AMERICA AT THE CROSSROADS OF HISTORY
A PETITION ON FACEBOOK FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RESTORATION
Posted on 08/30/2009 6:50:33 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
I got an e-mail from a prominent Republican asking why I am so anti-Republican these days. Since many of my friends ask the same thing I thought I would share my reply:
I think the party got seriously on the wrong track during the George W. Bush years, as I explained in my Impostor book. In my opinion, it no longer bears any resemblance to the party of Ronald Reagan. I still consider myself to be a Reaganite. But I don’t see any others anywhere in the GOP these days, which is why I consider myself to be an independent. Mindless partisanship has replaced principled conservatism. What passes for principle in the party these days is “what can we do to screw the Democrats today.” How else can you explain things like that insane op-ed Michael Steele had in the Washington Post on Monday?
I am not alone. When I talk to old timers from the Reagan years, many express the same concerns I have. But they all work for Republican-oriented think tanks like AEI and Hoover and don’t wish to be fired like I was from NCPA . Or they just don’t want to be bothered or lose friends. As a free agent I am able to say what they can’t or won’t say publicly.
I think the Republican Party is in the same boat the Democrats were in in the early eighties — dominated by extremists unable to see how badly their party was alienating moderates and independents. The party’s adults formed the Democratic Leadership Council to push the party back to the center and it was very successful. But there is no group like that for Republicans. That has left lunatics like Glenn Beck as the party’s de facto leaders. As long as that remains the case, I want nothing to do with the GOP.
I will know that the party is on the path to recovery when someone in a position of influence reaches out to former Republicans like me. We are the most likely group among independents to vote Republican. But I see no effort to do so. All I see is pandering to the party’s crazies like the birthers . In the short run that may be enough to pick up a few congressional seats next year, but I see no way a Republican can retake the White House for the foreseeable future. Both CBO and OMB are predicting better than 4% real growth in 2011 and 2012. If those numbers are even remotely correct Obama will have it in the bag. Also, Republicans have to find a way to win some minority votes because it is not viable as a whites-only party in presidential elections. That’s why I wrote my "Wrong on Race" book, which no one read.
So, he voted for OBUMMER?
McCain wasn’t middle of the road enough for him?
Yawn
He has just lived in the bubble too long.
Beck isn't a Republican.
KMEFWA, ya RINO POS. Those “extemists” are the center.
Bartlett contends that he remains a Reaganite.
Then he goes all squishy and condemns the very people are Reaganites.
Bartlett strikes me as a very confused man. But this might explain it...
...don’t wish to be fired like I was from NCPA .
Idiots like this rarely give any definitive issue or stance that they stand against. They just moan that they aren’t included and call themselves moderates.
Really, what does this guy care about “birthers” for? If he’s at all interested in a party that reaches out to him, how would one even go about reaching to someone regarding the place of Barack Obama’s birth?
It’s time this guy grew up and started approaching things from a practical take on life. Parties have philosophies. Exactly what is the philosophical stance that bothers him. If he can’t name it, he’s uselessly awash in a sea of meaninglessness.
Mr. Bartlett is no doubt a victim of Palin Derangement Syndrome as well. He will still be stumbling and bumbling about "the extremists" who have taken over his party, when BamBam's death panels are filing his manila folder in the Closed Case drawer.
Why doesn’t the Republican party just disband?
Does this guy remember that the Dems controlled Congress under Reagan?
Mr. Bartlett does not say what policies and principles the Republican party should support to "reach out" to him. Does he have anything positive to contribute?
As far as I am concerned, his commit about Glen Beck didn't help his cause either.
Says it all I think. What a maroon. I think that the Obama administration will/has set race relations back 20 years and I don't think thing will be at all good for the country.
Actually, Bruce, there aready are groups like that. The problem isn’t that they don’t exist. The problem is that they suck at doing what you want them to do. I say this not out of malice, simply as a technically correct description of their performance.
This guy sounds like those “life-long Republicans” that call Rush and talk about how they voted for 0. Sounds like a member of the McCain-Powell wing of the party.
This guys kind of republican ran the last time and we see just how well that turned out.Independent my ass.Hows that hopey changy thingy workin for ya?
There must be another czar opening, he sure sounds like he is auditioning for the part.
I agree, but the purge of Reaganism out of the party started with GHWB.
Hey Bruce, nice to hear your two cents worth. Now go crawl back in your hole for 20 more years.
Reagan would be ashamed of Mr. Bartlett.
he was pretty good. I’ve seen some of his stuff from the NCPA
Who knows maybe he’s more comfortable with Holder, Obmaa, ACORN, and the ACLU. If he is, he needs to move on over to them.
The Democrats were forced to move a little to the center in the 80's because the were perceived as too liberal, while the Republicans had built a successful center-right coalition.
Now, the Republicans occupy a space a little further to the left than before, while the Democrats have gone hard-left. So, Bartlett's helpful suggestion is for the GOP to move a little more to the left?
I call BS on two counts. One, because his analysis fails to properly identify the current political center of gravity in America, which is still center-right, and two, because I believe his real objection is to the war on terror and the influence of Israel on our foreign policy. He has written a scathing book about the "neo-cons" that all but screams: "It was the Joooos!!!!". Just my opinion.
at least mccain voted for himself even though Palin was on the ticket. :)
“The party’s adults formed the Democratic Leadership Council to push the party back to the center and it was very successful. “
The center of what, Stalingrad?
He has written a scathing book about the “neo-cons” that all but screams: “It was the Joooos!!!!”. Just my opinion.
ahhh that’s why
What a complete idiot.....I guess he voted for Hugo, er I mean zerObambi....
When I first started reading the article, I figured it was about how he hated the GOP because it had become too liberal and militaristic. Instead, it’s because the GOP is too conservative? Isn’t that a bit like grabbing some raw ground chuck and complaining that it’s overcooked?
Yes, it’s funny how he says that in the 80s the democrats were “out of touch”, when in fact they kept winning elections until 1994.
He also believes that the entire 2012 presidential election will be based on the GNP for the year. If that was really the case, he’d be saying that we can only win the White House if we destroy the economy until after the election.
We went to the middle of the road with McCain, remember - and look what that got us. What would have WON the election would have been a candidate who did exactly what Reagan did in 1980 and 1984 - espouse Conservative values and the greatness of American ideals. McCain did none of that. Why? Because he wanted to present himself as a ‘middle-of-the-road’ candidate, that's why.
This idiot calling himself a Reaganite is an embarrassment.
I agree, this irrational Jew/Israel hating has left these men very confused.
The “stability” crowd is not to stable these days.
They also moved to the right after the 1994 mid-terms, and the 2006 Dems ran as center-rightists. Even Obama talked about tax cuts and stopping earmarks. I just find it laughable when pundits say conservatism is finished, yet you see Democrats run as conservatives to win elections, and then you have Bartlett (and Powell etc) bloviate that Republicans are losing independents and moderates precisely because of the "hard right" (i.e. conservatism).
"In many ways, the war in Iraq is looking more and more like the last days of the Vietnam War. It is becoming increasingly clear that the situation is hopeless and the administration’s strategy is incapable of achieving victory. Yet the president insists that additional resources can still turn the situation around. Although he has little credibility left, many continue to support him in some vain hope that the sacrifices of our soldiers can somehow be vindicated and given meaning."
How's that crystal ball working for you now, Bruce?
>> What a dolt... and to think he worked with President Reagan? Good heavens he is a kool aid drinker or a closet liberal.
I wonder if he’s dating Peggy Noonan? She’s on the same, er, koolaid (or whatever it is they drink or smoke).
http://ncpa.org/
National Center for Policy Analysis
Has this man ever been part of a winning campaign? It is difficult to believe that he did anything other than work for someone already in office. Yet his piece seems to be all about him, as if by catering to him a candidate could win an election. I wonder if he could come up with some example of how calling Glenn Beck a nut has won an elction for someone?
Who knows? Maybe he also voted for 0 due to some weird tradition, or something. I wouldn’t put it past him.
When someone is this disconnected from reality there is no talking to them.
yeah he probably DID vote for Obama and is probably fighting off his feelings of “how could you do such a stupid stupid thing? Look at obamacare!” that many independents are feeling now.
Bashes “birthers” when they should be called “truthers”.
He's mad because Americans want the POTUS to abide by the Constitution and not what his puppets, the MSM says.
All-in-all I can state that this guy still doesn't get it.
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