By making John Ashcroft (“a man of great integrity, a man of great judgment and a man who knows the law” – GWB) his Attorney General, his hard-line views on drugs gun violence and general social policy was exactly what GWB needed in securing the support necessary to pass the 100day test. Having stated this brand of Republicans, in appealing to the ‘social conservatives’, he still had the neo-conservatives to win over. The way in which GWB tackled this was by withdrawing from the Anti-Ballistic Missiles Treaty. These actions meant that GWB gained the support from the entire conservative base of both the party and the electorate.
Lexington (The Economist - May ‘04) argues that the Clinton years and the 2000 election fiasco has forced the Republicans to ‘grow up’. There’s no time for quarreling between themselves. If the 8 years of Clinton has taught the Republicans anything it is that as long as they’re in power, the leader can do no wrong. This view has obviously helped Bush tremendously.
Nonetheless the problems encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan have served to hinder popularity of the Bush administration. As his father found out in the early nineties, you can’t ignore those who voted you in and whilst the war in Iraq continues, some argue that the American Public is turning against Bush. Bauer also suggests that, “a sense of disappointment is spreading” as a number of Bush’s current policies are putting off many loyal/core conservatives. Although recently retracted, Bush embraced steel tariffs therefore ditching free trade (an essential Republican policy). Congressmen have argued that Bush hasn’t taken advantage of his wartime popularity to force through key Republican policies. They feel he has wasted an opportunity and almost betrayed the party.
All in all Bush is still there and still more popular than any other President in history (post mid-terms), but can the Republican Party maintain the considerable success now being enjoyed - or will the currently split Democrat party get its act together and take advantage of the ‘Bushisms’?
- Identify the main characteristics of George W Bush’s brand of Republicanism. (20)
GWB has been more articulate, more of a leader, more foreign policy orientated, and more popular, more politically confident and more radical than most would have believed when he first came to office more than 2 years ago.
The ‘compassionate conservatism’ has transformed into more ‘radical conservatism’, some would argue. Bush has ruthlessly promoted ‘diversity’ throughout his administration and he seems to have little time for the so-called ‘traditional conservative ideologies’. (Although he still remains silent over the ‘great issue’ of abortion). Indeed, conservatives may still yet be disappointed with GWBs SC appointments, which some believe will be more O’Connor-esque than the desired Scalia-esque conservatism.
When looking at education (where the traditional R policy is more inclined toward local and state control) Bush has pushed through legislation that has seen the biggest increase in the role of the federal government, concerning control, since LBJ in the 1960s.
Similarly, concerning social welfare programmes, unlike previous R presidents (Reagan and GB senior), GWB has not backed down on trying to shift the line on Church-state relations – he has lobbied hard for churches, synagogues and mosques to be able to deliver social welfare programmes to the needy in his ‘faith-based’ initiatives. Much the same can be seen regarding pensions. Despite great opposition from both his own and the opposition party, GWB proposes reform that would rival the extent to which America enjoyed through the FDRs New Deal in the 1930s.
Bush has enhanced his reputation in Washington and his popularity throughout America (largely thanks to his sure-footed response to 9/11). This combined with the fact that he has not totally abandoned his traditional right-wing principles; concerning tax cuts, the effects of making the social conservative John Ashcroft Attorney General, his withdrawal from the ABM treaty, and his expensive and time consuming fight to ban cloning, plus the fact that he is more conservative than his father was (possibly even Reagan); means that it is not all doom and gloom for core supporters.
In conclusion, GWBs policies are somewhat “exceptionalist, increasing his appeal to the red states, while reducing it in blue ones”. Although it seems GWB has followed both a ‘compassionate’ and a ‘neo’-conservative line during his time in power, which I feel has made it difficult to pin down his exact brand of politics/republicanism.
Michael Barone describes GWB’s Republicanism as “A combination of both national greatness and leave-us-alone conservatism”. I believe that the Republican Party has become GWBs’ party to a greater extent than it has been any one leader's party for a century.
