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What Happened to 'Compassionate' Conservatives?
National Journal ^ | October 4, 2013 | By Jill Lawrence

Posted on 10/04/2013 5:12:51 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

There's an empty space in the Republican Party where compassionate conservatism used to be, and an opportunity for a presidential prospect to step into the breach.

The disappearance of that trademark George W. Bush brand from Washington has never been more apparent. The Republican House has gone from stalling immigration reform and cutting food stamps to precipitating a government shutdown by demanding the repeal of the health law that is the cornerstone of President Obama's legacy. The shutdown is threatening nutrition programs, cancer treatment, salaries, jobs, and much more.

It's one bad hand among several the GOP has dealt itself.

"We're not finished committing suicide here," said Republican strategist John Weaver, a veteran of the McCain and Huntsman campaigns. "We also have the opportunity to kill immigration reform, and the odds are that we will do that, just to make sure we're the angry-white-man party." He says the party may need a George McGovern-sized defeat with a candidate like Ted Cruz before it chooses another path.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; journalism; media; rino
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To: Uncle Miltie
“Compassionate Conservative” is redundant.

It's also condescending, defensive, and happy-prattle double-speak for "Republican willing to spend taxpayer monies on 'compassionate' causes like food stamps and Head Start."

That "conservative" has zero compassion for me so I say to hell with him. In my book, a compassionate conservative is only the one who has compassion for my right to freedom from government tyranny!

21 posted on 10/04/2013 5:31:07 PM PDT by Finny (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. -- Psalm 119:105)
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To: LibLieSlayer

LOL. I wish there was a like button.


22 posted on 10/04/2013 5:32:35 PM PDT by stilloftyhenight (TEA baby! Let's roll!)
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To: Snake65

Yep. Now they miss Bush? Weird.


23 posted on 10/04/2013 5:34:05 PM PDT by Henry Hnyellar
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Another buggy whip idea manufactured by Democrat, misogynist, Conservative woman hater, and loser Tokyo Rove.


24 posted on 10/04/2013 5:35:16 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Roberts has perverted the Constitution)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Compassionate Conservatives came from W, forcing conservatives into a corner.

Conservatives are compassionate toward everything the constitution allows for.

And that means being compassionate for the innocent children of today being strapped with Obama’s debt.


25 posted on 10/04/2013 5:39:24 PM PDT by stanne
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

You mean “Conservatives” that are “Compassionate” with other peoples’ money.


26 posted on 10/04/2013 5:42:08 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Conservatives are by far more compassionate.

The difference is that the giving and helping is done privately, by the individual.

Compassionate conservatism, if it means the government confiscating money from one group to give to another, is just another term for socialism.


27 posted on 10/04/2013 5:55:55 PM PDT by JudyinCanada
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Now that you mention it ‘John Weaver’, killing immigration reform IS on the list.

It’s really chilling to know that aholes like this have been running things for decades, and getting away with it.

So damn thankful that masks are all falling away, expose each and every one of these frauds!


28 posted on 10/04/2013 5:56:39 PM PDT by AllAmericanGirl44 ('Hey citizen, what's in YOUR closet?')
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Jill you ignorant liberal slut.

Don't you just love it when liberal douchebags like Jill here write opinion pieces that are supposed to make conservatives better people and more electable?

As if there is a single conservative out there today who would embrace the tainted "compassionate conservative" appellation.

29 posted on 10/04/2013 5:56:55 PM PDT by rlmorel ("A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral." A. Hamilton)
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To: rlmorel
B T T T ! ! ! ©

30 posted on 10/04/2013 5:57:51 PM PDT by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
There's an empty space in the Republican Party where compassionate conservatism used to be, and an opportunity for a presidential prospect to step into the breach.

Jill, there's an empty space in your skull, and nothing is willing to fill it.

31 posted on 10/04/2013 6:02:16 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault (Dick Obama is more inexperienced now than he was before he was elected.)
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To: onyx; conservatism_IS_compassion

But there are still gullible dummies out there who might say...”Why can’t we be compassionate, like she says?”

Sigh.

The Freeper with the name “Conservatism_Is_Compassion” had it right.


32 posted on 10/04/2013 6:03:30 PM PDT by rlmorel ("A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral." A. Hamilton)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
There's an empty space in the Republican Party where compassionate conservatism used to be, and an opportunity for a presidential prospect to step into the breach.

This is an unsupported assertion. The words "compassionate conservative" were stolen from Mike Savage without proper accreditation, and without actual implementation. Bush justified mindless spending on liberal failed policies.

Compassionate conservatism lives today through the "Tea Party."

The Tea Party members believe in fiscal responsibility, common sense legislation, the love of God and country, and the sanctity of life.

33 posted on 10/04/2013 6:07:13 PM PDT by olezip (Time obliterates the fictions of opinion and confirms the decisions of nature. ~ Cicero)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The compassionate conservatives agreed that Americans have a right to own a home. That worked out well...

How compassionate was it to drive millions of marginally qualified people into homes they could not in reality afford? Leaving them more impoverished than they were before the “nudging” by the compassionate government.


34 posted on 10/04/2013 6:09:40 PM PDT by listenhillary (Courts, law enforcement, roads and national defense should be the extent of government)
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To: linton59
Sadly, I almost envy friends with no children or grandchildren. I have little hope.

AU CONTRAIRE; Heroes only appear in time of great need. In normal times, they are just ordinary men.

Today, we are seeing the emergence of true American heroes.

Don't despair for your children and grandchildren. While we truly are living in desperate times, real men, the kind that built America, are begining to appear among us.

35 posted on 10/04/2013 6:20:49 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (Damn ObamaCare, full speed ahead!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Not an ounce of gravitas in this metrosexual twit.


36 posted on 10/04/2013 6:37:34 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I get the feeling that the next election will be a big purge of Ruling Class insiders all over the board.


37 posted on 10/04/2013 6:39:42 PM PDT by EricT. (Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. Big brother is watching you.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“There’s an empty space in the Republican Party where compassionate conservatism used to be, and an opportunity for a presidential prospect to step into the breach. “

What?! Is there a Stupidity shortage that we were not notified about?

Dubya the Idiot Son wrecked California with his preference for illegal aliens over the citizens of the United States- I guess ‘Jill Lawrence’ thinks we need one more liberal Republican dunce in order to finish off the rest of the country.


38 posted on 10/04/2013 6:45:35 PM PDT by Pelham (Deportation is the law. When it's not enforced you get California)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Unless I have lost my mind—I believe the first ne to use the term “a gentler more compassionate conservatism” was HW Bush in his nomination acceptance speech. I remember the media commenting that it was a slam at President Reagan.


39 posted on 10/04/2013 6:47:15 PM PDT by RightLady
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To: RightLady

“I believe the first ne to use the term “a gentler more compassionate conservatism” was HW Bush in his nomination acceptance speech. I remember the media commenting that it was a slam at President Reagan.”

You are correct on both points. It was our first official notice of just how bad a Bush Presidency was going to be.


40 posted on 10/04/2013 7:14:36 PM PDT by Pelham (Deportation is the law. When it's not enforced you get California)
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