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Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen
And frankly, before we all run to the banner of the Right, I don't know what Bush's politics are, but they are in no way conservative.
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He's a neo-conservative, as was his running mate and as are many of the big guns (in their convinction, ideology, and influence) that he appointed to his cabinet. The real conservatives, that is the traditional conservatives one associates with the word "conservative", left during or following his first term (think Colin Powell, for example).
This is perhaps the first neo-conservative American government and the republicans in congress or the senate, whatever their stripe, have largely (with some muted bickering/dissent here and there along the way) followed the lead of the (unitary) executive branch, resulting in neo-conservative policies.
There is nothing "liberal" about Bush. While "big government" is associated with liberals, and Bush's is perhaps the biggest federal government and biggest spending federal government in American history, the money has not been spent on anything remotely "liberal" policy wise; instead it is being spent on things like the disfunctional homeland security department, subsidies to gas and oil companies and other forms of corporate welfare, and the imperial adventure in Iraq.
And before anyone points out the obvious, no, I really don't like Bush. Many of his disasterous policies have had far and long reaching effects that go far beyond Americas borders. I might disagree with a true conservative on many things, but I can understand and respect them; for neo-cons like Bush and his cabal I have nothing but contempt. And before anyone calls me "anti-American", I will point out that in his speeches and in his policies he has shown nothing but contempt for the rest of the world, so why I would I feel anything other than the same for him and his cabinet?