A not-so-mellow skeptic sees a GOP with no focus (Lyn Nofziger)

The Washington Times ^ | November 23, 2005 | Ralph Z. Hallow

[neverdem]

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The Washington Timeswww.washingtontimes.com

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A not-so-mellow skeptic sees a GOP with no focus

By Ralph Z. Hallow
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 23, 2005

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Lyn Nofziger, at 81, is almost who he was at 41 -- a plain-talking, slightly disheveled California skeptic. He's a newspaperman who became the plain-talking, slightly disheveled top aide to Ronald Reagan, from the Gipper's 1966 campaign for California governor through his first year in the White House 15 years later.

    With shirt collar still unbuttoned and tie still loosened, the goateed Mr. Nofziger has been lobbying for a living and, on the side, writing opinion columns and authoring Western novels.

    He has opinions aplenty, but they are not likely to be confused with Republican or conservative talking points. He is a Reaganite but not a Reagan worshipper, a Republican but not a party apologist, a conservative who thinks the word is largely meaningless.

    Of Mr. Reagan, he says: "Our problem is we are trying to make a saint out of a man who certainly wasn't perfect. But he was a unique president. He believed in three things: God, the American people and himself. And that's kind of unique."

    The Nofziger take on what's happened to Republicans in the post-Reagan era is not what anyone would expect from a Capitol Hill lobbyist, let alone one who was also the first political director in the Reagan White House and attended daily senior staff meetings with Mr. Reagan, Edwin Meese III, Judge William Clark, James A. Baker III, Martin Anderson, Richard Allen and other marquee names of the Reagan administration.

    "They've been in power too long," Mr. Nofziger says of Republicans.

[Dan from Michigan]

As a 1994 style conservative, I agree with most of this, especially this part.

It loses its focus. It forgets why it came there."

The same mistake democrats were making in the early 1990s - and thankfully for us, they have not learned. When they do, and if we don't, we are in BIG trouble.

[streetpreacher]

Good article.

[SteveMcKing]

"They've been in power too long," Mr. Nofziger says of Republicans.

No, in fact we are at a near-climax of failed liberalism, a state that began ~1992. The classic political model dictates a 10-year reign of true conservatism starting in about 4 years.

Who will lead that phase of the cycle is still a great mystery.

[Lancey Howard]

Mr. Baker was a friend of fellow Texan former President George Bush and was Mr. Reagan's first White House chief of staff and then served as Treasury secretary in the second Reagan administration. "He's a guy who's arrogant, who thought he knew better than the president," Mr. Nofziger says of Mr. Baker. "I don't think he's an honorable man. And you can quote me."

VERY interesting.

[Lancey Howard]

"I always assumed George W. would be a moderate Republican because his old man was a moderate Republican, and I'm not a moderate Republican." Did the younger Mr. Bush turn out to be something else? "Oh, he's more conservative than his father, " Mr. Nofziger says.

This is a terrifically informative piece, especially for people interested in the history of the Reagan years. I always liked Nofziger, and I am reminded why by reading this interview.

Nofziger points out that there were two parties among the senior staff in the Reagan White House. He refers to them as the "Reagan people" and the "Baker people". It is somewhat surprising to discover that there were a lot of moderates in the Reagan White House - - people like Michael Deaver.

[Reagan Man]

Lyn Nofziger was loyal to Ronald Reagan, the conservative agenda and the GOP. A lot of FReepers pooh-pooh Nofziger's political credentials. I say, when Lyn Nofziger speaks, people ought to listen. Like Reagan, Nofziger wasn't perfect, but sometimes he got it just right.

"To me, conservative means believing in a minimum amount of government and a maximum amount of freedom -- and keeping government out of people's lives and business -- and leaving people alone," Mr. Nofziger says. "I recognize you have to have national defense and have to finance the government. But government does not have to be the be-all and end-all."

[rcocean]

Nofzinger.

I always had mixed feelings about him. He never seemed to have a solid conservative philosophy. He was a press secretary - not a decision maker or deep thinker. I always thought he was more driven by ecentric,personal considerations.

He came up against Baker in the White House. And decided to quit rather than fight.

That he makes VAGUE statements against Baker doesn't suprise me.

[speedy]

Enjoyable, if all too short, article. Nofziger always struck me as intellectually honest and someone who could not have cared less what people thought about him. He obviously doesn't care what Baker thinks of him. He is always clear-headed, with a low BS content.

[bkepley]

It loses its focus. It forgets why it came there."

Possibly referring to the Abramoff scandal.

[bkepley]

I remember the liberals tooting Baker as a possible Republican presidential candidate. I said then that Republicans didn't trust Baker and with good reason. Not that he was a liberal; I don't know where he stands. He had a reputation for leaking to get rid of those he wanted out and the story is that when he tried that against Boyden Gray, Mr. Gray returned the favor and got Mr. Baker in a little hot water over conflict of interests. Anyway, I don' see anyone in the Republican party reaching out to Mr. Baker today.

[rdb3]

He has opinions aplenty, but they are not likely to be confused with Republican or conservative talking points. He is a Reaganite but not a Reagan worshipper, a Republican but not a party apologist, a conservative who thinks the word is largely meaningless.

I see that I'm not alone with that thought.

[rcocean]

I think Baker likes having power. And thats about it.

He was a Republican not a conservative. Gergen worked for him. There were too people like him around Reagan (Darman, Stockman, Deavers, Gergen, Speaks, etc.)

Reagan needed technocrats, but allowed to have too much power.

Of course, when BUSH I was elected these "pragmatists" ran the whole show into the ground.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

The following is the most important statement I have seen that applies to George Bush as well:

Mr. Nofziger says Mr. Reagan's greatest failure was "trusting people he should not have trusted. Ronald Reagan always thought if people worked for him, they would be loyal to him. But there were people who were more loyal to themselves than to Ronald Reagan."

George Bush is like this even more so than Ronald Reagan.

Bush should have advisers that are NOT "trusted friends" but those who believe in a common belief, common agenda, and a daily check is done to see that the advice given and actions taken mesh with the firm agenda and "business plan" agreed upon.

As it is, Bush "trusts" his friends, and when his friends drift left and weak, Bush's decisions drift left and weak.

In the corporate world, there are business plans and goals and objectives. Shareholders hold the Board and operational executives, the CFO, etc. responsible. "Friends" come and go in the corporate world, but normally, never come at all. Good CEOs know that "friends" can be dangerous. Better to have a great manager than a good friend. Most successful corporate executives would just as soon fire a "friend" as an enemy as the operating profit and growth of revenue trump everything else.

Conservatives should hope that Bush operates the same. Conservatives (like shareholders) should hold Bush responsible for national security, limited government, national sovereignty, freedom and fiscal sanity. All the other BS reasons should be trumped by these rigid objectives. "Friends" should be fired when one suggests Harriet Miers be nominated for SCOTUS, e.g., and that did not happen. Bush "trusted his friend" who suggested this and the "shareholders revolted". If Bush himself nominated Miers, then Bush failed his own philosophy and his advisers who let that happen should be fired. Same goes for open borders, fiscal lunacy, war tactics, and all the other failures to "stick to the business plan".

If government were run (by conservatives) like a great CEO runs his company, "friends" would be meaningless, and great leadership and national direction would have a real fighting chance of happening.

[em2vn]

Top aide or communications director, not a deep thinker? How did you arrive at press secretary? He was certainly one of the people who worked the closest with Governor Reagan and candidate as well as President Reagan.

[rcocean]

Its all relative. PR/Communication people aren't known for being deep thinkers. Being press secretary isn't like being Chief of Staff or the Attorney General.

I've heard and read NOfizinger over the years and couldn't tell you any issue where he stands. I think he's written books but nothing memorable.

[RichardW]

I like Nofsinger very much and respect his views. However, I seem to recall that Baker carried Bush43's water during the 2000 election debacle. I think he made a difference. On balance I think between being "honorable" and "pragmatic" may be a tie. Politics is a dirty business.

[Katya]

I like Nofziger, partly because his politics are more Libertarian than status quo republican....and he is right, though I hope the party will shape up and recall the Gingrich promises.

[Theodore R.]

Here is Lyn Nofziger's Thanksgiving message taken from his website called Nofziger's Musings:

Nov. 23, 2005—Happy Thanksgiving, one and all. I hope you have much to be thankful for. As for me, I’m thankful to be alive and to have family gaathered around for this special day. I am thankful that I was born in and live in the land of the free with all that that implies.

I am thankful that there is a God, a Creator to whom I can be thankful.

Thanksgiving, of course, is a religious holiday, whether or not one wants to admit it. Giving thanks implies that there is a superior Someone to be thankful to for the blessings one has received during the year. If God does not exis then who does one thank? His lucky stars?

I feel sorry for athiests. Who do they turn to in their hour of need or their time of joy? I have no idea. But I know who I turn to and in His name I again wish all who read this a happy Thanksgiving and much to be thankful for in the yearr ahead.

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[Lancey Howard]

(( ping ))

I think you will enjoy this.

Nofziger says there were basically two camps in the Reagan White House - - the "Reagan people" and the "Baker people". I am guessing that Ed Meese was one of the Reagan people. And of James Baker, Lyn says:

"He's a guy who's arrogant, who thought he knew better than the president," Mr. Nofziger says of Mr. Baker. "I don't think he's an honorable man. And you can quote me."