Conservative back patting

Over at the NRO, the gloating continues in an article by Myrna Blyth on Bush and how in touch he is with America. She provides a litany of research numbers, and then tries to frame them around the President. For example:

Sixty-five percent strongly agreed with the statement: "When making choices I like to go my own way and not necessarily do what others are doing, " and 64 percent agreed with: "I like to think of myself as off the beaten path." I guess many among us see Bush's go-it-alone-when-necessary attitude as not only acceptable but admirable.

First off, if Bush strongly reflected these "values," he probably would have won closer to 64% of the vote, right? Secondly, if these people were really "off the beaten path" and "going their own way," they never would be in a majority in this country.

I'm sure some people admire Bush's "go-it-alone" attitude. But they weren't asked to frame their answer as a referendum on Bush. I could just as easily say these people supported Kerry because he was the one that made a choice to go to Vietnam rather than get any number of deferments or hide in the Air National Guard. A majority of Americans, then, would have like John's wife Teresa, despite the conservative mantra that she was out of touch and doing her own thing.

And Myrna, I like to think of myself as off the beaten path and going my own way. I did not support Mr. Bush.

I could go on, but it's getting late, so I'll close with this. For some reason beyond my comprehension she writes (and her editor leaves in) the following:

Americans accept diversity of lifestyles (59 percent) and believe America is better off when cooperating with other countries (74 percent). During the last campaign, George Bush told us that he was a "compassionate conservative." I think he truly is and so are most Americans.

First, go find the definition of non sequitur and then apply it to what you just read. Secondly, if Americans really believe those things, then why in the world did they choose they guy who wants to keep gay people from celebrating their love and commitment to each other? Why did they choose a guy who shuns the rest of the world at every turn? If Americans value the idea that Bush went it alone in Iraq, then why would they think we are better off cooperating with other countries?

Look, Bush won because he got the base out, pure and simple. There is no easy way of knowing if a majority of America agrees with Bush based on an election, because not every one votes. And at last check, a majority of Americans still disapprove of the President and want to see him reach out the middle more this term.

What would interest me is a poll based on all the things that freak the left out about old George. Ask a majority of Americans how they feel about having to swear a loyalty oath to the ruler of a country. Ask them how they feel about sending troops to fight in a war without the proper equipment. Ask them how they feel about someone who does nothing to help those who have lost their job.

Then we will see how America feels about the morals of George Bush.