Whither the Conservative Movement? pg. 19
eloquent in the manner in which they tied policy to ideology. Individual policy decisions were always connected to a “big picture”.
The middle conservatives – GHW Bush and Dole – appeared to have a much weaker connection to ideology. GHW Bush talked about taxation only in the context of what it did to the economy and only in the broadest of terms. When he spoke of the Reagan legacy, he spoke of specific policies – not ideology. Dole made some brief ideological statements, but they were almost a shorthand tag, and his position was thus not specifically stated. It may have been a clumsy attempt to connect to what was perceived as a wide public understanding of conservative ideology. If so, then his ambiguity may have cost him the Presidency and also may have opened the door for the evolution of conservative ideology to that represented by the current President.
Whatever the reason these men had for their rhetorical style, they simply were not able to carry the day based on their identification as a conservative without the rhetoric to strengthen that connection.
The current conservative – GW Bush – has exhibited a duplicitous speech pattern that could confuse connections to ideology. When he is speaking before a formal group, the reasons for the tax cuts are always economically driven. The linkage between the tax cuts and specific problems with the economy is weak enough to be non-existent. The lack of detailed analysis gives the appearance that this is merely political cover for a less favorable ideology.
This ideology is in full view when he speaks before “regular” people on the campaign trail. In these appearances, a very strong ideological statement is made that taxes are nothing more than government appropriation of money that is rightfully the
Go to Page 20
The middle conservatives – GHW Bush and Dole – appeared to have a much weaker connection to ideology. GHW Bush talked about taxation only in the context of what it did to the economy and only in the broadest of terms. When he spoke of the Reagan legacy, he spoke of specific policies – not ideology. Dole made some brief ideological statements, but they were almost a shorthand tag, and his position was thus not specifically stated. It may have been a clumsy attempt to connect to what was perceived as a wide public understanding of conservative ideology. If so, then his ambiguity may have cost him the Presidency and also may have opened the door for the evolution of conservative ideology to that represented by the current President.
Whatever the reason these men had for their rhetorical style, they simply were not able to carry the day based on their identification as a conservative without the rhetoric to strengthen that connection.
The current conservative – GW Bush – has exhibited a duplicitous speech pattern that could confuse connections to ideology. When he is speaking before a formal group, the reasons for the tax cuts are always economically driven. The linkage between the tax cuts and specific problems with the economy is weak enough to be non-existent. The lack of detailed analysis gives the appearance that this is merely political cover for a less favorable ideology.
This ideology is in full view when he speaks before “regular” people on the campaign trail. In these appearances, a very strong ideological statement is made that taxes are nothing more than government appropriation of money that is rightfully the
Go to Page 20
© 2004 by Xpatriated Texan
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