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Political Hay
Not So Fast, Jeb Bush
The rigidity of moderation: Ex-Florida guv rewrites history of Reagan and Dad
The headline in the New York Times?
Jeb Bush Questions G.O.P.’s Shift to the Right
The story begins this way:
Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida said his father, George Bush, and Ronald Reagan would find themselves out of step with today’s Republican Party because of its strict adherence to ideology and the intensity of modern partisan warfare.
It goes on to portray Governor Bush as standing by his “assertion that he would accept a hypothetical deal” on taxes — meaning violate the no new taxes pledge that is famously asked of GOP candidates by Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform.
Now, we like the Bushes here. The Presidents Bush and Governor Bush. President Bush 41 (in whose administration I served as an aide to HUD Secretary Jack Kemp) just this week celebrated his 88th birthday. A Happy Birthday to a genuine American hero, a true gentlemen and one of the classy nice guys in this world, all rare qualities indeed.
But someone should speak up and challenge Jeb Bush’s assessment of Ronald Reagan and the Bush 41 presidency because, respectfully — it’s baloney.
It does not reflect the reality of the Ronald Reagan in whose White House I worked. But importantly, what Jeb Bush is saying does accurately reflect the views, actions and results of the “moderate Republicans” of the day who dominated the Bush 41 White House.
Jeb Bush’s rose-colored memories aside, the fact of the matter is that moderate Republicans in 1980 — with George H.W. Bush in that mix — went out of their way to accuse Ronald Reagan of what Jeb Bush now calls a “strict adherence to ideology” and engaging in “the intensity of modern partisan warfare.”
Where better to check the record then in… yes indeed… the New York Times?
For example, a story from March 1, 1980 that is headlined:
Ford Declares Reagan Can’t Win; Invites G.O.P. to Ask Him to Run
Now why exactly did the moderate former President Gerald Ford believe then-former Governor Reagan couldn’t win a national election against then-President Jimmy Carter?
Sounding downright Jeb Bushian, the Times reported that Mr. Ford insisted “that Mr. Reagan would be a sure loser in November” because Reagan possessed “extreme and too-simple views.” Said the former President:
“Every place I go and everything I hear, there is growing, growing sentiment that Governor Reagan cannot win the election. I hear more and more often that we don’t want, can’t afford to have a replay of 1964.”
About the Author
Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director and author. He writes from Pennsylvania at jlpa1@aol.com.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (91) | Leave a comment
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Robbins Mitchell| 6.14.12 @ 6:24AM
Well,I've always supported the Bush's politically as far as was possible and prudent....but Jeb is just as wrong as he can be about Ronaldus Magnus...if he were still alive,he would be rooting for the Tea Party for all he is worth
Brooksifier | 6.14.12 @ 3:26PM
Rich Lowry spoke of Jeb for POTUS!
Did Jeb give Rich a BJ under the table, or what?
TLP| 6.14.12 @ 3:33PM
Okay, Alan. Let's keep this civil.
Just because YOU don't mind taking it up the @ss, these last 3 1/2 Years, doesn't mean the rest of us are alright with it.
We HATE it.
Stephanie| 6.14.12 @ 10:31PM
Ouch!
Stephanie| 6.14.12 @ 10:31PM
Ouch!
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 6.14.12 @ 6:29AM
Jeb Bush is like many free wheeling Republicans who like style over substance.
To them, big government arrived at by compromise is somehow more satisfying than big government arrived at in a partisan manner.
You see the difference don't you? If you don't you're most likely a rotten Tea Bagger.
Ted G| 6.14.12 @ 12:10PM
Hmmm... This being the same BHO who proudly waived the Romney flag......
cali| 6.14.12 @ 6:31AM
Who cares what this rhino has to say; after the elder Bush dismissed Sarah Palin in the most condescending arrogance; my opinion of the bushes changed - realizing what snobs they really are.
We all know, that they wanted their last son to run for president, first as VP with Romney taking on the presidency later.
It didn't go the way they hoped and, planned - jeb bush sounds like a bitter reject!
TLP| 6.14.12 @ 8:58AM
I have to agree with Mr. cali. I have a big problem with anybody that gives Sarah Palin sh*t. A Big Problem. She, and NOT THEM, is a big reason for the Energy in those of us who still have Great Respect for Ronald Reagan, and the things he did, to save this Country.
Jeb Bush has probably not had a hard day in his life. He comes from a Family of means, and he believes that makes him more qualified to run OUR LIVES, than we are. After all. It's only natural that people would be Ruled, by the Ruling Class. Isn't it?
I know what people are gonna say: "How's Romney any different than Bush?"
Fair question.
Maybe he's not. I would hope that his years in the Private Sector, combined with the assistance of hindsight, as to what he did in Mass, and the end results of those actions, have made him better prepared than most.
He has Business, AND Executive experience. He doesn't have any Vices, that I know of. He's not a Corrupt Chicago Politician, who Run any Guns to Mexican Drug Cartels, or run up $5,ooo,ooo,ooo,ooo in New Debt in the last 3 years. He's not running Money Laundering Schemes vis Stimulus Plans, or Campaign Contributor's Phoney Green Energy Scams. He's not fighting Voter I.D. Laws. He's not Sueing any States for trying to ENFORCE THE LAW, and he's not using Air Force One to fly everywhere, every day, to run around kissing the asses of all the people that HE SAYS the rest of us should hate.
So, what's the problem, and why are we wasting time on a NOBODY?
loulou| 6.14.12 @ 11:21AM
You're absolutely right, TLP.
Nancy in NC| 6.14.12 @ 1:57PM
Well said, Tim.
Romney is not my idea of a conservative statesman, but he appears to be a decent human unlike the jackass in the WH...the most despicable since Woodrow Wilson, and that's saying a lot.
Unfortunately too many clueless idiots have their head either up his backside or buried in the sand. I fear for November.
hrh| 6.14.12 @ 3:25PM
What's decent about spending 212 days of your last year in office out of state?
What's decent about buying up state-issued laptops when you leave office?
What's decent about deleting emails from state servers?
What's decent about not revealing your campaign bundlers?
This notion that Romney is decent is not based in the facts of his behaviors.
TLP| 6.14.12 @ 3:41PM
And, just like that, one of Nacy's Clueless Idiots, makes his presence known.
That didn't take long.
It never does, does it Nancy?
Jack in Wi| 6.14.12 @ 6:33AM
Stay out of the Bushes. Jeb is just another Rino like dad and brother. How did one family get so influential in the Party? They belong to the eastern banking elite that has controled the Party most of it's existence. The only 2 candidates who were not under their control in my lifetime were Reagan and Goldwater. In both cases they tried like hell to sink them. In Goldwater's case they fought him every step of the way right to the convention and beyond. They abandoned him in the general election and knifed him in the back every chance they had.
In Reagan's case they allowed him the nomination, because he was by far the popular choice. They stuck him with Bush for VP and a lot of his people as well. Even then a group of them bolted and ran John Anderson a liberal Republican congressman, 3rd party. He got 7% of the vote. It was only the fact that Carter imploded after the debate, that saw Reagan elected with a vote of 51%. Until the Republicans repudtiate the Bush clan permanetly, I don't see the Republicans ever getting anything done. The so-called moderates run as better managers and technocrats. They have no soul and no core beliefs except to be loyal to their class. Romney is their present stalking horse. I hope he figures out that all the people have to be represented not just Wall Street, K Street, Tel Aviv, and the Pentagon.
Ghost of Cicero (NB) | 6.14.12 @ 6:56AM
Just can't resist that swipe at Israel, can you, Brownshirt? Your bigotry is as predictable as the sunrise.
Jack in Wi| 6.14.12 @ 7:07AM
I just listed the people who run the country and it is not most Americans. The same old story name calling, lies, and nonsense from the usual suspects. Why not just go back to calling for endless war and genocide on Middle East Muslims and Christians. That is your style, enemy of the Republic. To tarnish the great Cicero's name, with your handle, is truely a disgrace.
Ghost of Cicero (NB) | 6.14.12 @ 7:27AM
The only disgrace on this site is YOU, Mr. "Proud 4-F." Just so proud of the fact that you didn't have to serve your nation. A coward, descended from a line of cowards, who was told by his similarly "patriotic" father that "it is better to be a live coward." For someone like YOU to call me a disgrace is simply laughable, Jacqueline.
Jack in Wi| 6.14.12 @ 10:41AM
I see Con chef is back. The Vatican reports that there have been extensive murders of Christians by the Syrian rebels. You should be quite happy. You are nothing but a nasty anti-christian bigot.
Ghost of Cicero (NB) | 6.14.12 @ 11:47AM
Yeah, Jackoff, I'm an "anti-Christian bigot." That's why I married a Catholic girl. That's why my kids will be raised in a church. Your handle needs to be modified to JackShit, as loulou has done. Because that's what you know. Jack shit. Please find ANY of my posts from the past that would back up your idiotic assertion.
I, on the other hand, have TONS of examples of YOUR anti Semitism on display, Bund Boy.
CJW| 6.14.12 @ 1:23PM
NB
Jack is doing double duty writing as Jack and Clint.
Mike Rogers | 6.14.12 @ 9:29PM
Now that's a novel idea: I just thought they shared a bed!
loulou| 6.14.12 @ 11:24AM
Jacksh*t is indeed a coward.
Is he a Muzzie? Or a disgruntled former assembly line worker from Eastern Europe?
RCV| 6.14.12 @ 11:46AM
Yes, it's the Joooooos who run the country, right Jack?
JimP| 6.14.12 @ 7:28AM
Once again a big thanks to Jeff Lord for writing the real history that so many of us remember, but we lack his insider credibility.
Also, Jeff Lord is a true gentleman himself. I used to admire and respect the Bushes even though I completely disagreed with their governing philosophy. I no longer feel that way. I admit that I actually dislike them strongly because of just the kind of thing Jeb has done in this instance, which isn't the first time he's done this, and because they are clearly elitists who believe themselves wiser than the rest of us and their policies cause us great harm.
hrh| 6.14.12 @ 3:30PM
Totally agree with your comment re the Bushes and Mr. Lord's gentlemanliness. In fact, I think there's a little too much obsequiousness. Three times, I think, Mr. Lord feels compelled to talk about what great guys they are.
One almost gets the impression that there is real fear here of what the Bush Machine, including it's Rove-run Fox News/WSJ cabal, might do to Mr. Lord.
It's a sad state when good Republicans live in fear of the "nice" Bush family and all its minions.
And Mr. Lord is also too polite in barely mentioning that Romney belongs in this long line of moderate backstabbers.
Thus making Mitt a completely unacceptable candidate.
Dewey wins!
c. j. acworth| 6.14.12 @ 8:11AM
I remember when George #1 said he wanted a kinder, gentler way of governing. As soon as anyone starts talking about compassionate conservatism you know they mean liberalism.
StarTripper| 6.14.12 @ 9:01AM
I think Reagan was stronger because he faced down real leftists in Hollywood at SAG. He knew the viciousness behind the comforting words. The Bushes never experienced that and didn't even learn from 41's disasterous tax increase.
Mimi | 6.14.12 @ 9:03AM
Jeb was wrong, very wrong to criticize The Party, at this time. We are in the RACE of our lives to save the country.
Did he not run in the primary this time due to his view the BUSH name was on the downside? G.W. Bush was a "HIT" at the whitehouse when his and Laura's portrait was hung. National nostalgia of their decency was remembered fondly! Maybe Jeb realized he should have thrown his hat in the ring this year.
What he see's in the GOP is a sharp turn in a quest for LIBERTY...The Tea Party grassroot on the ground activity that will super organize polling place by polling place, county by county, and STATE by STATE ! An awakened people Patriotic to the hilt...with a likeness of 1776 'ers, to not let their country go down. Wake-up JEB join them...apologize and SHUT _ UP!
Stkman| 6.14.12 @ 11:22AM
MiMi,
The Bush's are a strange congpmerate of individuals. You have father Bush, GHW, an American heroe who's main interest now is money and making money for himself and his elitist friends. Barbara who is probably the backbone of the family but has nothing in common with the common people and has shown just how out of touch and rude she can be with her remarks about Sarah Palin, rfemarks that show the true color of the family(green as in money and not red, white and blue as in country). Son George, a very decent man who listens too much to his fathers friends and Jeb. Jeb just showed all of us who he really is, and he's not one of us. He's an elitist just like his mother and father.
As a Texan I resent hearing George H.W. Bush is a Texan, he's not. He's what we call in the south a carpet bagger. He only came to Texas to make money and nothing else. He takes, he does not give, that what carpet baggers and elitist have in common.
loulou| 6.14.12 @ 11:28AM
GW may or may not be a decent man--he certainly has good manners. But he and his father helped bring this country to ruin. I wish the family had the good manners to shut up and disappear.
Jeb is delusional if he thinks anyone wants to hear from him.
JimP| 6.14.12 @ 8:09PM
You can take the Rockefeller out of Connecticutt, but you can't take Connecticutt out of the Rockefeller, so to speak.
Nancy in NC| 6.14.12 @ 1:52PM
We need another Bush like we need to lose our 2nd amendment rights. Jeb make W look even better.
W and Laura seem great. Just think he made some serious mistakes. That's the problem with most of the people we elect. They fail to understand or know history, and think we should be more like Europe. How's that working so far?
Anthony| 6.14.12 @ 9:17AM
RINOism, like Leftism, is a disease that destroys ones abililty to stand on principle. It also has a strong bent for an elitist central government.
Jeb Bush, along with Colin Powell, should go on a world-wide double scotch jump rope exhibition until the election is over and the conservatives have taken back America from the brink of disaster that they have helped create.
Bob Grant| 6.14.12 @ 9:33AM
With all due respect to the Bush family, the conservative movement would do well to wish them a fond adieu and move forward.
The Bush presidencies set back the party 40 years. Just think about the state of the party when their respective terms ended? ...Now think about the condition of the party when President Reagan's term ended?
I'm sure Jeb is a class act but one must take into consideration his loyalty to The Family when he gently criticizes the republican party or tries to re-write President Reagan's history. He does so to protect The Bush Legacy.
Cui Bono!
The Bush presidencies were in many ways
TLP| 6.14.12 @ 3:43PM
Well said.
Kwan| 6.14.12 @ 9:39AM
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that "moderation" in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.".....Barry Goldwater. How many Republican moderates or RINO's have been hornswoggled by leftist Democrat Party fifth-columnists? Every time a "moderate" goes along with a Democrat the country is moved one step closer to becoming a Totalitarian Socialist State, which is exactly why the Tea Party considers these moderate RINO's persona non grata. To win a war you must first acknowledge that you are in a war. The moderate for whatever reason is unable to perceive that the Democrat Party is the enemy within, that must be totally defeated if the country as envisioned by the Founding Fathers is to survive.
LarryK| 6.14.12 @ 10:05AM
I'm with Jesse Jackson on a 3rd Bush Presidential run,
"Stay out da Bushes"
Bob Grant| 6.14.12 @ 10:07AM
Agreed:
Stay.Out.Da.Bushes!!!!
Anthony| 6.14.12 @ 10:20AM
Yeah, poor, poor, Jesse, he didn't follow his own advise. He got too close to "da bushes" and developed a bad case of jungle fever and emerged with a bastard child.
Keep hope alive!!! Crucify George Zimmerman!!
Bob Grant| 6.14.12 @ 10:42AM
We'll, he agreed with Bush once. He supported No Child Support Left Behind.
loulou| 6.14.12 @ 11:29AM
Now they're going after Zimmerman's wife!
RCV| 6.14.12 @ 11:47AM
Well, perjury is a crime.
Anthony| 6.14.12 @ 12:35PM
Not if you're a Democrat. It's business as usual.
LarryK| 6.14.12 @ 2:33PM
Ouch, Truth hurts doesn't it?
TLP| 6.14.12 @ 3:45PM
Can RCV say : The Rapist - BILL CLINTON?
rjh| 6.14.12 @ 10:22AM
I am a conservative. Therefore I never want to see another Bush anywhere near the White House.
Simon Templar| 6.14.12 @ 10:34AM
I second that!
loulou| 6.14.12 @ 11:29AM
Ditto.
hrh| 6.14.12 @ 3:32PM
Fourth
Gary B| 6.14.12 @ 4:29PM
Fifth
JimP| 6.14.12 @ 8:12PM
It's unanimous!
Drummer| 6.14.12 @ 10:42AM
I agree! Who cares what a "Bush" has to say. We've had enough of them. I certainly hope Romney is smart enough NOT to pick Jeb Bush!
If the "true conservatives" don''t take this election, our country as we knew it, is GONE!!
hrh| 6.14.12 @ 3:33PM
It doesn't matter whether Romney picks Bush. Or vice versa.
They're eminently swappable.
nathan| 6.14.12 @ 10:56AM
Bush senior we can admire for going in harms way in WWII. That's about it though right? His namesake son could have volunteered to do the same but chose to sit "his" war out in a National Guard unit. Perfectly legal but laudable? The rest of you can decide for yourselves. Reagan made a horrible mistake choosing the first Bush as his VP making his accession to the presidency inevitable with less than ideal results.
The second Bush should never have been nominated and you can make a reasonable case that except for signing the defense of commerce bill (the act that ended the frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers) he probably should not have been elected either time. Given all that he did, foreign and domestic, his absolute TOTAL and I mean TOTAL disregard for the Constititution he had sworn to defend and uphold, he was probably impeachable if not in his first term certainly by midway in his second term. His democratic opponents probably wouldn't have been, with the sole exception of the gun law, all that much worse. (Please, "compasionate" conservatism, a true oxymoron, the total mishandling of the WAR ON TERROR including initiating two wars we've lost or are going to lose, the stimulus bills, like a democrat would have been much worse?)
Let the name calling begin. And come up with some new ones I'm tired of the old ones.
Bob Grant| 6.14.12 @ 11:13AM
I'll add to your list:
* Utter failure to reign in Fannie Mae/Freddie Mack. As a matter of fact, in '04 he ran on record home ownership under his watch
* Utter failure to institute a comprehensive energy policy. Remember his platform in '00 to drill in ANWR?
* His unsuccessful attempted at putting Harriet Miers on the Supreme Court Bench. I'll give him partial credit for his do-over
* No Child Left Behind - nothing more to say
* Prescription Drug Benefit - Socialism lite
* Appointing Ben Bernake and Hank Paulson - Enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* Appointing Colin Powell as Secretary of State - Completely overrated. This guy couldn't pull together a coalition if his life depended on it. Didn't he learn ANYTHING from James Baker?
So yea, I'm not a big fan of his either even though I voted for him...and his father...4 times. Something about lesser of 2 evils.
loulou| 6.14.12 @ 11:31AM
Add to the list: opening the doors to Arab "students" and calling Islam a "religion of peace".
CJW| 6.14.12 @ 1:31PM
You prefer President Algore, President Jean Kerry Heinz, and President Dukakis?
Those were the choices.
Reagan was a conservative, but aside from cutting taxes and standing up to the Soviets, he was not able to eliminate any cabinet depts, such as Energy and Education given to us by Carter, or agencies.
In 1976 when Reagan came within a few votes of beating Ford, Reagan announced his VP pick, Richard Schweicker, a liberal Pa Republican senator. Schweicker was more liberal than Bush 41.
Reagan was a realist in addition to being a conservative and played the political balancing ticket game like everyone else.
hrh| 6.14.12 @ 3:35PM
How can you even post about what Reagan couldn't do without mentioning that Reagan had a COMPLETELY Democrat Congress for his entire 8 years?
Remember Tip O-Neill? Ted Kennedy?
If Reagan had had a Republican Congress for 6 years - as W Bush had - look out for what he could have accomplished.
Which paints W Bush's UTTER failure to accomplish anything conservative with 6 years of TOTAL control of DC in STARK contrast.
TLP| 6.14.12 @ 3:49PM
Actually, if you run the numbers, the Sh*t didn't hit the fan, until Pelosi and Reid took over both Houses of Congress.
LOOK IT UP.
Crassus| 6.14.12 @ 4:19PM
Actually, the Republicans controlled the Senate for Reagan's first six years in office. They gained control of that body in the elections of 1986.
Crassus| 6.14.12 @ 4:20PM
Er, the Democrats gained control of the Senate in the elections of 1986.
markenoff| 6.14.12 @ 7:53PM
I must defend Bush 43 and all the other members of the Air National Guard during the Vietnam War (including my father). The fact that you were in the Air National Guard DID NOT guarantee that you would not go to Vietnam. My dad's unit, the 122nd Tactical Fighter Wing flew F4 Phantoms and several of the pilots and crew chiefs served in Vietnam. Additionally, the plane Bush 43 flew (F-106 I think) was designed as a high speed interceptor of high flying intercontinental bombers with a low payload and high fuel capacity which would have been useless in Vietnam. It was also a very dangerous plane to fly and during the time Bush 43 flew the plane several of them crashed and some of the pilots died.
Would you prefer he had dodged the draft by lying to the ROTC Commander at the college he was at?
Or if he had obtained a cushy job as a photographer courtesy of his Senator father?
Oh, and, BTW what's your service record?
nathan| 6.15.12 @ 7:49AM
I assume that had he sought to join a F-4 squadron, learning how to fly one would not have been beyond his capabilities. If he had wished to go nothing much would have stopped him. This was purely a choice on his part.
I was in the last mandatory draft, got a number that required me to get a physical, then they abolished the draft that year sparing me to need to go. I am now in the twilight of three decade alternate publice service career which I don't discuss on public forums.
Now understand, the war was categorically illegal. Where was that declaration of war the Constitution requires? Further we had no need to be there and our presence so destablized the region that it may well have created the circumstances that led to the genocide in Cambobia.
Look at the four major political figures here, Bush, Romney, Cheney, and Clinton. Clinton rightly opposed the war and opted out more or less legally. Romney and Cheney took exemptions that should NEVER have existed and Romney spent part of his war in France while ghetto kids were getting shot to pieces. Cheney took 6 years worth and when asked said he had other priorities at the time. The poor kids did too. So what was the difference between the 4? Clinton was correct to oppose the war does not now like the others call it the "Great Crusade". Less hypocritical? And interestingly enough the man "conservatives" love to hate, Walter, saw more combat that all of them and most of his critics, Rush and Sean included?
Surly Curmudgen| 6.14.12 @ 12:27PM
The Bushs are Fabian socialists. With few exceptions, all presidents and too many politicians over the past one hundred years have been Fabians. Jeb Bush is another one.
Obama v. Romney the differences;
Romney is a Fabien socialist, Fabians will ease us into the water and slowly turn up the heat until we are all slaves and most won’t notice.
Obama is a revolutionary Marxist Communist, The adherents of that school are willing and eager to finish taking power by lining up and shooting those who refuse to become the states slaves.
With some exceptions all to many politicians over the past one hundred years have been Fabians and we are a long ways down that dark hallway leading to enslavement. They have been turning up the heat for that long and we haven’t noticed!
Who Knows?| 6.14.12 @ 12:34PM
Thank you, Mr. Lord, for a fabulous, detailed undressing of Jeb Bush, and moderate Republicans.
Perhaps the problem isn’t expressed by the split into a Democratic and a Republican party, but the one between elitists and the hoi polloi.
Of course, we will always have with us those born with rare metal spoons in their mouths, whose parents may have come from poverty, themselves. So, we’re always returned to the Heidegger insight---humans are “caring” entities.
And, the “family”, or “It’s all about the children”, sure seem to me to be further manifestations of being a “loving and caring” parent---for those with the “right stuff”..
Then, there’s the ever-present underclass, growing like topsy as more and more bastards are born. Do their parents “care” enough to “send the very best”, that is, provide for them, rather than remain children, themselves, seeking more and more pleasure, in their own short, nasty and brutish lives?
Conservatives---what are they?
“Con”---there is chile-con-carne, or beans “with” meat.
Con and Serve.
You do the math.
Anthony| 6.14.12 @ 12:53PM
RINO principle #1. If you want to be favorably quoted in the NY Times, which hates your guts, except when being a useful idiot, bash conservatives.
Conservative principle#1. Kick these RINO bastards out of office.
Louis Jenkins| 6.14.12 @ 1:25PM
Jeb has been playing too long with the Mouse. Raise taxes Jeb and people will think twice about visiting the never never lands around Orlando. Bush senior had the right idea when he said read my hips, no new taxes, and we saw how long that lasted. We should all be worried that Ronald was a mere blip on the radar screen, and remember how many people spoke positively about Jeb's possible presidential run? Don't need him, don't want him.
Nancy in NC| 6.14.12 @ 1:47PM
IMHO, the problem with the Republican party is they're not conservative enough. Every time the GOP moves to the center the more they lose touch with average Americans who want a clear choice between the GOP and the Dims.
Woodrow Wilson started the progressive era ( even though Teddy Roosevelt leaned that way as well) and it's taken them 100 years to get their tethers into our freedom. Now it's hanging by a thread. I pray Romney hears us. We don't want another RINO or Obama Lite. We want fiscally conservative thinkers and for the Federal government to go to a corner. They've done quite enough damage to last for another 100 years.
Dixon| 6.14.12 @ 2:50PM
And what "flag" would President Romney fly?
I hope for a Conservative banner but expect the moderate one would wave.
Which is why he needs to select a principled, energetic, articulate Conservative VP mate to provide him important consultation.
Rubio, Jindall fit that bill. Daniels to a lesser extent.
hrh| 6.14.12 @ 3:42PM
Dewey wins!
So this conversation is really a moot point, but I'll bite.
Rubio is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jeb Bush.
Research Rubio's record in Florida. See his following of Jeb's lead in not endorsing Romney preFlorida primary - but then endorsing a coupla' days after Jeb.
Daniels was W's first budget director.
Jindahl is the ONLY one who MAY be conservative. But he's doing a great job in Louisiana.
Dixon| 6.14.12 @ 4:15PM
"Daniels was W's first budget director."
It was rather good experience as he next led a state deep in red ink and sinking under public union entitlements to balanced budgets with surpluses and broke the grip of the corrupt unions.
Today, public union membership dues have plummeted and their "bargaining" is about all gone....as government services are rated as more efficient and customer focused than ever before.
He did this without raising taxes, but by cutting spending and costs.
He has a popularity rating of 65%.
I do not view his time in W's first term as a negative...but as positive experience leading to even greater results...as a very successful governor...that could lead to an exceptional VP.
Surly Curmudgen| 6.14.12 @ 5:09PM
Neither Rubio nor Jindall are qualified for the office. They are naturalized not natural born citizens.
rjh| 6.14.12 @ 5:13PM
I am afraid you are correct. The fact that many on the right want to ignore this fact bothers me.
markenoff| 6.14.12 @ 8:01PM
I know you are both wrong. Bobby Jindal was born in Baton Rouge and Rubio was born in Miami. Have you people heard of Google?
owend| 6.14.12 @ 3:48PM
I personally am getting tired of the Bush Family, specifically tired of Jeb (I'm Mr. Moderate) Bush. He should just shut up and try to support his party in this critical election. He and other like him in the Republican Party are part of the problem, not the solution.
John II| 6.14.12 @ 3:51PM
One other point to add to Mr. Lord's excellent response. When I first read Jeb Bush's recent and presumptuous description of Ronald Reagan as a "moderate" like unto his dad, I immediately recollected Our Ron's 11th commandment: Never publicly attack a fellow Republican.
Reagan's own adherence to that principle was perhaps the most immoderate thing about him, given that "moderate" Republicans of the Bush sort devote so large a portion of their public energies either to attacking or to distancing themselves from conservatives.
Reagan was never a "moderate Republican" precisely because he didn't belong to and, above all, never aspired to the Ruling Class.
And now back to "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), in which Jimmy Stewart plays a Tea Party conservative despised by the likes of Wendell Wilkie (played by Claude Rains). The fascinating thing about the upper classes is that, despite intermittent outbursts of decency, they tend to be far less classy than ordinary folk.
Gary B| 6.14.12 @ 4:32PM
One fine day in the future the names Kennedy and Bush won't be familiar to anyone.
PCPSmokerII| 6.14.12 @ 5:41PM
This is the nicest, most articulate "fuck you JEB" that i have ever seen. great job
Ernie | 6.14.12 @ 5:44PM
I am against all tax increases, even for the wealthy. When you give the goverbment $1 more, they will spend $2
cicero| 6.14.12 @ 6:08PM
The only reason anybody even considers "moderate
" in the context of Republican is because they all believe in the mythical "middle" History has shown that the more conservative the Republican, the larger the margin of victory. As they move to the "middle", that margin shrinks. If we recall anything at all about Reagan, that is the lesson. Clinton won in 92 because Bush 1 tried to appear moderate. Dole lost because he was left of center. Bush 2 won by very slim margins because his opponents were so far to the left of him.. McCain was just another Dole.
If Romney wants to win, and win big, he only need run to the right. Announce a conservative platform, and trumpet it. Lower taxes for all; exploitation of our natural resources; get rid of about half of all government departments in the first 90 days, and half of the remainder in the second. This is not rocket science. It is good old American conservatism - that 80% of the country supports. The other 20% live in D.C, New York, and L.A, with a smattering in Seattle.
Dodd2| 6.14.12 @ 7:16PM
Not another Bush.
No, no, no. America has OD on them.
Seek| 6.14.12 @ 7:23PM
Some questions: How does one explain National Review Editor-in-Chief Rich Lowry endorsing Jeb Bush for President? Which of Bush's traits seem to impress Lowry most? And why is one of conservatism's leading publications going this route?
Truth to Power| 6.14.12 @ 11:30PM
The gay bigot tries to stir up some trouble but as usual falls a little flat.
David| 6.14.12 @ 9:03PM
More on Bush from what was said above by Bob Grant and loulou. They said:
Bob Grant| 6.14.12 @ 11:13AM
I'll add to your list:
* Utter failure to reign in Fannie Mae/Freddie Mack. As a matter of fact, in '04 he ran on record home ownership under his watch
* Utter failure to institute a comprehensive energy policy. Remember his platform in '00 to drill in ANWR?
* His unsuccessful attempted at putting Harriet Miers on the Supreme Court Bench. I'll give him partial credit for his do-over
* No Child Left Behind - nothing more to say
* Prescription Drug Benefit - Socialism lite
* Appointing Ben Bernake and Hank Paulson - Enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* Appointing Colin Powell as Secretary of State - Completely overrated. This guy couldn't pull together a coalition if his life depended on it. Didn't he learn ANYTHING from James Baker?
So yea, I'm not a big fan of his either even though I voted for him...and his father...4 times. Something about lesser of 2 evils.
Reply to this
loulou| 6.14.12 @ 11:31AM
Add to the list: opening the doors to Arab "students" and calling Islam a "religion of peace".
My words:
Bush went further and said that Christians and Muslims worship and pray to the same God. Say what???
David| 6.14.12 @ 9:05PM
con't.
We know what Muslims (the ones we are at war with) feel, think, and believe about women as second class citizens. Bush was trying to make amends with them. So what the flip does he do? He appoints Condi Rice as Sec of State, AND appoints that lady Karen what's her name as the liaison to the Muslim world. Real smart picks Mr. Bush.
Before I address any other points, I think all of the Bush men pay too much attention to their wives in their political points of views. All of the women are more liberal than their husbands. All are pro-abortion, and granted, publicly, the Bush men remain anti-abortion. Privately, we don't know what they think. We do know, that they know, if they were to be pro-abortion, it would end any hopes for a national political office in the repub party.
All of the Bushes are sympathetic to illegal immigrants and support amnesty to one degree or another for all of them.
OP4| 6.14.12 @ 10:45PM
Count me as another non-fan of the Bush clan. I watched true conservative Pete DuPont destroy Bush in the '88 primary debates - but Bush rolled to an easy win.
Then... in 1989 Bush, along with Congress, set the worst precedent ever - They BAILED OUT an industry that wasn't even federally regulated! The massive bill for the S&L bailouts spiked the deficit and was just the excuse the Rino's and Democrats had been looking for the raise taxes.
Great American, lousy President.
Bob S| 6.15.12 @ 12:58AM
It's just not in the Bush DNA to stick to conservative principles. Bush 41 famously said, "Read my lips, no new taxes." What did he do? Violate his own no new taxes pledge. Bushes are incapable of keeping taxes low.
Lily| 6.15.12 @ 1:49AM
Both Bush presidencies exemplify the damage done by Republicans who fail to advance conservatism and defend against the remorseless socialist assault on our constitution and free-market economic system. Taking a so-called moderate stance throws away hard-won conservative power with both hands. In a real sense Rinos are working for the enemy. Every "kinder, gentler" Bush policy was socialist in nature and, as such, eroded the constitution just a little more, softening it up for the all-out attack of the Radical barbarians now rampaging through our government. The Democrats were right: George W. Bush was too stupid to understand anything other than the noblesse oblige conceit of his Eastern Elite class. May we please stop averting our eyes and tugging our caps in deference to the Bushes, aristocratic poseurs that they are. Jeb Bush does not have an inherited right hold any office. I must admit tht I view the "Bush legacy" with disdain for throwing away the unprecedented conservative gains bestowed upon them by the great Ronald Reagan.
jimdyl| 6.15.12 @ 2:29AM
Thanks Jeffrey. So erudite and accurate as usual. So thorough, so exhaustive. You are working hard for this country and I appreciate it. I just don't understand why these high powered republican politicians who are so able to mobilize thousands and millions of voters to come to them are so unable or unwilling to discriminate between right and wrong. I suppose that they will compromise in order to get to the table in the belief that there is no other way. Stephen Harper is doing this in Canada. However it is extremely risky as we have seen over the years, when one compromise leads to another, and one's values gradually are lost to the elite muddle.
FeFe| 6.15.12 @ 4:17AM
"The Times was careful to have Ford restate the point for emphasis:"
That smile has dimples. Thank you.
Alborn| 6.16.12 @ 9:18PM
Thank you for setting this record straight. Bush senior never really cared for Ronald Reagan.