Conservative Political Action Conference attendees outraged at Bush

[Democat]

This year's CPAC, an annual conference that's ground zero of the vast right-wing conspiracy, pulsated with the usual antipathy toward liberals, gays, secular judges, environmentalists and Europeans. Yet many attendees also bristled with a more uneasy anger, one directed at their erstwhile allies in the White House. Conservative activists, especially older ones, felt betrayed and disappointed by Bush's immigration policy, his expansion of the federal government and his promiscuous spending, so much so that some suggested the grass-roots right might stay home on Election Day. There were plenty of passionate Bush fans in attendance, most of them college students, but movement leaders and veterans spoke of them with outright contempt. One right-wing pollster called them "Bushlickers."

"I've polled on this guy, and I can't believe how weak his numbers are," Shaftan continued. "Have you talked to anyone here who defends Bush? It's only people under 25." He pumped his fist and grunted mockingly, "Bush the man!"

When it looked like Howard Dean was going to be the nominee, Bell said, Republicans "didn't have to worry about the base and the base's morale." But he worried that Kerry or Edwards would pose bigger challenges. "To keep his base exercised the president will have to bite the bullet and come out for specific measures to preserve traditional marriage," said Bell.

"The only way I'd vote for Bush," said Jeffrey Becker, a 41-year-old engineer from West Virginia, "is if Hillary got in the race."

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/01/27/cpac/index.html

There are some great quotes in this article. It's interesting that it seems to be saying that some Republicans may be willing to vote for Kerry or Edwards, but never Dean.

What is the liberal equivalent of this event?

[w13rd0]

1. It doesn't say they'd vote for Kerry or Edwards...

...just that they'd be more likely to "sit it out"...

[Democat]

2. Here are two quotes from the article about Edwards, Kerry, and Dean

At one of the most fervently Republican gatherings in the country, it wasn't hard to find people who were planning to vote for third-party candidates from the Constitution or Libertarian parties, and a few even confided in whispers that they might vote for Joe Lieberman or John Edwards if given a chance. The mood was like that of liberals in 2000 who saw Al Gore as nothing more than a lesser evil and yearned to send a futile message through Ralph Nader.



When it looked like Howard Dean was going to be the nominee, Bell said, Republicans "didn't have to worry about the base and the base's morale." But he worried that Kerry or Edwards would pose bigger challenges. "To keep his base exercised the president will have to bite the bullet and come out for specific measures to preserve traditional marriage," said Bell.

[Lorien]

3. Funny thing is

Dean is the fiscal conservative of the group. Go figure.

[pacifictiger]

4. seems to me

Dean could not get the anti gay social conservative vote, but he would certainly be more appealing to the fiscal conservative vote than Kerry's record of liberal spending votes. He's pretty much been considered left of Kennedy, and they hate that.

[pacifictiger]

5. I'm sure

the republicans as a group have looked at the ABB feeling, and would like to have Kerry to bash later on fiscal issues.

[TomNickell]

7. Enthusiasm, more than their votes....

For the last decade the Right has owned enthusiasm, certainty, confidence.

That's pulled the mainstream media far to the right of the corporate mainstream. And it's pulled in lots of independents and mothers and dimwitted neighbors who got convinced over the backyard fence or the neighborhood bar.

This time, it's different.

[dusty64]

6. It ought to be interesting

to see if these young rightwing extremists keep licking bush when the draft comes back. Why haven't they enlisted already to fight in their "war on terra" that they so strongly "support"? For Mr. Bell, I've got an idea for ya, if you want to preserve "traditional marriage" so much how about a permanent ban on divorce. That ought to be interesting huh.