WHITLOCK GETS UP IN OUR KITCHEN :

BUSH: NOT A 10 (R. Aex Whitlock, , July 30, 2002, RAWbservations)

I'm not sure where Judd is coming from on this one. He gives ten pillars of modern conservatism and gives Bush a 10/10 ranking. I disagree. [...]

(3) Pro School vouchers
Bush sold us out on this one. His education bill has been passed. I wouldn't expect another overhaul this term. I can't give it to him.
2/3

(4) Pro Free Trade
Steel Tarrifs and Farm Bill. On one hand he creates a new tarrif cause the Europeans are subsidizing their steel, then he subsidizes our agriculture. He wants Fast-Track, but is he going to use it? I'm not convinced.
2/4

(10) broadly anti-government
7/10. I can't think of the last thing he did to be faily called anti-government since the tax cut, which doesn't count twice.

7 out of 10 is a reasonably impressive score, but hardly a paragon of conservatism worthy of the Pat Robertson comparison Judd makes.

One fears that the normally perspicacious Mr. Whitlock here makes the ideal the enemy of the very good. On Education, the President had a choice between turning a Democrat issue into a Republican issue, or holding out for vouchers and getting bupkus. On Trade, by proving his willingness to protect US industries that face unfair competition from the Europeans he's convinced everyone, including Mr. Whitlock apparently, that he's going to need to be sold on Free Trade. This got him trade authority, which he otherwise would have been denied, and puts him in the best baragaining position imaginable because it creates the false impression that he'd walk away from the table unless the Euros make concessions. As for #10, the rebankrupting of government is a great achievement for any Republican; creating pressure to cut government is always a good thing.
Posted by Orrin Judd at July 31, 2002 1:41 PM