Jesse Jackson: Buchanan Closer to Edwards Than Bush

MSNBC ^ | 2/19/04

[11th Earl of Mar]

Hardball with Chris Matthews Feb. 18, Wednesday

JACKSON: ... student activists and Pat Buchanan all support Edwards.

That itself is a broadening of the base.

MATTHEWS: Do you support Edwards?

BUCHANAN: I support Edwards‘ campaign, yes. I would like to see him do well. I would like to see him go forward with this issue. I would like to see him make it at the convention, because it‘s important for the country.

(CROSSTALK)

MATTHEWS: Reverend Jackson

(CROSSTALK)

JACKSON: And Pat Buchanan is closer ideologically to John Edwards than he is to George Bush. And that itself again is expanding the base.

MATTHEWS: Is that the case?

BUCHANAN: Well, if you get all—on the jobs issue, yes.

[Thorin]

Your post is entirely reasonable.

However, you are dealing with unreasonable people, people who are consumed with a childish hatred of Buchanan because he doesn't worship the same golden calf they do, the dimwitted current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[George W. Bush]

Well, I'm not that fond of Buchanan though I did once support him.

I do still believe in many of the things he talked about. The importance of balanced trade, containing debt growth, controlling borders and legal immigration, the downsides of NAFTA/GATT/WTO, the threat posed by the U.N. to our sovereignty. I believed in those things before Buchanan and I still do.

I don't mind if people don't like him. But I won't sit still if lies are being spun simply because there is a ready audience for them. If people want to sneer at Buchanan, he has other failings. It's not like anyone needs to hide behind a lie to come out with arguable reasons why they don't like Buchanan.

Of course, for all the whining about PC crucifixions we hear around FR, you can readily see how certain GOP elements love to play the PC game just as much as any hard Lefty.

[GeronL]

what..what, what did I say? what did I say?? =o)

Buchanan wants his precious...

[GeronL]

Buchanan because he doesn't worship the same golden calf they do, the dimwitted current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

I am one of the FReepers who is very very critical of Bush, and I think Buchanan has gone down the wrong road... his protectionist idea's are ludicrous.

[11th Earl of Mar]

The only way he can hurt himself if he gets brutal on Kerry and hurts himself with the party or he runs so long that he starts to look ridiculous.

The reason many of us do not like Pat Buchanan is because HE got too brutal and HE ran so long [and so many times] that HE looked ridiculous.

He and his people ran a campaign of brutality and then complained when brutality was dished back at him.

[GeronL]

I think Right from the beginning was a great book, and I used to support Buchanan on most things. Protectionism is a non-starter.

[George W. Bush]

the dimwitted current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

I wanted to take issue with this separately.

Don't underestimate the man simply because he doesn't talk like a glib lawyer.

Most politicians just talk. But leaders act. Bush is, for better or worse, a leader. Not a talker.

The ability to parse words and deliver smooth lines does not measure a person's will to power and personal character and ability to make momentous decisions.

I think you underestimate this president. Many people have made that mistake and learned better. It's much like it was with Reagan who actually got the Europeans to think that he couldn't even write at that one G7 conference! Obviously, it's underhanded but it does work. The arrogance of his liberal enemies who always think themselves so wise and witty and the only intellectuals actually is Bush's best ally.

I'm not saying they play into Rove's master plan for manipulation exactly. But because they underestimate him and his staff and overestimate themselves, they always give him an advantage. Even his extremely poor and rather painful SOTUs and other speeches help him in this regard. You know, we don't even expect him to give a good speech. (Naturally, most FR denizens have a bit of tin ear and think his every sentence is like the Sermon On The Mount.)

You know, it must just drive the libmedia crazy to have to listen to him at a press conference or speech...

I have to admit that W.'s ability to irritate people I hate is something of a charming attribute.

[oceanview]

Yes, this is an important issue. But Edwards would do nothing on this. He voted for all the China free trade and MFN agreements. He is politically smart to be talking about it, I'll give him that, but he has zero credibility on it, and no real ideas.

Pat is filled with such hatred for Bush, I can't stomach him anymore. And he got Michael Savage pumped up with his "get out of Iraq" article, another guy who is getting on my nerves, I'll skip buying his book after tonight's show.

[George W. Bush]

I get your points on the trade issue. I wasn't actually looking to revive a debate over a former candidate.

I kind of feel sorry for him now, working on Chrissy Matthews show.

In retrospect, I'd say he was a good idea man in his day, working for key conservative campaigns all the way back to Goldwater and working for Reagan. But never holding office himself made him a poor candidate. The American voters generally don't consider the presidency an entry-level position. You can name a few exceptions to this like Ike but his experience in such a vast military organization was a sort of political experience.

More than anything, Ike was probably the last president who really was elected as a man of character and sober judgment.

Buchanan always was something of a radical conservative, boldly pushing new ideas that shocked the Rockefeller wing. Those ideas bore their most fruit in GOP policy circles during the Reagan years.

But a 'movement conservative' who has a habit of hollering "To the barricades, mes amis" may excite a certain amount of devoted support, much as Dean did this year. But the American voter is a little too cynical or perhaps wise to elect such a man.

I think Buchanan now regrets ever having left the GOP. But he can't go home again.

[11th Earl of Mar]

I cannot give Buchanan much credit for his work with Ronald Reagan, since Pat trashed Reagan [and Thatcher] in his columns.

But, his warnings to Edwards not to get too brutal or campaign too long and look foolish make me wonder if he indeed did learn some lessons from the way he campaigned.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

However, you are dealing with unreasonable people, people who are consumed with a childish hatred of Buchanan because he doesn't worship the same golden calf they do, the dimwitted current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Idiotic false premise.

One needn't like OR dislike GWB, in order to independently reach the considered conclusion that Pat Buchanan is a thick-witted Father Coughlin wannabe.

[af_vet_1981]

JACKSON: And Pat Buchanan is closer ideologically to John Edwards than he is to George Bush. And that itself again is expanding the base. MATTHEWS: Is that the case? BUCHANAN: Well, if you get all—on the jobs issue, yes.

I am so glad Pat Buchanan is no longer a Republican, so glad he and Lyndon LaRouche are Bush hating Democrats. Of course I wish they would both repent, but I'm glad they are not in our party.

[hchutch]

Always figured Buchanan was a RAT at heart...

[Destro]

Well, I'm fond of Buchanan though I did not support him.

I do still believe in many of the things he talked about. I just never thought he could do a good job as president without any experiance. He should have run against Rob's Virginia senate seat rather then North. He then would have been in position to run for president. Pat is a prophet like John the Baptist - he will be beheaded as we await The One.

[Destro]

I think Buchanan now regrets ever having left the GOP. But he can't go home again.

I am in the GOP but I no longer consider it home.

[TheEaglehasLanded]

John Edwards and Pat Buchanan are absolutely right on this issue. Free Trade is a good thing, but having our trade policy turned over the the UN Trade Organization WTO, GATT, and NAFTA.

This is the biggest mistake both parties have done to help Multi National, don't give a damn about America companies.

Comparative Advantage is a proper economic trade policy. But it does not exist unless both sides trading a free people.

Communist Dictatorships like China, Viet Nam, and Socialist Economies such as France, Canada, Mexico, and Germany are impossible to have free trade with, they don't allow the market to set prices, they fix them to their benefit.

[gatorbait]

I have to admit that W.'s ability to irritate people I hate is something of a charming attribute.

See, another great reelection reason. How goes it?

PJB is really in a most unhappy position here, I think. When Jesse Jackson compliments him,it must make his neck hairs tingle.That said, I stopped even tolerating PJB some years back,like 92. Well,he still is a voice to be reckoned with.

[George W. Bush]

Heh-heh...

[Constitution Day]

Indexing to Edwards Watch...