Bush possessed no solid base of support among any numerically significant group in the US
electorate. Now, the Carteresque Bush found topened up in the GOP which threatened that party with the fate of the degenerate Federalists. hat his own party was turning against him. A split had
In the midst of the budget upheaval Bush, ever true to his family's racist creed, had impudently
vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1990. To make the symbolism perfect, he signed the veto after an
appearance at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award ceremonies in Washington. Bush wasplaying the card of racism for 1990 and 1992. "I deeply regret having to take this action with a bill (^)
bearing such a title," said Bush, "especially since it contains provisions that I strongly endorse." But
he was adamant that this bill "employs a maze of highly legalistic language to introduce the
destructive force of quotas into our national unemployment system." Bush claimed that this was a
quota bill, and since equal opportunity was thwarted by quotand equality that is offered as the reason why this bill should be signed requires me to veto it." Anas, "the very committment to justice (^)
attempted override fell short by one vote in the Senate, 66-34, even though Minnesota Republican
Rudy Boschwitz, who had been against the bill, switched sides to oppose Bush's veto. Boschwitz
was doomed to defeat in the November election in any case.
A most dramatic sign of the repudiation of Bush even by the Republican party apparatus was the
celebrated memorandum issued on October 15 by veteran political operative Ed Rollins of the
National Republican Congressional Committee. Rollins had been given a four-year, million dollar
contract to help the GOP win a majority on the Hill. He was dedicated to helping his Congressional
clients, incumbents and challengers alike, to get elected. Watching the polls, Rollins saw that Bush'sJune 26 broken promise was sure to be poison at the polls in early November. He sent out a memo
that made the following points:
The mood of the country has shifted dramatically in the past ten days; voters have become as
pessimistic about the direction of the country as at any time in recent history.
The President's approval/disapproval and job performance ratings have dropped precipitously. This
is no doubt due to the lack of a budget resolution and the lack of a clear Republican position on
taxes and spending.
Understanding that several members have never taken a no tax pledge, my best advice today is to
urge you to oppose taxes, specifically gas and income taxes. Do not hesitate to oppose either the
President or proposals being advanced in Congress. [fn 53]
Bush appears to have learned of the Rollins memo in an NBC news broadcast on October 24.According to one source, Bush then told a group of GOP Congressional leaders that while he could (^)
not control all Republican political consultants, he "did control Rollins," and wanted him fired
immediately. Rollins's immediate boss, Rep. Guy Vander Jagt, a Republican wheelhorse from
Michigan, complained that he had come out of this meeting with Bush "black and blue" from the
president's punishment. [fn 54] TBush was unable to secure the ouster of Rolhe answer from Rollins was, "I don'lins, who, one must conclude, enjoyed more supportt plan to resign." Incredibly,
from rank and file Republican Congressmen at this point than Bush himself. Some consultants
suggested that Bush should simply back off: "If the November 6 results are as bad as they appear,
the consensus will be that George Bush blew it," said one. Bush "is the George Steinbrenner of
politics," said another perception-monger. "He just booted away the best franchise in the sport."Dreams of taking House seats were vanishing with each new poll; the GOP now hoped for damage (^)
control measures to keep the loss to ten seats if they could.
On the campaign trail, Bush was finally receiving treatment commensurate with his merits. October
23 was a day he will never forget. George had gotten up before dawn to make a day of it on the