We expect Democratic Congresses to vote for bills like ADA. An able President, however, can use the threat of a veto to mobilize the public and get the most obnoxious provisions changed.

What we got was Bush Senior’s understanding of “compassionate conservatism”– write a blank check for the Left on a handful of high-visibility issues, in order to get a free hand on other issues that matter more to you. My understanding of “compassion” in conservatism is different: Right-wing positions that help the poor, eg vouchers for parochial schools when they offer the best inner city education; effective public safety; removal of guild restrictions that shut the poor out of jobs they are qualified for, etc. My type of “compassionate” conservative would agree with the Left only when the Left is correct, eg funding decent educational opportunities for all, dismantling Jim Crow, maintaining workplace safety, etc.

Bob

Actually, the original ADA law signed by Bush Senior contained most of the features we hate today. In the public discussion, many like you assumed it was about *reasonable* accomodations like wider doorways for wheelchairs and disability-conscious design of new construction. The advocates pushed for and got much more, however, eg. privileging anti-social and/or destructive behavior as a “mental handicap.”
That is one of two reasons I rate Bush Senior as a mediocre President (though not a disastrous President like his son.).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King-Size_Homer