Even I, jimnyc, was attracted to some of the GWB "agenda" as you call it during the campaign of 2000. I've said this often on democratic boards to great disagreement but I'll repeat it here. The 2 (two) things that attracted many "swing voters" to GWB were the statements he made about "compassionate conservative" and "if you pay taxes, you get relief."
As his "agenda" has proven false on both those accounts his only alternative was the pursuit of his windfall objective. The "War on Terror". His speeches that were written by professionals and his made up and highly promoted "tough guy" image fail to impress those of us that don't fall for such propaganda although we agree that the "War on Terror" is very real and necessary. I wish the republicans had found it so real and necessary during the '90's, but that's another story.
As a middle income American, I have felt no relief whatsoever from any tax-cut or tax-cut proposal by GWB and looking at actual projections I don't anticipate any. I don't see anything compassionate about his policies either except they tend to benefit giant corporations with little regard to small businesses and that they completely ignore the dilemma that MOST Americans face.
As a politically aware American, a proud and Veteran American, I never thought I'd see the "good ol' boy" system operating all the way to the White House. GWB proved me wrong on that account. America DOES stand for the priveledged, the wealthy, the powerful and to hell with all the rest. My father tried to teach me that in the '60's but I either forgot or ignored him. After all these years, I regret that.
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