Will be guided by principles and conviction 
that will not change

[Bush] "...I will be guided by principle and convictions 
that will not change..."

9/4/00

Will say what I mean, and do what I say

[Bush]: "...When we tell you something, 
we mean it. When we say we're going to 
do something, we're going to do what we say..."

AN ASIDE
 Dwight Meredith (P.L.A.):
"...In the Republican Party’s 2000 platform, we 
find (link via Jeff Cooper) the following: 
Reducing that debt is both a sound policy goal 
and a moral imperative. Our families and most states 
are required to balance their budgets; it is reasonable 
to assume the federal government should do the same. 
Therefore, we reaffirm our support for a constitutional 
amendment to require a balanced budget. 
(Emphasis added)
President Bush has argued that the current budget 
deficit results from factors other than his irresponsible 
fiscal policy. If balancing the budget is a moral issue 
that should be enshrined in the Constitution, 
it is a matter of principle..."

Tax cuts will be implemented without budget 
deficits, even in a recession

[Bush] "...we can proceed with tax relief without 
fear of budget deficits, even if the economy softens. 
Projections for the surplus in my budget 
are cautious and conservative. They already 
assume an economic slowdown in the year 2001..."

Will not pass on our budget deficits 
(borrowings) to future generations; we owe 
this to our children and grandchildren

[Bush]: "...Future generations shouldn't be 
forced to pay back money that we have borrowed. 
We pay back money that we have borrowed. We
owe this kind of responsibility to our children 
and grandchildren..."

1/03

[Bush]: "...we will not deny, we will not 
ignore, we will not pass along our problems to 
other Congresses, other presidents, 
and other generations..."

Will retire $2 Trillion national debt in 10 years

[Bush] "...We owe it to our children and 
grandchildren to act now, and I hope you 
will join me to pay down $2 trillion in debt 
during the next 10 years. At the end of 
those 10 years, we will have paid down all 
the debt that is available to retire..."

[Bush] "...It will retire nearly $1 trillion in debt 
over the next four years. This will be the largest 
debt reduction ever achieved by any 
nation at any time..."

Outstanding U.S. public/national debt as 
of 3/10/04 is ~ $7 Trillion

Dwight Meredith 
(Wampum)

DailyKos

B5

Will protect Social Security surplus in its entirety

[Bush] "...To make sure the retirement savings of 
America’s seniors are not diverted into any other 
program, my budget protects all $2.6 trillion of 
the Social Security surplus for Social 
Security and for Social Security alone..."

10/3/00

A promise made on safeguarding Social Security
surplus will be a promise kept

[Bush]: "...The revenues exceed the expenses in Social 
Security to the year 2015, which means all retirees 
are going to get the promises made. So for those of 
you who [Gore] wants to scare into the voting booth 
to vote for him, hear me loud and clear: 
A promise made will be a promise kept..."

3/22/01

Will never dip into Social Security Surplus to 
finance spending

[Bush] "...For years, politicians in both 
parties have dipped into the Trust Fund 
to pay for more spending. And I will stop it..."

[Daniel Gross]: "...In his first three budgets, Bush 
(who had the good fortune to take office at a time 
when the surpluses were growing rapidly) and 
Congress used $480 billion in excess Social Security 
payroll taxes to fund basic government operations
—about $160 billion per year! 
By so doing, Washington spenders have masked 
the size of the deficit. For Fiscal 2004—which began 
in October 2003—if you factor out the $164 billion Social 
Security surplus, the on-budget deficit will be 
at least $639 billion, rather close to the modern peak 
of 6 percent of GDP. And according to its own projections 
(the bottom line of Table 8 represents the Social Security 
surplus), the administration plans to spend an additional 
$990 billion in such funds between now and 2008. That year, 
according to the Office of Management and Budget's 
projections, the on-budget deficit will be about $464 billion. 
Only by using that year's $238 billion Social Security surplus 
does the administration arrive at a total, unified 
deficit of $226 billion...."

Dwight Meredith 
(Wampum)

CTJ

Paul Krugman 
(New York Times)

Daily Howler

Daily Howler

William Gale
(Washington Post)

DNC

B7

B8

Will not spend more than Gore would [have]

[Bush] "...If this were a spending contest, I 
would come in second. I readily admit 
I'm not going to grow the size of the 
federal government like [Gore] is..."

Policy

Will enforce spending discipline on Congress

[Bush] "...The President will enforce fiscal 
discipline on Congress, because when 
spending is out of control, deficits increase 
and our economic growth is hindered..."

10/3/00

Increasing federal spending is a sure way to 
make the economy go bust

[Bush]: "...the surest way to bust this economy 
is to increase the role and the size of the federal 
government..."

Enforced no spending discipline in Congress and almost
never vetoed anything

Bush is the biggest spending President in a long time

Jonathan Chait 
(The New Republic)

Dwight Meredith 
(P.L.A.)

Jonathan Weisman 
(Washington Post)

Democrats.org

Tax cuts should be for everyone who pays taxes. 
I won't pick and choose who gets taxes and who won't.

[Bush] "...We're not for targeted tax cuts. We're 
for saying anybody who pays taxes in 
America ought to get tax relief..."

10/3/00

[Bush]: "...[Gore] says he's going to give you 
tax cuts; 50 million of you won't receive 
it. He said, in his speech, he wants to make sure the 
right people get tax relief. That's not the role of a president to 
decide right and wrong. Everybody who pays taxes 
ought to get tax relief..."

[Bush]: "...I can't let [Gore] continue with fuzzy math. 
It's $1.3 trillion, Mr. Vice President. It's going to go to
everybody who pays taxes. I'm not going to be one 
of these kinds of presidents that says, 
"You get tax relief and you don't." I'm not going 
to be a pick-and-chooser..."

Isaac Shapiro, 
Allen Dupree and 
James Sly (CBPP)

Spinsanity

Tax cuts should provide most help for 
those at the bottom end of the income scale

[Bush] "...If you pay taxes, you should get 
tax relief...I agree with my critics, however, that 
those on the bottom end should get the 
most help...."

CBPP

Paul Krugman 
(New York Times)

2003 Tax Cuts will help 
everyone who pays income taxes

[Bush] "...My jobs and growth plan would 
reduce tax rates for everyone 
who pays income tax..."

B13

Recession was inherited from Clinton

[Bush] "...When I took office, our 
economy was beginning a recession..."

FLIP AGAIN
Recession was inherited

Economic growth has more to do with people's 
ingenuity, hard work and entrepreneurship than 
the President's actions

[Bush]: "...I think the economy has meant more for 
the Gore and Clinton folks than the Gore and Clinton 
folks has meant for the economy. I think most of the 
economic growth that has taken place is a 
result of ingenuity and hard work and 
entrepreneurship..."

[Link]: "...The White House claimed credit today for the 
surge in economic growth, saying the $1.7 trillion in 
tax cuts championed by President Bush had helped 
the nation overcome recession and the economic 
effects of the terrorist attacks, two wars and 
corporate scandals...
"The tax relief we passed is working," Mr. Bush 
said to workers at an aluminum plant in this 
state that is seen as crucial in his re-election 
bid. "We're making progress," the president said 
earlier at a fundraiser for his re-election campaign. "But 
we will not stop until there are jobs aplenty for 
those looking for work."...."

Income should not be taxed twice

 [Bush]: "...it's unfair to tax money twice. There's 
a principle involved. The government ought to 
be content with taxing revenue streams or 
profits one time, not twice..."

Sales taxes are also STILL 
subject to double taxation. 

These disproportionately affect poorer people. 
Bush has done nothing to remove this "unfairness".

On average 320,000 new jobs per MONTH 
will be created in 2004

[Bush CEA report, signed by Bush]: 
"...the President's Council of Economic Advisers 
(CEA) is forecasting about 320,000 new jobs 
will be created every month this year..."

MSNBC: "...The president is interested in actual jobs 
being created rather than economic modeling," White 
House spokesman Scott McClellan said. 
"We are interested in reality," added McClellan, who 
quoted the president saying: "I'm not a 
statistician. I'm not a predictor."..." 

I advocated, and Congress passed, tax cuts
which expire

[Bush]: "...This tax relief plan is principled. 
Today is a great day for America. It is the first 
major achievement of a new era, an era of 
steady cooperation. And more achievements are 
ahead. I thank the members of Congress 
in both parties who made today possible. Together, 
we will lead our country to new progress and new 
possibilities. It is now my honor to sign the 
first broad tax relief in a generation..."

Bush: "...The tax relief we passed is scheduled to 
go away...For the sake of job creation, there needs 
to be certainty in the tax code [CG emphasis]..."

Bush: "...And finally, we need to make sure 
the tax cuts are permanent. See, the tax cuts 
are set to expire. That's what a lot of people don't 
understand. This is an important part of the dialogue 
in Washington, D.C. now, is how to make 
sure the economy continues to grow. These job 
creators need certainty in the tax code. You 
can't have taxes go down one year and up the next. 
They need certainty when it comes to planning. 
They need to be able to have certainty when 
it comes to their investment deductibility. 
That's what they need..."

Brad Delong

Economic weakness/uncertainty is due 
to SEC overreach

[Bush]: "...The economic uncertainty 
is because of SEC overreach..."

Of course, after this he decided to underfund the SEC
(which I could consider a flip but will leave aside for now)

C2

Will work to end tariffs and not erect new ones

[Bush]: "...I’ll work to end tariffs and break down 
barriers everywhere, entirely, so the whole world trades 
in freedom. The fearful build walls. The confident 
demolish them. I am confident in American workers and 
farmers and producers. And I am confident that America’s 
best is the best in the world..."

(Partial) FLIP AGAIN
Bush eliminates steel tariffs

Paul Krugman 
(New York Times)

Jonathan Chait 
(The New Republic)

Center for 
American Progress

Dwight Meredith
(Wampum)

C4

Confident in America's farmers and producers
- and the need to therefore reduce tariffs

[Bush]: "...I’ll work to end tariffs and break down 
barriers everywhere, entirely, so the whole world trades 
in freedom. The fearful build walls. The confident 
demolish them. I am confident in American workers and 
farmers and producers. And I am confident that America’s 
best is the best in the world..."

FLIP AGAIN
Once again confident (in Dec 2003) that U.S. steel 
producers can survive without tariffs

Tariffs should be imposed because industry growth 
and industry jobs are at risk

[Bush]: "...I took action [by imposing steel tariffs] to 
give the industry a chance to adjust to the surge 
in foreign imports and to give relief to the 
workers and communities that depend on 
steel for their jobs and livelihoods...The 
industry made progress increasing productivity, 
lowering production costs, and making America 
more competitive with foreign steel producers. Steel 
producers and workers have negotiated new 
groundbreaking labor agreements that allow 
greater flexibility and increase job stability"

[Bush]: "...There are economic isolationists in 
our country who believe we should separate 
ourselves from the rest of the world by 
raising up barriers and closing off markets...
'If we are to continue growing this economy 
and creating new jobs, America must remain 
confident and strong about our 
ability to trade in the world..."

Agricultural subsidies are a good thing

[Bush]: "...I am pleased to sign the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002...This bill is generous
, and will provide a safety net for farmers.  And it 
will do so without encouraging overproduction and 
depressing prices...The farm bill supports our commitment 
to open trade, and complies with our obligations to 
the World Trade Organization..."

[Bush]: "...When wealthy nations subsidize their 
agricultural exports, it prevents poor countries 
from developing their own agricultural sectors. So 
I propose that all developed nations, including our 
partners in Europe, immediately eliminate subsidies on 
agricultural exports to developing countries..."

Want young Americans to join Teach for America

[Bush]: "...I am proud to stand up and talk 
about the best of America and Wendy Kopp...
I hope young Americans all across the 
country think about joining Teach for America..."

10/3/00

[Bush]: "...Well, I tell you, we can make a huge 
difference by saying, "If you receive federal money, 
we expect you to show results." Let me give you 
a story about public ed, if I might, Jim. It's about KIPP
Academy in Houston, Texas. It's a -- it's a charter school 
run by some people from Teach for America, young 
folks that said, "Well, I'm going to do something 
good for my country. I want to teach." A guy named 
Michael runs the school. 
It's a school full of so-called at-risk children. 
It's how we, unfortunately, label certain children. 
It means basically they can't learn. It's a school 
of strong discipline and high standards. It's one 
of the best schools in Houston. And here 
are the key ingredients: high expectations, strong
accountability. What Michael says is, 
"Don't put all these rules on us. Just let us 
teach and hold us accountable for every grade."
And that's what we do. And as a result, these 
young, mainly Hispanic, youngsters are some 
of the best learners in Houston, Texas. That's my 
vision for public education all around America..."

D3

Believe in local control of schools, not 
control out of Washington

Schools should be given enough resources and authority

[Bush]: "...I believe in local control of schools..."

[Bush]: "...I believe education is a national 
priority, but it's also a local responsibility. I want 
to give schools -- I want to give schools the 
resources and authority to chart their own path 
to excellence. My opponent thinks Washington 
knows best..."

Additionally by underfunding NCLB he has 
NOT given schools the resources 
"to chart their own path to excellence".

As a result multiple states are either 
challenging or opting out of NCLB.

States should be forced to offer school vouchers

[Bush proposal]: "...[all states should] offer parents 
of these students [those in schools judged to be 
failing after three years] portable funds, which can be 
used to obtain for their child an education at a school 
of their choice or supplemental education services. 
These funds (worth an average $1,500 per child) will 
consist of the student's pro rata share of Title 1 
funds, provided by the Local Education 
Agency, and an equal amount provided by 
the state from its federal or state funds [italics added]...."

[Bush]: "...Vouchers are up to states. If you want 
to do a voucher program in Missouri, fine. 
See, I strongly believe in local control of schools. 
I'm a governor of a state, and I don't like it when 
the federal government tells us what to do...."

D6

Not in favor of pushing federally funded school vouchers 
since it could lead to a battle in Congress

[CNN]: "...President Bush told an intimate audience in 
Washington Thursday that he stands behind his 
campaign pledge to give parents more ability to remove 
their children from unsafe or academically inadequate 
public schools. Such ability, he said, could be 
in the form of school vouchers..."I campaigned vigorously 
on this idea, and I think it is right," he said. 
That was somewhat more direct than what he said 
Wednesday as he launched a reinvigorated push to 
persuade Congress to support his agenda to overhaul 
the nation's public school systems. 
He told a middle school audience in Concord, North 
Carolina, that he wanted to avoid some of the 
so-called choice issues, saying that choices such 
as vouchers would prompt an extended, spirited 
debate in Congress..."

FLIP-again

Will NOT push federally funded school 
vouchers in Congress

[WaPo]: "...On Jan. 2, The Post reported that the 
incoming administration had decided there was 
"insurmountable" Hill opposition to private school 
vouchers and would offer such a plan only as 
"a symbolic gesture to satisfy conservatives." 
Fleischer called the report "very puzzling and 
incorrect." But when a Senate committee took 
vouchers out of the education bill this month, 
the White House made no public protest. ..."

Howard Kurtz 
(Washington Post)

Eulogized Boys and Girls Clubs as role models
for children

[Bush]: "...I want to thank the Boys & Girls 
Clubs across the country…The Boys & Girls Club 
have got a grand history of helping children 
understand the future is bright for them, as well 
as any other child in America. Boys & Girls Clubs 
have been safe havens. They're little beacons of 
light for children who might not see light. And 
I want to thank them for their service to the country..."

Would ask OPEC to increase oil supplies to 
reduce oil prices

[Bush]: "...I would work with our friends in OPEC to 
open up the spigot, to increase the [oil] supply...Use 
the capital that my Administration would earn, 
with the Kuwaitis or Saudis, and convince 
them to open up the spigot."..."

Dwight Meredith 
(Wampum)

Will fully fund LIHEAP 

[Bush]: "...First and foremost, we got to make 
sure we fully fund LIHEAP, which is a way to 
help low-income folks, particularly here 
in the East, to pay for their high fuel bills..."

Dwight Meredith 
(Wampum)

Tax credits for owning hybrid-electric vehicles 
is no good and a joke

[Bush]: "..."How many of you own hybrid electric-
gasoline engine vehicles? Raise your hands.
” Not a hand in the crowd could be 
seen. “Well,” Bush said, “not too many of you 
are targeted for that tax cut. Now how many of you 
own a rooftop photo-voltaic system?” Again, no 
hands. “You’re beginning to get the drift of 
‘targeted,’ ” Bush said. “It’s always the same in 
my opponent’s plans - it sounds good until you 
read the fine print.”..."

Dwight Meredith 
(Wampum)

States should have the right to decide on gay marriage

[Bush]: "...The state can do what they 
want to do [on gay marriage]..."

University of Michigan's Affirmative Action Policies 
are fundamentally flawed and Supreme Court 
must find them illegal

[Bush]: "...I strongly support diversity of all kinds, 
including racial diversity in higher education...But the 
method used by the University of Michigan to 
achieve this important goal is fundamentally flawed..."
(stated when Bush filed against U. Mich. at the
Supreme Court) 

Will appoint judges who will not seek to legislate
and who will consider the Constitution sacred

[Bush]: "...I'll put competent judges on the 
bench, people who will strictly interpret the 
Constitution and will not use the bench to 
write social policy...I believe that the judges ought 
not to take the place of the legislative branch of 
government, that they're appointed for life and that
they ought to look at the Constitution as sacred. 
They shouldn't misuse their bench..."

EarthJustice

Partisanship 
and 
Responsibility

Will change the work ethic from blaming 
someone else, to taking responsibility. Will take 
full responsibility for decisions I make.

[Bush]: "...in stark contrast to the last few 
decades, which has clearly said, "If it 
feels good do it, and you've got a problem 
blame somebody else," our vision says each of us 
must understand we're responsible for the 
decisions we make in life..."

[Bush]: "...For too long our culture has sent this 
message: if it feels good, do it. And if you've 
got a problem, just go ahead and blame 
somebody else. Each of us must understand 
that's not right. Each of us must understand that 
we're responsible for the decisions and choices we
make in life..."

[Bush]: "...I think that people need to be held 
responsible for the actions they take in life...people 
in the highest office of the land must be responsible
for decisions they make in life. And that's the 
way I've conducted myself as governor of Texas. 
And that's the way I'll conduct myself as president 
of the United States, should I be fortunate enough 
to earn your vote..."

10/3/00

Will stop the finger-pointing in Washington
 and get things done

[Bush]: "...We need somebody who 
can come up to Washington and say, "Look, let's 
forget all the politics and all the finger-pointing 
and get some positive things done..."

EXAMPLES

1. When it was reported that national security 
was underfunded, Bush blamed the GOP-led 
Congress for it even though he played a full role in
the underfunding. 

2. When Democrats objected to lack of labor 
protections in the Homeland Security department 
that Bush initially opposed, he outrageously
claimed that Democrats are not interested in the 
security of Americans.

3. When it was revealed that he used a false statement
in the 2003 SOTU (Uranium in Africa), he refused to take
responsibility for it initially, placing blame squarely 
on the CIA. Only after being reminded repeatedly of his
campaign pledge did he accept "responsibility".

4. Bush claimed someone in the navy was responsible
for the "Mission Accomplished" banner when in fact 
the White House played a key role in putting it up
in his aircraft carrier speech.

Josh Marshall 
(Talkingpointsmemo)

Compassiongate

J3

Controlling 
authority 
and
truth

Will bring honor to the office of the White 
House and repair the "bond" of trust with Americans.

Americans don't want a White House with 
"no controlling legal authority"

[Bush]: "...I will bring honor to the process and honor 
to the office I seek. I will remind Al Gore that Americans 
do not want a White House where there is 'no 
controlling legal authority.' I will repair the broken 
bonds of trust between Americans and their 
government..."

10/3/00

[Bush]: "...We need to have a new look about 
how we conduct ourselves in office. There's 
a huge trust. I see it all the time when people 
come up to me and say, "I don't want you to let 
me down again." And we can do better than 
the past administration has done. It's time for a fresh 
start..."

2/26/02

Will tell the American people the truth at all times

[Bush]: "...We'll tell the American people the truth..."
(responding to questions about whether 
the US would lie on defense policy)

On top of that he did nothing much when 
two of his senior staff illegally outed an 
undercover CIA officer in an act of revenge. 
Paul O'Neill's expose on TV about his 
administration, using legally cleared data prompted an
"investigation" immediately, while the Valerie 
Plame expose took months to even get to the 
Justice Department.

Time and again, his Cabinet members or officers make
offensive or contradictory statements or claims and
Bush rarely bothers to correct/dismiss them or show his
"controlling legal authority". (A recent example is Rod
Paige's labeling on the NEA as a "terrorist organization").

Murray Waas 
(The American 
Prospect)

John Marshall
(Talkingpointsmemo)

Too many to list

White House 
sleepovers

Will not entrust Government to the Lincoln 
Bedroom, but rather keep it in the Oval Office

[Bush]: "...I believe they've moved that sign, 
‘The buck stops here,’ from the Oval Office desk 
to ‘The buck stops here’ on the Lincoln bedroom, 
and that's not good for the country. It's not right. 
We need to have a new look about how 
we conduct ourselves in office..."
(referring to sleepovers in the Clinton WH)

CBS: President Bush and first lady Laura Bush 
have invited dozens of friends and relatives to 
sleep over at the White House, from Republican 
fund-raisers to Texas pals such as pro golfer 
Ben Crenshaw and country singer Larry Gatlin.

WaPo: It didn't take too long for the Bush White 
House to make the same discovery as its predecessors: 
the enormous money-raising potential of an incumbent 
administration. Vice President Cheney soon opened 
the vice president's mansion to big givers. Health and 
Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson briefed 
donors in his government office. Now, with the 
2004 campaign officially underway, and the president 
poised to vacuum up $170 million or more, a 
new lure is being dangled to those who can 
raise the big bucks: lunch with 
presidential adviser Karl Rove.

More from 2003

Washington Post

Nick Confessore
(TAPPED)

"Permanent 
Campaign"

Bush/Cheney Government will mark the end of the
"war room" mentality and the "permanent
campaign"

[Cheney for Bush]: "...The days of the 
so-called war room and the 
permanent campaign are over..."

John F. Harris 
(Washington Post)

J7

Uniter not 
Divider

Changing the 
tone in 
Washington

Will be a uniter not a divider. Will work to build 
bipartisanship and move away from bitterness.
Will be civil, fair and have respect and forgiveness.

[Bush]: "...I'm a uniter, not a divider..."

?/00

[Bush]: "...It requires a different kind of leadership 
to do it, though. You see, in order to get 
something done on behalf of the people, 
you have to put partisanship aside..."

10/3/00

[Bush]: "...I also want to go to Washington to get 
some positive things done. It's going to require 
a new spirit, a spirit of cooperation. It's going to require 
the ability of a Republican president to reach out 
across the partisan divide and to say to 
Democrats, "Let's come together to do what's
right for America." It's been my record as 
governor of Texas. It'll be how I conduct myself 
if I'm fortunate enough to earn your vote as 
president of the United States..."

12/13/00

"...I am optimistic that we can change the tone 
of Washington, D.C...I believe things happen for a 
reason, and I hope the long wait of the last five weeks 
will heighten a desire to move beyond 
the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past..."

1/20/01

[Bush]: "...A civil society demands from each of us good 
will and respect, fair dealing and forgiveness. Some 
seem to believe that our politics can afford to be 
petty because, in a time of peace, the stakes of our 
debates appear small... We must live up to the calling we 
share. Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is 
the determined choice of trust over cynicism, of 
community over chaos. And this commitment, if 
we keep it, is a way to shared accomplishment..."

Bush bitterly campaigned against Democrats who 
worked with him setting aside partisanship. He 
forced Bills through Congress using the GOP leadership
without any qualms about "unity" - and watched 
without complaint as the GOP leaders used 
scotched-earth, uncompromising tactics to ramrod 
the Bills through Congress. He appointed
divisive, incompetent, haters as judges going
around the Democrats in the Senate even though the
Democrats confirmed far more of his nominees than
the GOP ever did in the case of Clinton's nominees. He 
watched and did nothing as Tom DeLay engineered the
nastiest redistricting in the country in recent history. He
instituted new rules requiring Democrats to get any
questions for the White House to be sent through 
GOP committee chairmen. He derides "liberals" and
"elite". He demonstrated vindictiveness to those who
dared criticize him - and in one case refused to do much 
about his senior staff who illegally outed an 
undercover CIA official.  He enraged allies in his
march to war against Iraq and continued to 
be vindictive towards them in the aftermath. 
Where to stop with all the compassionate conservatism?

Dana Milbank 
(Washington Post)

Alan Fram 
(AP/San Jose 
Mercury News)

Charles Babington 
(Washington Post)

David S. Broder 
(Washington Post)

E. J. Dionne 
(Washington Post)

E. J. Dionne 
(Washington Post)

The New Republic

John A. Farrell 
(Denver Post)

Dwight Meredith 
(P.L.A.)

Jonathan Chait 
(The New Republic)

Polls

Will govern based on principle not polls. Politicians 
who follow polls are doomed and don't lead.

[Bush]: ...endlessly insisted on the campaign trail 
that he governs "based upon principle 
and not polls and focus groups."

Bush

[Bush]: "...Politicians, by the way, who pay attention 
to the polls are doomed, trying to chase opinion 
when what you need to do is lead, set the tone."

10/3/00

[Bush]: "...We've got too much polling and focus 
groups going on in Washington today. We need 
decisions made on sound principles..."

In the aftermath of his declining approval ratings 
due to the mess in Iraq, Bush said that "There was a 
poll that showed me going up yesterday, not 
to be on the defensive" - proving he very much 
pays lot of attention to polls.

John Harris 
(Washington Post) 
via Bushwatch

Mike Allen and 
Claudia Dean 
(Washington Post)

Joe Conason 
(Salon)

Release of 
documents

Executive Privilege should be invoked to prevent
disclosure of documents relating to conversations
that the President or Vice President have with
individuals

This is important for all administrations and
it is to stop the decline of the power of the
presidency

[Cheney for Bush]: "..."What I object to, and what the 
President’s objected to, and what we’ve told the GAO we 
won’t do, is make it impossible for me or future vice 
presidents to ever have a conversation in confidence 
with anybody without having, ultimately, to tell a member 
of Congress what we talked about and what was said."..."

1/28/02

[Bush]: "...told reporters that his administration should be 
allowed to hold private consultations in order to 
“get good, sound opinions” while developing policies.
“This is part of how you make decisions,” Bush said. 
“We’re not going to let the ability for us to discuss 
matters between ourselves to become eroded. It’s not 
only important for this administration, it’s an important 
principle for future administrations.”..."

{Fleischer for Bush]: "...“I think it is to stop the decline 
of the power of the presidency that have taken 
place the last 35 years or so,” Fleischer said...."

[Link]: "...President Bush and Vice President Cheney 
have taken a different approach to the release of
records from the Clinton White House than they 
have taken to the release of their own records or
the records from the Reagan White House. In 
the case of records from the Bush Administration,
such as the records of the White House energy task 
force, the President and the Vice President have 
vigorously opposed release. President Bush has 
also interceded to block the timely release 
of records from the Reagan White House. In contrast, 
President Bush has approved the release of 
thousands of pages of records from the Clinton White 
House, including e-mails from the Office of the 
Vice President and records of presidential pardon 
decisions..."

527 groups

Ads by independent groups is freedom of 
speech and are part of the American process

[Bush]: "There have been ads, independent expenditures, 
that are saying bad things about me. I don't 
particularly care when they do, but that's 
what freedom of speech is all about...People have the right 
to run ads. They have the right to do what they want to 
do, under the -- under the First Amendment in America..."

Ads by independent groups is NOT freedom of 
speech and should NOT be part of the American process

[Link]: "...President Bush said Thursday that he wants to 
pursue court action against political ads from "shadowy" 
outside groups that have bankrolled more than $60 million 
in attack ads against him since March...The announcement also 
represents a reversal of Bush's position on 527s during his first 
preside