Posted on 08/22/2004 10:29:33 AM PDT by sinkspur
Patrick Buchanan, the conservative commentator whose Republican primary challenge and divisive convention speech weakened the first President Bush's campaign for re-election in 1992, is publishing a book excoriating the second President Bush over the invasion of Iraq, just in time to grab a share of the limelight at another Republican convention.
In Where the Right Went Wrong, released late last week, Buchanan calls the invasion of Iraq "the greatest strategic blunder in 40 years, a mistake more costly than Vietnam. If prudence is the mark of a conservative, Mr. Bush has ceased to be a conservative," Buchanan wrote. The release of the book, which coincides with the Republican National Convention, gives Buchanan occasion to lay out his case on television and in book promotions just as the Bush campaign seeks to project an image of unity, reviving unhappy memories of the disruptive role Buchanan has played in the past.
"He has a following in conservative circles," said Paul Weyrich, a veteran conservative organizer. "It is not what it once was just because the religious right is not particularly enamored with him. But it is going to have an effect. In a very close election, criticism from anybody who is credible is going to have an effect."
In an interview, however, Buchanan said publishing a book during the campaign was the best way he knew to inject what he considers important ideas into the debate. "The reason I wanted it out now is, it addresses big issues that are not being addressed in this campaign: the massive and growing deficit, the disintegration of the culture and a Wilsonian foreign policy that means war ad infinitum," he said.
As a reasonable response to reparations? yes
I still think it is a bad tactic on Keyes part, perhaps partly motivated by the fact that he has been hounded by the IRS in the past.
But then again, how can you blame anyone from trying to get out of our penal tax code, which is already so complicated and unfair that it is hard to call any modification of it unfair, so full of inequity both on principle and in practice. A tax on what you spend is far more fair. Every man should be able to decide how to dispose of the first fruits of his labor.
One more time, the anti-semite tries to take down a Republican president.What a self-serving a-hole!
Predictable. Why is it everyone who refuses to bend over and grab their ankles for the GOP is considered an anti-Semitic, self-serving a-hole?
Not everyone. But Buchanan's anti-Jewish bias goes back twenty-five years.
A smoked herring...kind of like buchanan's last presidental effort.
But Pat's book release opposing the war in Iraq doesn't help reelecting the President.
I didn't realize that freedom of the press was supposed to be used to reelect presidents. What a bad citizen Pat must be for putting his greed over the good of the state.
OK, whatever. I'll leave this thread to just the people who agree with each other. Political discourse is no fun when you have to justify one's positions.
Bad citizen? Naw, just a greedy, bitter pompous old arse with a political grudge. Beyond that he couldn't care less about America.
My friend I wasn't talking about you, the troll is the other character who runs around here calling everyone names and questioning their motives because they dare to suggest the rule of law be upheld.
From all the 'intelligently' formed responses here, it seems many have had a chance to read Pat's book and make an informed decision.... Can't say I agree with Pat on everything but he makes a point and one that needs to be heard.
There isn't time to read anything critics have to say, much less try to understand it and formulate an intelligent response. It's an election year, which means members of the collective instinctively band together to defend the hive.
yes, but tax reprieve is an incentive to earn more. The biggest problem with the present code is that it penalizes you for earning more.
Keyes reiterated that an income tax holiday for blacks would be a good idea.
I actually think it may be a bit flippant on Keyes part; I find it kind of funny and not an altogether unfair proposal. Like I said it may be a bad tack and seems to be backfiring. Then again I really don't think Keyes has a chance. I just hope he gets a little more exposure. On his main issues, abortion, marriage, judicial usurpation and the income tax, he is absolutely right. These are the issues (besides the war on which Kerry is sunk). He is also about the only politician I have seen that speaks from principle. Some try (like Bush), most just talk about "values" which are quite subjective (the term itself is a bit subversive) and most of those don't even define them, like Kerry at the dem convention, "I have faith, I value family" etc. -- words without meaning. Most don't even know what principles are . . . it sure has taken me a long time to understand them.
And I'm sure that Kerry is appreciative of buchanan's contribution to the liberal hive defense.
PJB was a featured guest here on the FR a few year back, you should watch you mouth.
pjb was also a featured guest of Al Sharpton. Sharpton didn't buy his BS either.
Pat Buchanan has been irrelevant for decades.
Who is the publisher who is putting out this worthless trash? I hope that I don't own their stock.
I think it might be Brown Shirt Press.
Who is the publisher who is putting out this worthless trash? I hope that I don't own their stock.
The publisher is Thomas Dunne Books. Maybe we could all boycott their books and feel like good little patriots for doing our part for the state.
Boycott? Why on earth for. There are far more realistic reasons why not to buy buchanan's book besides giving money to the blowhard. First and foremost, real toilet paper is far cheaper, softer and more functional then buchanan's written word. I think it might have something to do with the fact that the pages of his screed are already so well laden with crap.
Do you truly wish to live in a country where there are radical changes with every Presidential election?
If so, I would suggest Venezuela, or maybe Peru, because that's not what this country is all about.
Change must come about in an orderly, steadfast fashion, and to hold on to the idea that each change in the Presidency could impact our society to the extent that you wish to see it change, is equivalent to desiring a dictatorship.
The idea is to achieve the changes you wish to see happen, in an orderly fashion, with long-term plans.
The fact that your life, and mine for that matter, is truly not so very different under George W. Bush as it was under Bill Clinton, is not an indication of similar styles or ideologies shared between the two Presidents, but rather a testament to the genius of the Founders, and the system of government they created.
Oh...so you've already read it then?
Why waste time reading what buchanan has to say? He hasn't had a new thought in years. The only practical use I've found for either of his last two books was that the dust covers made very fine urinal liners.
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