this national frenzy for change (even John McCain is a change candidate!), I just don't see many Republican votes for Hillary in this scenario. Maybe the desire for change is only skin-deep. But it makes me wonder, what would have to happen for a "true conservative" to vote for a Democrat?
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