One More Letter to Andrew

I know, you think I am crazy to keep trying. But I sent this today after he asked “Why are Fiscal Conservatives still supporting [George W, Bush]?”

I consider myself a fiscal conservative, Andrew, I’ll take that one.

In a Republican primary against Jack Kemp or Phil Gramm, I might waver a little. I would kick the tires on the small government conservative, see if another would be tough enough on the war, be a good campaigner and be a leader that I could follow. And, yes, he’d have to have a chance at winning.

In a struggle with the most liberal Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, my fiscally conservative heart still supports President Bush. Yesterday, I read an AP Story titled “Kerry Wants Federal Afterschool Program” I thought it was a joke but it is just a little Conservative bias in the headline. Senator Kerry plans to keep public schools open late, with Federal dollars, which he will pay for by (repeat after me, kids) “rolling back the Bush tax cuts on those making over $200,000."

Just one of many examples. Senator Kerry is not in any way more fiscally conservative than President Bush. It is a legitimate position to vote for gridlock as an impediment to Federal growth, but I don’t like that bet. If a Kerry Administration picked up the Senate, we would see something that would make Mr. Sullivan dream on the 43rd President.

In the meantime, we’ll have a UN-run Iraq, a feckless deterrent to fanatics who want to impose their religion on us, and less growth and investment in the economy as higher taxes force those evil rich to shelter their income instead of investing it.

On another note, I would like to comment on the letters you posted today from a poster at the lucianne.com site. Again, you are taking an element of the Conservative movement and inflating their importance. For the record, I am a pro-gay-marriage conservative who hates the idea of the FMA on multiple grounds. Yet you are losing me as well. Wobbly support for the war (it was good to defend ourselves from Fascists when the news was good?), a willingness to throw away the GOP over the stand of some, and the relentless attacks on President Bush in an election year have alienated me. I will continue reading and paying for a while, but you have lost an enthusiastic supporter.

Take care,
jk

I really respect the guy. I know a few readers have "given up" but I'm not. A guy that smart will see what is important.

Nor has the Senator come out with a clear, strong position (stop laughing!) on gay rights or marriage. I suspect he will not support the FMA, but as I've said, I don't think that is serious legislation -- that is never going anywhere.

Posted by jk at June 17, 2004 11:08 AM