TWAneedsNOhelp From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (12 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 614 times:
President-Elect George W. Bush made a central notion of his election campaign a promise to America that he will unite the country, not divide it as he claimed his Democratic rival attempted to do. His theme was significant in the post-election aftermath when the polls revealed that the country was split so evenly over who was to be our next president....Mr. Bush or Mr. Gore.
However, yeasterday's nomination of John Ashcroft as Attorney General proves that Bush's promise rings hollow. Mr. Ashcroft is Mr. Bush's most conservative appointment and he would be the most outspoken ideological attorney general since President Ronald Reagan's era of social conservatism. Indeed, from the start, Mr. Bush's appointment will create divide with what will be a bruising confirmation in the 50-50 divided Senate.
Mr. Ashcroft, a staunch conservative, is pro death penalty, anti-abortion, who recently lost a bitterly contested senatorial election in Missouri. In fact, Mr. Ashcroft lost to a corpse.
Ashcroft enjoys backing from religious conservatives. Last year, he received an honorary degree from Bob Jones University, the South Carolina evangelical university that preaches hate against Catholics and prohibits interracial dating.
He has been characterized as a polarizing figure prone to self-righteous moralizing. Appearing at conservative gatherings, Mr. Ashcroft frequently spoke about his opposition to abortion and his position against, federal financing for clean needle exchange programs for addicts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. In a further act of nonpartisan tolerance he some branded President Clinton's judicial nominees, as "liberal activists".
Mr. Ashcroft is a deeply religious man with strong ties to the Christian Coalition, and conservative evangelical figures like Pat Robertson Mr. Ashcroft is also a strong admirer of extreme right wing Justice Clarence Thomas.
While Mr. Ashcroft received 100% ratings from the Christian Coallition, he received 0% ratings from The National Org. for Woman and the League of Conservation Voters, an environmental action group.
Uniter not a Divider?? I knew Bush would be forced to throw a bone to the extreme right wing, but this....upsetting to say the least.
D L X From United States of America, joined May 1999, 10568 posts, RR: 53 Reply 1, posted (12 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 575 times:
Okay, but in what way is Ashcroft a divider? His position will be Attorney General. I don't see how his pro-life views are of any consequence in this position. As for being for the death penalty, again, his position will not offer any chance to decide whether it is right to have or not have the death penalty. It just means that he will have full faculty of federal law in the cases he wishes to go after. (Remember, Attorney General is the national equivalent of your local town or county's District Attorney.)
In short, putting this ultra-conservative in this position is probably the best place you want one to be if you're a Democrat. Attorneys General don't make policy, they enforce policy.
Pilot1113 From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 2333 posts, RR: 13 Reply 2, posted (12 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 555 times:
To be quite frank, I would have loved to see that former FBI Agent guy become AG. He has the experience and would be trusted by all federal law enforcement agencies.
Then again, AG is a lawyer... so in that respect I can why Bush put Ashcroft in that position.
Greeneyes53787 From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 844 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 529 times:
John Sinunu pointed out the other day on TV that Bush has a greater majority in Congress than any Republican in American history save two years of Ike.
Therefore Bush's uniting ability needn't take the form of appointing Democrats. Bush's appointees thus far have been rather distant from the traditional right wing. A Penticostal conservative Christian this time is the exception, not the rule. And if uniting is a possibility through appointing only moderates, then George isn't uniting. But to unite the left with the right I think a group of all moderates is weak.
Ashcroft impressed me when he gave love (not hate) to his opponent's wife. He conceeded with honor and grace. Further, almost anyone with a level head and a kind heart might improve on Reno as Atty Gen, I think.
Hairyass From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 524 times:
Bush will be a fine president.
Liberals will see that he is a uniter and if they have a problem with Bushs compationate conservatism, then the liberals will be seen as the dividers.
Bicoastal From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 513 times:
You seem to ignore that he also appointed pro choice and pro affirmative action people like Powell, Rice and Whitman to key positions. As far as I'm concerned he's going for balance. Take a look at his entire cabinet, not just one. Twaneedsnohelp, you need to relax. The wonderful USA system of government with its balance of powers does not allow one person/branch to dictate anything. You sound like Chicken Little.
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