Which president was known as a compassionate conservative?

Answer 1

It was President George W. Bush who openly promoted the idea of "compassionate conservatism" as if that would rehabilitate the principles of conservatism and make them more appealing to a "knee jerk" liberal crowd. Conservative, Liberal, Right, Left, Centrist, Progressive, Libertarian, Federalist, Democrat, Republican, what the heck does it all mean any more? In the United States of America, if conservatives are not conserving the Constitution and the rights of individuals then what the heck are they conserving? If liberals aren't taking a liberal view of the Constitution, then what are they taking a liberal view of? So many of the so called conservatives today adhere to a religious and socially suppressed view of the world it's as if they never even read the Constitution at all. The so-called liberals today cling so tightly to Marxist ideals it is their own particular dogma and they remain ever so conservative in their adherence. The Republican party is no more conservative than the Democratic party is in terms of government representation of the self governed. Both seek to expand the powers of government and defend intrusives laws as necessary to promote the general welfare in a complex and maddening world.

The only thing complex and maddening about this world are the bureaucracies that complicate our lives to the point of insanity. "Compassionate conservative", what exactly does that mean? What is a neo-conservative? Are there any traditional liberals? Compassionate conservatism cant be implemented with a straight face. How could anyone not bust out laughing after promising to keep tight the reigns on government but will create new and better social programs? How can a Republican not see his own audacity when he defines conservatism as a tax cut? At least the liberals are honest about their desire to tax all things taxable. Republicans want those taxes too, they just think they can fool people into believing it is really painful for them to raise taxes. When Republican Senators and Representatives appear on the news shows that feature talking heads they are presented as the conservative viewpoint but we hear them lecture us about how that Constitution doesn't grant this right or that. To hear a liberal say such a thing is understandable, to hear a self professed conservative say such a thing is to listen to the conservative side of liberalism where what is being conserved is the neighborhood that Richie Cunningham and Fonzie grew up in, preserved down to the bobby socks and pig tails, the Dungarees folded at the cuff and crew cuts for the boys. That's the spirit of the Constitution. Happy days! Compassionate conservatism!!

Answer 2

The term Compassionate conservative is generally associated with George W Bush. He adopted this concept in his 2000 presidential campaign against Al Gore. It means to use conservative techniques to improve welfare of society.