Jeb Bush, GOP: Time to leave Reagan behind ("nostalgia" for the heyday of the Reagan era)

The Washington Times ^ | 5/3/2009 | Joseph Curl

[EternalVigilance]

What other side?

The other leg of the socialist beast.

[mick]

Let all conservatives finally, once and for all , rid ourselves of these Bush serpents. If it was not for Ronald Reagan the whole cursed family would be nothing but blue blood losers. Time to echo the immortal words of Cromwell to little boy bush:

“You have sat for too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”

[muawiyah]

Someone who was there ~ quick ~ is that the writer putting words in Jeb's mouth about "message of hope and change" or did Jeb utter them?

That wasn't the "message" Obama was peddling. In fact, it looked more like "make me the first Negro President because it's historic and you'll feel good".

There was absolutely nothing else in the guy's campaign that was positive.

[kingu]

You can not out liberal a liberal, all you end up with is liberal lite - which just ticks off conservatives and liberals alike - since you don't go far enough for a liberal, and you go too far for a conservative.

If you take a stand, and you make it a very clear difference between the two parties, you set exact goals, and actually intend to implement them if you win, you do something which has been absent for some time - you make a difference between the parties and the candidates and offer the electorate a choice.

Jeb, if you're looking for a roadmap, might I point out attacking the vast amounts of money that is being spent, the huge tax raises that have already gone into effect, and the outright taking of private property by the federal government, destroying investments for private citizens and ensuring there is no chance of recovery for those companies?

[TomGuy]

and look forward, even if it means stealing the winning strategy deployed by Democrats

Translation:

If you can't beat them (in the arena of principles and ideas), become more like them.

The 'moderate' Republicans still don't get it. Becoming Dem-lite didn't work in 2006 and it didn't work in 2008. And it won't work in 2010 or 2012.

The problem is that the 'moderate' GOP has moved so far leftward that they have lost the reason for their existence. They might as well just join the Dems and become a caucus of the Dems. Heck, their standard-bearer for 2008 thought about jumping parties in 2000 and actually asked John Kerry to be the VP on his ticket.

Most of the policies the 'moderate' GOP are pushing are different only in minor degrees from what the Dems are pushing.

[StatenIsland]

It seems clear to me that a return to Reaganism WOULD represent hope and change - REAL hope and change.

[onevoter]

Let us not forget the the First George Bush lost the nomination to Ronald Reagon - not even close! Without Reagon, there would have been no Bush presidency at all because Daddy wasn’t anymore “Republican” than young George. Considering our choices (Gore and Kerry) Bush was easily the better of the pickings but now is the time to get back to the orginal Republican values. The Bush family, themselves, have largely been the downfall of the Republican party - Jeb is simply trying to divert our attention from the truth of the matter.

[snoringbear]

“It is definitely time to leave the Bushes behind. No more Bushes!”

I agree as I am Bushed out as well. However, I also can see Jeb’s point. It's kind of like down in Alabama; whenever the University of Alabama has as a bad season (didn't win the national championship) the alumni association would hold a seance at the Bear's grave to attempt his resurrection. The fact that the Bryant die hards would not let the Bear go so to speak, hurt their football program for many years. Hope the parable makes sense. I am not suggesting however that conservatives should give up their core principles and become liberals-light. Just need some new blood and new ideas on how to grow the base and market the product better.

[maggief]

[LSUfan]

Can the Bushes PLEASE go away already???

..their jealousy of the Reagan legacy is what contributed greatly to most of the failures of Bush 41 and 43. This kind of attitude is what Karl Rove fed off of and branded RINOism as Compassionate Conservatism. It may be time for something new, but all this talk of “leaving Reagan behind” is obnoxious because the Bushes themselves saw to it that Reagan was left behind by abandoning his principles while they were in office....

[NoPrisoners]

"...our ideas need to be forward looking and relevant."

Buzz words for liberalism, especially "relevant". Time to flush the Bushies.

[prismsinc]

What’s that Jeb? The Democrats don’t eat their own. YOU do. I don’t remember Reagan trying to destroy other members of the party.

To what am I referring to? Katherine Harris of course! She diligently did her job to give your brother the highest office in the land, and did you show any gratitude? NO! You tried to destroy her within the party. We remember Jeb.

[reg45]

We will leave Reagan behind when the ‘RATS leave Roosevelt and Kennedy behind.

[WaterBoard]

Notice how Americans are abandoning the "Republican" party and the number of "Independents" are shooting up?

These are disaffected Republicans abandoning a RINO party that lacks the guts to take on the media and the Messiah.

[SteamShovel]

Jeb Bush, GOP: Time to leave Reagan behind ("nostalgia" for the heyday of the Reagan era)

Hey Jeb.....

.....Reagan was RIGHT.

His message is timeless.

[jla]

Well, we know of one politician who has stated that not a day goes by that she doesn't think about Ronald Reagan. One politician who does not give lip service to Reagan just to sway voters. One politician who truly believes in and espouses the principles of not only Reagan, but Jefferson and Madison as well.

Sarah Palin will never abandon Ronald Reagan for political expediency. We cannot abandon Sarah Palin.

[Yudan]

Thanks for coming, Governor. Sorry it didn’t work out. Best of luck to you in your continued job search.

[kcar]

The tent called Liberty is so vast it could fit whoever in the whole world wanted to be in it. Why do these RINOs think we need them?

[Anti-Bubba182]

These guys are proving why the GOP lost. They have no clue. People don't want Democrat Lite_TM. Maybe they don't want Conservatism either, but a pale imitation of the Winners is simply insulting.

[Just mythoughts]

An so the ‘new’ Republican party is a one issue party, bury Reagan.