*** ORBUSMAX GUEST OP/ED ***
Open Letter to the RNC (in response to the GOP's quest for financial backing for Dubya) - By 'Jack Frost'
March 9, 2004
No, we cannot support the retention of George W. Bush as President and will
not contribute financially.
The reason: our complete and utter disappointment. It's painful to say, but
he's become a whore - no better than the worst of congress - backed Kennedy's
huge spending plan on education, the gigantic "farm bill" with Tom Daschle's
amendments, signed the campaign finance law -- the $15+ Billion AIDS in Africa
giveaway (that we all secretly acknowledge will end up in various dictators'
Swiss bank accounts), among other things.
Then, there were steel price supports. He also "folded" after opposition to
ANWR was stated by the Greens, Democrats and stupid Republicans; didn't have
the courage to push for more US oil. Even worse, while President Bush
inherited a horrible CIA and miserable intelligence; he hasn't replaced George
Tenet, and was heard to "express confidence" in the CIA as recently as late
January?
Economically, the President agreed to tax-rebate measures which include $$$s
to "low income" people who haven't paid taxes! And he pushed again for an
extension of unemployment benefits (Urban League speech 7/28/03); had an
"audience" with Jesse Jackson when conservative blacks couldn't get a hearing, and
then failed to speak up on the U-of-Michigan affirmative action policy and
other rulings by the Supremes? That's sad.
He seems to be "in bed" with Mexico's Vicente Fox and the border is a sieve.
Until he gets the INS working, if he ever does, and has the courage to shut
down all illegal immigration, he's simply not doing his job - which is to
Secure Our Borders! He never even spoke up on the subject of Drivers Licenses
for Illegal aliens in California which, in so doing, is tantamount to giving it
his blessing. Immigration "reform" it's called? Hey, we're all for
immigration, but ONLY if they come legally!
And speaking of the "border," Bush didn't back Miguel Estrada's judicial
nomination sufficiently well - left him "hung-out-to-dry." The Republican
Senators didn't care enough to force an end to the Democrats' filibuster, which
could have been done easily by simply working 'round-the-clock. The Republicans
are simply too damned lazy or gutless. They weren't pushed through the
presidential "bully pulpit" either.
As if that weren't enough, how 'bout that double standard with Israel?
Sure, we can defend ourselves, but we ask the Israelis to reserve more patience
than we would? But, wait-a-minute. "Defending ourselves" with a dopey
color-threat system, searching Norwegian grandmothers (with a fear of offending
Arabs through the legitimate profiling of potential terrorists) and the
incompetent, Norman Mineta as Transportation Secretary? His "covering" for the Saudi
Arabians (spies supporting terrorists?) and calling 'em "friends?"
Embarrassing.
Once upon a time, Republicans were advocates of "smaller government" and
efficiency. Yet, it can't be denied, the President's 2005 Budget request is laden
with pork. And garbage. Government non-defense spending increased 12.2% in
2002 and 13.7% in 2003. We certainly didn't elect a Republican president to
increase the worst of the incompetent bureaucracy. But he has. Like
raising the amount of money wasted on NPR/PBS (the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting) and the National Endowment for the Arts? Those agencies should
receive zero tax dollars, not the hundreds of millions they're getting now. And
President Bush has the audacity to increase those budgets while masquerading as
a Compassionate Conservative, calling himself a Republican? No thanks.
Guess we've become "small-L" Libertarians and we'll no longer settle for the
"Lesser of Two Evils." No more "expediency" -- it's time for principle. For
a change.
P.S. .... Incidentally, there's absolutely no way I could ever vote for John Kerry, or any of the clowns running as Democrats (and, yes, I'm a vet).
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"Jack Frost" is a retired broadcaster and all'round malcontent, married to a Ph.D. college professor of the non-watermelon persuasion.