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Title: The GOP Is Finally Debating Bush-Era Failures
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URL Source: http://www.theamericanconservative. ... ly-debating-bush-era-failures/
Published: Feb 16, 2016
Author: DANIEL LARISON
Post Date: 2016-02-16 07:34:54 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 652
Comments: 36
David Frum comments on the Republican divisions exposed at Saturday’s debate (via Dreher): For a decade and a half, Republicans have stifled internal debates about the George W. Bush presidency. They have preserved a more or less common front, by the more or less agreed upon device of not looking backward, not talking candidly, and focusing all their accumulated anger on the figure of Obama. The Trump candidacy has smashed all those coping mechanisms. Everything that was suppressed has been exposed, everything that went unsaid is being shouted aloud— and all before a jeering live audience, as angry itself as any of the angry men on the platform. It’s not quite true that all of these things have gone unsaid for all this time. Dissenting Republicans and conservatives have been saying some version of them for the last fifteen years, and on some issues for much longer than that, but party and movement leaders weren’t interested in hearing any of it. On the contrary, they were determined to squelch internal debate and demonize those that made awkward and embarrassing criticisms of Bush and his allies from the right. The point is that there were plenty of opportunities in the last decade for the GOP and conservative movement to acknowledge the colossal errors of the Bush years and to try to learn from them, but their leaders were committed to making excuses and rationalizations for Bush-era failures long after Bush left office. Republicans told themselves that the electoral defeats in 2006 and 2008 were flukes or simply the result of “wasteful spending,” which naturally didn’t include the trillions being wasted in an unnecessary foreign war. The fantasy that the “surge” was a great success was another way to avoid thinking about how disastrous and costly the war had been. Many Republicans took for granted that Bush had “won” the war by the end of his presidency, which was even more absurd but extremely convenient for the war’s supporters. Midterm victories in 2010 and 2014 helped the party to avoid reckoning with the toxic Bush legacy a little longer. The last two presidential nominees were either identified closely with major parts of Bush’s agenda or had no substantial disagreements with most of it. Each time the GOP could have repudiated Bush, it mostly chose to reaffirm support for him and what he had done. That they chose to do this year after year is all the more bizarre when one remembers that Bush left office with one of the lowest approval ratings of all time. The more that the country rejected Bush, the more desperately party and movement leaders clung to him and ensured that his toxicity would continue to poison the party for many more years. In his own hapless way, Jeb Bush forced the issue by running for president. He made all of his brother’s failures fair game for criticism from the other candidates when he insisted on defending his brother’s record. Because Jeb Bush has been one of the more vocal opponents of Trump, he encouraged Trump to become the most vocally anti-Bush Republican in the field. The Bush dynasty is fortunately coming to an end, but not before one of its members unwittingly created the opening for Republicans to have the debate about the disastrous Bush administration that they have avoided having for ten years.
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#1. To: Ada (#0)
Could we discuss more recent and current failures?
Like Jeb's campaign?
Bush campaign has been an embarrassment from day one. He has not the grace to withdraw.
Like Hillary he was the anointed one at one point.
And then he opened his mouth. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
Bush hanging in there makes one wonder if perhaps there is not an agreed method of derailing Trump??? With Trump gone, Cruz and the rest could be brushed aside.
Absolutely plausible; just like Scalia was derailed, and it seems that nothing at all will be done to investigate his demise.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
It'll be Bush vs Clinton, possibly Sanders. Watch and learn.
If Trump does not have an "accident" and fall off a cliff, it is going to be difficult to derail him. I have no idea how, but knowing rotten American politics, the Bush branch of government will find a way.
David Frum; Jew traitor.
"Have Brain, Will Travel
He might have all right if he hadn't started defending the family.
First, they have to get the wetbacks to drop out.
The establishment would have no problem in brushing them off. Rubio is dangerous. A pre-programmed robot. Bush could make Cruz second banana, put him in the back room.
Would insure his safety. Nobody would pop off Jeb if Cruz were to succeed hi.
Backroom politics... Do you recall how and why Alben Barkley became VP???
Tell.
In relation to "normal" conservative and amerikan (or is it human?) behavior, this is 15 to 30 years ahead of schedule. Will someone clue them that the script says not to do any post-mortems on the demigods until nobody cares anymore and the guilty are -- preferably, by this scheme -- counting worms. -----------------------------------------------
If Larison is right, the post-mortem was hastened by Jeb. Perhaps I am being optimistic, but it may be one of many accelerated post mortems.
Everything's hours away from starving to death, it's just a matter of how many.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
Dirty backroom politics, all so called "parties". In 1944, the backroom boys knew FDR was a dying man as did the media but it was kept from the public. A VP was needed and Barkley wanted it. The boys said he was too olde and shoved him aside. There was a decision made to run an unknown that could be shucked aside when FDR died. No one ever heard of Truman. FDR departed after three months, Truman became his own man and ended the war. In 1948 a patsy was needed for VP and the too olde Barkley was picked. Neither Truman nor Barkley was ever wanted by the backroom.
Thanks for the rest of the story.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
Lod... Go internet Fox news headline. This is one step closer to war.
What a profound observation! And if you think about it, if you've got 20 years left, that's 175,200 hours. Make every one count, huh. "Rotate your tires"....... www.youtube.com/watch? v=D1NAwlepnSs "In the midst of life we are in death" :-(
And started another one but this time without Congressional authorization. Set a precedent.
"Police action and I won an all expense paid tour for four years".
I worked with a guy on the State of Illinois that was a Korean War veteran. He was Jewish, but that shouldn't mean anything in particular. One time he said of me, "Yeah, that Tex, he's a real starker." Starker is tough guy in yiddish. LOL "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
I lost lot of friends in that war.
Truman was a bloodthirsty demon bastard. I hate his dust as it's falling off his hateful bones.
I heard that Henry Kissinger is alive at 87. Wonder when he will deep six it. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Deepest sympathies, and that is how it goes. We lose and lose more. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
When you attend funeral services for a dozen at a time, one becomes a cynic.
Would anyone here care to comment on the question "are funerals for the living or the dead?" It's a question that I've long thought about, without a satisfying answer. Thanks if you do, and I understand if you don't, lod
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
Hence, your screen moniker. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
For the living... Personally, mine will be a non event for anyone, no service of any kind, period.
Cynic at a very young age in the military, got worse with age.
Whenever I go, a medical school will collect my earthly hull, take it do with it what they will and then burn it. If there is a service, it will be because my family wishes it; a brass plaque will be in the ground in a rural Texas graveyard with those who've gone before me. By Mary Elizabeth Frye Do Not Stand By My Grave And Weep Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die. Amen “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#2. To: Cynicom (#1)
(Edited)
Could we discuss more recent and current failures?
#3. To: Ada (#2)
#4. To: Cynicom (#3)
#5. To: Ada (#4)
Like Hillary he was the anointed one at one point.
#6. To: Ada (#4)
#7. To: Cynicom (#6)
#8. To: Cynicom (#6)
Bush hanging in there makes one wonder if perhaps there is not an agreed method of derailing Trump???
#9. To: Fred Mertz, Lod (#8)
It'll be Bush vs Clinton, possibly Sanders. Watch and learn.
#10. To: Cynicom (#1)
#11. To: Lod (#5)
And then he opened his mouth.
#12. To: Cynicom (#6)
Bush hanging in there makes one wonder if perhaps there is not an agreed method of derailing Trump???
#13. To: Ada (#12)
First, they have to get the wetbacks to drop out.
#14. To: Cynicom (#13)
Bush could make Cruz second banana, put him in the back room.
#15. To: Ada (#14)
#16. To: Cynicom (#15)
Do you recall how and why Alben Barkley became VP???
#17. To: Ada (#0)
The GOP Is Finally Debating Bush-Era Failures
#18. To: NeoconsNailed (#17)
In relation to "normal" conservative and amerikan (or is it human?) behavior, this is 15 to 30 years ahead of schedule. Will someone clue them that the script says not to do any post-mortems on the demigods until nobody cares anymore and the guilty are -- preferably, by this scheme -- counting worms.
#19. To: NeoconsNailed (#17)
#20. To: Ada (#16)
#21. To: Cynicom (#20)
#22. To: Lod, All (#21)
#23. To: Lod (#19)
Everything's hours away from starving to death, it's just a matter of how many.
#24. To: Cynicom (#20)
Truman became his own man and ended the war.
#25. To: Ada (#24)
#26. To: Cynicom (#25)
all expense paid tour
#27. To: BTP Holdings (#26)
#28. To: Most (#25)
#29. To: NeoconsNailed (#17)
and the guilty are -- preferably, by this scheme -- counting worms.
#30. To: Cynicom (#27)
I lost lot of friends in that war.
#31. To: BTP Holdings (#30)
#32. To: Cynicom, 4 (#31)
(Edited)
#33. To: Cynicom (#31)
funeral services for a dozen at a time, one becomes a cynic.
#34. To: Lod (#32)
#35. To: BTP Holdings (#33)
Hence, your screen moniker. ;)
#36. To: Cynicom (#34)
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