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Republicans Must Be a National Party
WSJ Opinion Journal ^ | February 14, 2009 | Fred Barnes

Posted on 02/14/2009 4:43:12 AM PST by Jim Noble

His grandfather Prescott Bush was a U.S. senator, and his father and brother were presidents. Yet Jeb Bush doesn't believe in political dynasties, and seems perfectly willing to let his family's legacy of serving in high office in Washington pass him by.

But Mr. Bush becomes animated when talking about ideas and policy innovations -- he's an unorthodox Republican who latches onto reform ideas wherever he finds them. He's a fan of the school system in Sweden (more on this below)....

"Beyond the ideas and all of that," Mr. Bush says the GOP must be a national party. That means "we need to be competitive in California,"...

Republicans must also clean up their act on immigration, Mr. Bush insists. Last year, he says they "set a tone" that pushed Hispanic voters away. "The tone of the debate reached a point that was very damning to the Republican Party, and the evidence is in. The chest pounders lost."....

Mr. Bush supports immigration reform as championed by his brother and John McCain, which would allow illegals already in this country to stay. "Politics has to be about ideas and values and aspirations." he says. "It shouldn't be about anger and preying on people's emotions. You can't lead a mob."...

Mr. Bush has kind words for Mr. Obama. He was the first Democrat to win Florida since 1976, and Mr. Bush has nothing but praise for his "spectacularly well-run campaign....

Mr. Bush has a personal motive for urging Republicans to "avoid personal, partisan attacks" on Mr. Obama, a strategy they've largely followed in Washington. "I would never want Obama to go through what my brother went through.... But it's not right for our country, it's not going to help us, and it's not going to help Republicans."

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; conservatism; gop; grassroots; itsalive; nightoflivingdead; nomorebushes; rinopurge; rnc
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To: kenmcg

GWB got us into this mess with his “just can’t we all get along” attitude. No more Specters, Collins’ or Snowes’ who don’t help us.

don’t forget W campaigned for “Ancient Scottish law” Specter.


41 posted on 02/14/2009 5:46:59 AM PST by chainsaw
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To: Cedric
I hear you -- however, FDR *was* a genius. He just played for the other team.

Cheers!

42 posted on 02/14/2009 5:47:58 AM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Jim Noble

I’ll vote for just about anyone to keep another Bush off the lawn of the White House...


43 posted on 02/14/2009 5:56:22 AM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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To: Jim Noble
Just because Jeb is wrong on immigration, we should not throw out all the ideas he is talking about. As for him being the standard bearer in 2012, I don't even see that as a possibility and doubt he would even run. People don't want a ruling family.
44 posted on 02/14/2009 5:59:41 AM PST by wastedpotential (McCain always said I was an agent of intolerance, but we were the ones who tolerated him most)
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To: wastedpotential

The clueless American people don’t mind a ruling family at all if “the check is in the mail”.


45 posted on 02/14/2009 6:05:22 AM PST by Theodore R. (GWB is gone: Now the American sheeple can sleep at night!)
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To: Vigilanteman
Agreed. It's just that the climate in the pubbie money circles would even be amenable to this joke. Mr. Steele is blowing his options right out of the gate if he doesn't clamp down with serious reforms (defund Specter, Collins, Snow) and show some teeth. Unless that happens, the country clubbers will continue to run the show by offering @sshats like Jeb.

IMO, Sarah needs to seriously consider a third party run. If she does, several things happen ;

1. Conservatives will have a home. Fact is, they don't at this time. For several decades we've all been in thralldom to CC pubbies and (to some degree) we've known it. However, it was the only game in town so we have served it well - treason and betrayal at the top is not our fault. My personal suggestion for Sarah's new party name would be: The No-Bull Moose Party.

2. A focused message and solid party agenda will serve our cause than any ‘big tent’ ideals ever could. I think that on-target information and positions can even punch through MSM static and gub’mint anti-1A “reforms.” It will also allow the pubbies to serve as a foil or contrast of institutional ineffectualism and compromise in the face of an imminent, concerted and well-armed enemy.

3. Even losses will solidify and grow a conservative party message. Losers like Michael Medved and long-time pubbies will decry this suggestion, but the reality is that the time is too late and our current party system too weak to meet the crisis. Think Titanic at 1:00 AM and imagine some fool trying to minimize individual actions and tell people that ‘authorities are going to bring help.’ Conservatives are, by definition, individualists and dilution of our principles to save them is not only illogical but positively anathema to them. Clarity of ideals and value of Liberty, set forth in consistent ways, will rally followers and heretofore party dolts to the real core of Americanism.

4. With a growing bank of solid conservative material, traditional barriers like race, gender and faith could be swept aside in a tidal wave of obviousness. For example, in the last election, my local races featured two black women against RAT candidates. In both races, the MN GOP declined help because the races were losers so money would be misspent. In conservative circles, we have a whole army of women, minorities and multi-faith candidates. A ticket composed of Palin/Jindal for example. In fact, the case for sexism and racism endemic in the RAT party could finally be brought home by minorities alone.

5. Conservative money would flow in torrents precisely because we'd know it was being used as meant. Even if I back a loser, I still know my principles are being sent forward. With the pubbies, every dime spent goes into an increasingly compromised RAThole. Sooner or later, bigger monies from businesses and institutions desiring greater liberty would be withdrawn from the main game in town (i.e., the RATs and the pubbies).

6. As things continue to deteriorate, this option only gets better and better for Americans seeking direct action and straight talk. Conversely, as things worsen, our Marxist enemies in the RAT party can only sharpen their focus and alienate more traditional RAT minions because the true nature of the RAT party becomes impossible to embrace. Consequently, things become more and more untenable for the bogus parties in the middle trying to pretend they're something they're not. If a conservative contender emerges from the status quo first, the new territory is theirs to define and command.

46 posted on 02/14/2009 6:05:30 AM PST by WorkingClassFilth (Actually, it all started back in Mayberry. Helen Crump was a traveler and Floyd, well, you know...)
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To: kabar
Amen. People should realize that demography is what enabled the U.S. to defeat the Indians and Mexicans in the first place. Early Americans bred like crazy and their numbers were further increased by massive immigration from Europe. Now the Mexicans have completely reversed those roles, and are achieving reconquista of the Southwest. All of the new non-European immigrant groups (Hispanics, Asians, Muslims, Africans) vote heavily Demonrat. Tancredo was the only politician with the guts to advocate an end (or at least drastic restrictions) to any further immigration.
47 posted on 02/14/2009 6:08:01 AM PST by hellbender
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To: Jim Noble
"we need to be competitive in California,"

Uh, Bush III, California is now out of reach, because it's 37% Hispanic. Even Reagan couldn't be elected there anymore. Other Western states which used to be reliably Republican (NV, AZ, CO) are now slipping rapidly Leftward, largely for the same reason. Hispanics don't want "socialism lite"; they want the industrial-strength Demonrat communist version.

48 posted on 02/14/2009 6:11:53 AM PST by hellbender
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To: Cedric

soiled goods....


49 posted on 02/14/2009 6:13:12 AM PST by Vaquero ( "an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: Moonman62
Mexico would be a good place for the Bushes.

si! muy bien!

50 posted on 02/14/2009 6:15:22 AM PST by Vaquero ( "an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: Jim Noble

Take your old lady and go live in Mexico Jeb!!!

I don’t want to have anything to do with your left wing socialist dream!


51 posted on 02/14/2009 6:16:50 AM PST by dalereed
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To: Jim Noble; All
NO

MORE

DAMN

*BUSHES* !!!!

Not NOW, not EVER!


52 posted on 02/14/2009 6:19:26 AM PST by mkjessup (Jimmy Carter is the Skidmark in the panties of American History. Barack 0bama is his second term.)
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To: Jim Noble

Jeb’s for the illegal immigrant reforms championed by his brother and John McCain.
He had glowing things to say about Obama.
He believes Repubs. can be a national party.

He’s for amnesty.
He’s willing to compromise core beliefs if necessary.
He’s in favor of electing RINOs in the mode of Snowe, etc

He should have no national platform.


53 posted on 02/14/2009 6:19:40 AM PST by LeavingNewYork
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To: Cedric; All
Conservatives need to get off their fat asses and start winning more elections, rather whining like a bunch of school girls when non-conservatives do.

Spoken like a true RINO-supporter. Trash conservatives while you pull the lever for whoever is your local RINO.

Go worship your false idol Jeb Bush, he has all the depth of a tea cup saucer.
54 posted on 02/14/2009 6:27:37 AM PST by mkjessup (Jimmy Carter is the Skidmark in the panties of American History. Barack 0bama is his second term.)
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To: Jim Noble

Groundhog Day. It’s hilarious.


55 posted on 02/14/2009 6:29:25 AM PST by TADSLOS
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To: TADSLOS

Cartoons, please.


56 posted on 02/14/2009 6:30:44 AM PST by Cedric
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To: Jim Noble
Another Beltway Bush espousing the centrist strategy for losing. Moderates will just never learn the lesson.

Nothing to see here.

57 posted on 02/14/2009 6:32:12 AM PST by mikeus_maximus (Has Obama fixed it yet?)
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To: Jim Noble

I never did understand those Freepers from FL who claimed that Jeb was somehow the ‘good Bush’ and the ‘real deal’.


58 posted on 02/14/2009 6:35:24 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: mkjessup; All

There’s nothing conservative about mindlessly condemning a candidate because of his last name.


59 posted on 02/14/2009 6:35:31 AM PST by Cedric
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To: Jim Noble

Definition of insanity: Repeating the same mistake over and over while expecting a different result.


60 posted on 02/14/2009 6:35:59 AM PST by TADSLOS
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