Posted on 07/06/2009 6:59:32 PM PDT by RED SOUTH
(Washington, D.C., July 6, 2009) -- As I traveled throughout the U.S. on my recent book tour, I kept running into people who would ask me, "Where is Steve Forbes? The economy is melting down. We need his economic expertise right now."
I couldn't agree more. Steve's message in the 1990s of free market ways to create hope, growth and opportunity at home and abroad may have seemed too bold to the GOP establishment at the time. But it's desperately needed today. His plan to scrap the corrupting federal tax code - "We need to take the tax code and kill it, drive a stake through it's heart, bury it, and hope it never rises again to terrorize the American people" - and replace it with a simple flat tax that's a real tax cut for American families and businesses is the right prescription for the the mess we're now in.
Steve was passionate about eliminating wasteful government spending, and eliminating pork barrel earmarks and ridiculous corporate welfare schemes. He had serious plans to advance market-based health care reforms where individuals and families get to choose their doctors, and market-based education reforms so that parents could choose the right schools for their children. In foreign policy, Steve was a strong proponent of missile defenses, and recognized the threat Russia and Iran were becoming before many others in Washington did.
The problem is that few in Washington today seem to believe in such bold, dynamic reforms, or have the courage to advance them. I certainly don't hear any of the potential 2012 presidential candidates proposing such sweeping reforms to counter the President's plan to rack up another $10 trillion in debt and socialize much of the American economy, notably the health care sector.
As troubling, few are demonstrating Steve's understanding of global trends and threats or insisting on missile defenses or a tougher stance towards Russia and Iran. Indeed, the biggest news the GOP makes these days are by politicians who have marital affairs and should resign but don't, and successful governors who shouldn't resign but do. What's wrong with these people and this party?
Finally off the road from my book tour, I finally called Steve last week to catch up. The good news: he hasn't disappeared. To the contrary, he's spent the last few months working on a fabulous new book, Power, Ambition and Glory: The Stunning Parallels Between Great Leaders of the Ancient World and Today . . . and the Lessons You Can Learn.
Last month, Steve embarked on a national media tour. He's talking about the lessons we can learn from history's most effective and provocative leaders and how we can apply those lessons to the challenges we face today. This week, the book hit the New York Times hardcover non-fiction best-seller list at #30. I hope it climbs much higher.
Forbes also had ample opportunity to use his $$ to run for office in NJ to stop the ultraleft radicals and didn’t.
Looks are deceiving, especially with RINOs, which you seem to worship with enormous religious ferver.
You are in trouble! The person you were playing with along some others on that one thread “Go Mitt” got banned and is blaming all of you. Looks you had a scorching free mail from the accounts on the thread by Jim. :)
Agree totally, but as the old saying goes, in order to sell anything you have to sell yourself first, and unfortunately although I like Forbes's views, he is just, well, a rather flat personality. Don't mean to be cruel, but IMO he isn't electable.
The way Forbes ran for President in 2000 was the model for Romney in 2008. Lie through your teeth. Tell people you’re a conservative. Tell people whatever you have to. Buy everyone who can be bought.
No, I like proven and successful people.
That’s who I follow and want to lead us.
Steve Forbes was my choice in 2000 too. I will vote for charisma but it has to be backed with strong conservative principles. To select a candidate solely on the fact they can win is stupid.
Goodness gracious, the Slick Willardbots have real potty mouths, don’t they ? Did you see the FReepmail ? It was a doozy.
You don’t know Steve Forbes.
Forbes didn’t even register on my radar in ‘00. He was amusing in ‘96, but he needed political experience. As for Slick Willard, he was dangerous right out of the chute. Forbes was nowhere near his calibre of sheer destructiveness.
Then why are you backing Slick Willard ?
Deceivers are dangerous no matter how you cut it.
No question.
I think it was made clear in 2008 that Duncan Hunter is not and will never be a viable candidate.
So please, move on.
Your post is amusing. This shows the problems for Republicans because to many people Huckabee is the only real conservative we've had running. I happen to agree with you but others look at me as having lost my mind when I allege that Huckabee is a pro-life liberal. He has the conservatives in Iowa fooled. I'm called a RINO for not wanting Huckabee.
We cannot afford to not remain united.
I just heard about it when I read the thread. His comments to Jim were bad enough.
"I raised taxes because children need roads."
No one in their right mind would vote for him based on that quote alone.
Forbes supported TARP and thus is disqualifed. NEXT!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.