by the Left Coast Rebel
This from New Majority this evening -
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush pushed for the Republican Party to transform itself into a party of “21st century reformers” in a speech to students last night at George Washington University.
Bush criticized Republicans for giving the impression that the GOP is the “party of no.” He told the group that Republicans are often “too nostalgic” and that the party needs to be more “forward looking” in order to regain national success. Bush reminded the audience that voter demographics are changing and called for the party to become more “youthful” and to abandon their image as “the old white guy party.” “Tone matters,” Bush said, “in twenty or so years our country will have a minority majority.”
The former governor went on to say that the GOP must be the “limited but effective government party,” and stressed, there is no such thing as “big government conservatism.” Bush pointed to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels as an accomplished fiscally responsible politician, and urged Republicans to follow his example.
I'm sure that you are guessing my response of Jeb Bush here. First thing, the name. Bush. The denigration and destruction of limited government conservatism - Bush.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, so they say.
How about the points that I highlighted in bold?
- Party of No and nostalgia - 'No' is just fine if the alternative is socialism, fascism and statism. Sometimes a principled stand and a simple 'no' is the the line in the sand and the only solution.
- Old White Guy party and minority majority - Huh? NYT talking points? Really? This has nothing to do with race. The GOP is in shambles precisely because they abandoned conservative principles years ago. Why is GOP party-affiliation 19% of the public at a time when conservative identification in the country is at a high?
- No such thing as big-government conservatism - Of course there isn't. And of course RINOs always say this and then do the precise opposite. Compassionate conservatism anyone? Refer to my 2nd bullet-point here. This is simple, the party needs new blood. Guys like Doug Hoffman in NY-23. Right?
Via Memeorandum
Via New Majority
I am tired of Jeb Bush already. The nostalgia line is meant for people to stop talking about Reagan.
ReplyDeleteBut it is not just a bad joke but a farce for a Bush, any Bush, to lecture anyone about limited government. For my money, the Bush has done as much to destroy the cause of limited government as any New Deal or Great Society Democrat.
I'm working on a piece about Marco Rubio, the senate candidate in Florida. In a National Review Online interview he counts Jeb as one of his political mentors. Red flag!
I think that he's right in the sense that there is a perception of "Old White Guys" being the face of the GOP. That needs to change. Its why I'm moving toward supporting Peter Schiff over Rob Simmons to oust Old White Guy DEMOCRAT Chrissie Dodd here in CT.
ReplyDeleteThough I think Simmons would make a fine Senator, I like Peter Schiff's energy and relative youthfulness. To compete going forward, the GOP has to be a Big Tent party ethnically and on social issues, but as regards its core beliefs on espousing and implementing limited government and on fiscal conservatives the GOP needs to be absolutely unrelenting.
You're right, the ACORN doesn't fall far from the tree. [wink] Recently found this article you'll probably also find enlightening: The Saints of Socialism and the Religion of Radicalism: http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/16048#
ReplyDeleteStay strong my friend! Keep putting their feet to the fire. :)
I am a little torn on this. One on hand, you are correct that the republicans are to blame for walking away on small government and fiscal responsibility issues.
ReplyDeleteThe other side to it is that in order to succeed the party must grow and become more accessible to minorities. There is a myth that people of color are not welcome in the party. The media and the DNC feed that myth.
What they really need to do is to explain why limited government is important and necessary for us to keep growing the economy.
There are plenty of people that think they are not rich enough to be a republican/conservative. That perception must be dealt with. When I was working last fall to stave off the Obamanation, I heard this over and over again. People believe that conservatives only care about the rich. It simply isn't the case, or we wouldn't push for school vouchers in poorer urban areas. We want to see the poor get a good education so they better their lives.
I think that is part of the reason that they have started using the term compassionate.
RINOs also have this model of governing their state more conservatively, and then going left as they get into national politics. Jeb seems to be one of those types. He was great in Florida, especially during the 04 and 05 hurricane barrage. 04 was the worst, with 2 really bad ones in 2 different parts of the state, and the most populous part of the state got 2 not as bad ones in a month. Florida is not exactly a small state so resources had to be split up to cover many areas and Jeb did a good job. However since he left the governorship, he has made many comments about moving the Republican party to the left, so again, the apple didn't really fall far from the tree did it? After Bush 41, and Bush 43, we better make sure that this Bush is Bush 40-nothing. Will we really ned a President that slowly drifts the country leftward after Obama (if there is such a thing?)
ReplyDeleteYeah. The fire department needs to quit being the department of "no" too. They need to learn to work with fires not just put them out like a bunch of dirty old honkies.
ReplyDeleteThis country is going to continue to be the worst place on earth until we do the right thing and get rid of all these filthy white people. Down with whitey...and old people too. The younger you are, the more valid your opinion. Thats why my accountant is 12 years old.
@ Carl - It is a farce and a joke, obvioulsy many in the GOP don't get it STILL.
ReplyDelete@ Libertarian Adv - I like Schiff as well, I wonder if he has a good shot?
@ Sparky - Love that article, thanks for the link :).
@ Justaconsgirl - The phony labels will always be there. We should all do what Reagan did and 'talk over' the press and Dems, that is why he was so effective....
@ Andrew - Totally correct, we need a TRUE conservative! The country is dying for one....
@ CCoffer - Indeed.