Posted on 02/27/2006 6:27:06 AM PST by RepublicNewbie
At first blush, conservatives debating whether Ronald Reagan was a better foe of big government than George W. Bush can sound like obsessive comic-book fans arguing in their parents' basements about whether Superman was stronger than the Incredible Hulk. But as 2008 approaches and the Right becomes more reflective—as opposed to reflexively defensive—in its assessment of our 43rd president, such discussions will play an important role.
The debate is already intensifying. Fred Barnes recently compared Reagan and Bush at year six in a piece for The Weekly Standard. He implies in his new book Rebel-in-Chief that Dubya's conservatism is superior to Reagan's. Conservative columnist and former think-tanker Bruce Bartlett disagrees. The subtitle of his forthcoming book Impostor claims that Bush "Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy."
The conventional wisdom that President Bush is Reagan 2.0 has given way to detailed looks at some of the contrasts between the two chief executives. Even on foreign policy, observers have noticed ground between Reagan's shining city on a hill and Bush's "take that hill," between peace through strength and peace through pre-emption. But the differences are perceived to be the greatest on size-of-government issues.
(Excerpt) Read more at postchronicle.com ...
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| This Week in Afghanistan: Let the Opium War Begin The troop preparation are already underway for any attacks by a resurgent Taliban and their Al-Qaeda allies. Islamist fighters have carried out waves of suicide and roadside bombings, murdered aid workers, burnt schools and beheaded teachers for offering to teach girls.... More |
| Idiots in the Hands of an Angry God Phelps has been a preacher (defrocked), a lawyer (disbarred) and a Democrat politician (never elected). Now, at age 76, his "church" is a congregation consisting of his 13 children and 50 grandchildren in a tiny compound in Topeka, Kansas.... More |
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Reagan could actually articulate conservatism. Bush almost seems ashamed to be a conservative.
"He implies in his new book Rebel-in-Chief that Dubya's conservatism is superior to Reagan's"
BArnes is on crack/I am tired of "Compassionate conservatism" Mike Pence in 2008
Yeah Reagan really articulated conservatism by raising social security taxes, while Bush actually tried to reform the system.
Amen.
We've done our bit to bring compassion to scoiety the leftist way. Time now to let cut government and let the indirect hand of the market decide who merits compassion and who doesn't (In other words, let folks help themselves rather than whine about government not doing enough).
Bush will NEVER cut and run like in Lebanon. BTW, I love Reagan.
LLS
And we can thank Bush for creating the largest entitlement program since Johnson's great society. Regan spent on defense, Bush has spent like a druken sailor on social programs.
And Bush was real great at articulating that too.....
And didn't the bulk of that increased spending go into Homeland defense, which is considered non-defense since it is not part of the Pentagon.
"...while Bush actually tried to reform the system."
Yes, superb effort. An (R) majority in both houses and his reformation fell flat on it's face.
You Hamiltonians can attempt to malign Reagan all you want in propping up GWB. It's only amongst your odd selves that this ludicrous notion is accepted as truth.
I do also, but get really tired of these Bush/Reagan comparisons, especially when brought up by supposedly strident Reagan supporters, but in reality strident Bush haters.
If Reagan was alive today, I doubt he would be bashing Bush, like his supposedly most loyal supporters do today.
No he didn't. Didn't spend one nickel of 'political capital.'
He didn't even back or sponsor a single piece of legislation. He just opined in general in a few stump speeches, and let it die.
And that is why Bruce Bartlett is "dead on".
Under GWB, policy-formulation has been 'broken'. Under Reagan they presented Congress two five hundred page volumes of impacts laid out for their tax proposals. Under Bush, they had, nothing. No projected impacts. No actual legislation. Nothing to vote on.
At least Bush tried to push social security reform, Reagan didn't.
"Bush almost seems ashamed to be a conservative."
You're right. This shows through in things like how he responded to Katrina.
I don't think its trivial either. His actions and his words set the parameters for our current political discourse. And to my mind, its not the right one.
You can take that to the bank.
This is such a silly argument. That was then, this is now. He was Reagan, This is GW Bush. They are both men with strengths and weaknesses.
As has been said many times, many of the same people who get so worked up about this President, got worked up about President Reagan as well.
In any case, I am glad both of these men are on my side. I have learned different, but equally important things from each of them and really admire them both.
"Mike Pence in 2008"
Where do I sign up? He would be my choice - I shudder when I hear George Allen being touted.
"And didn't the bulk of that increased spending go into Homeland defense."
Not really. Non-defense spending has skyrocketed under Bush. I read somewhere the other week that federal education spending is up a total of something like 1305 in the last 5 yrs.
Anybody think that worked in terms of buying him any votes? I don't. It was money wasted.
I defend Bush all the time and voted for him twice. I applauded both Roberts and Alito, but cringed at Harriet Miers. Bush is an average speaker, Reagan was one of the greatest of all time. I support Bush on most of his political agenda, except his spending. Reagan's reforms to Social Security were neccessary to keep the program solvent, Bush's prescription drug program was an uneccessary program that no one likes that Bush promoted for political gain but in the end it has made no one happy. Policy wise Bush is very good, as a leader Bush lacks. Bush does not inspire the way Reagan did no matter how you slice it.
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