Posted on 05/03/2009 6:05:21 AM PDT by Born Conservative
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Saturday that it's time for the Republican Party to give up its "nostalgia" for the heyday of the Reagan era and look forward, even if it means stealing the winning strategy deployed by Democrats in the 2008 election.
"You can't beat something with nothing, and the other side has something. I don't like it, but they have it, and we have to be respectful and mindful of that," Mr. Bush said.
The former president's brother, often mentioned as a potential candidate in 2012, said President Obama's message of hope and change during the 2008 campaign clearly resonated with Americans.
"So our ideas need to be forward looking and relevant. I felt like there was a lot of nostalgia and the good old days in the [Republican] messaging. I mean, it's great, but it doesn't draw people toward your cause," Mr. Bush said.
"From the conservative side, it's time for us to listen first, to learn a little bit, to upgrade our message a little bit, to not be nostalgic about the past because, you know, things do ebb and flow."
The Florida governor joined former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor on Saturday at a small pizza parlor in Arlington for the inaugural event of the National Council for a New America (NCNA).
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The Dallas Cowboys just found out one of the problems with a big tent.
Yes my dear MinuteGal! We had a similar occurence down here in Palm Beach County during that same era. The victim? Sharon Merchant. Sharon was falsely accused of supporting some radical concepts through her voting record. By the time she cleared her record on this, it was too late.
If not already on it, please consider adding your name to Solid Wood’s Palin Ping List. Thanks!
Don't underestimate our interest in a Conservative female ticket.
Sure beats a metrosexual male RINO ticket!
Jeb is an idiot. As a RINO, he looks at what the ‘Rats did and decided that the GOP lost in November because they weren’t enough like the ‘Rats, when in reality, the GOP lost because they could not verbalize a message that was DIFFERENT from the ‘Rats.
Jeb, if you think the Rats have the winning strategy, then follow your friend Arlen Specter and jump the fence.
Reagan won two landslides and ended 50 years of Democrat dominance in Congress. Reagan converted many conservative and moderate Democrats. That’s a big tent and it is a way to win. The strategy of people like Jeb is to expand the party with the worst human filth. It’s a losing strategy that is devastating for the party and the country.
McCain picked a token female for his VP. A nobody he thought would not overshadow him.
The VOTERS voted for a conservative.
McCain was FORCED to campaign with her just to get people to show up. If it was not for Joe Biden, McCain would have had the lowest turnouts at his rallies.
I think Republicans have shown they vote for the ideas first. If you put a christine todd whitman and/or a hutchinson on the ticket and the result will be a powerful overwhelming fizzle.
If Jeb had any political career for the future left, it’s gone now with that statement. It will be plastered all over the news and he can kiss any positive legacy for himself goodbye!
Who chose these Republicans to go around and say we have to be more like Democrats to win elections? I’m tired of seeing the same old tired faces of Mitt, Jeb, McCain, etc. I want New Blood...Conservative Blood! and no Democrat-lite, please! to put out a conservative message! Think the Republican Party will ever see it my way? Doubt it.
plastered? the media will be cheering him on
See, the problem, Jeb, is that you’re listening to people who really have NO idea what’s good for them and good for the country. They need to educate themselves and look at what worked before, not try to bend over backwards (at the cost of our principles) to appease to whims and desires.
Just calling a spade a spade.
Actually, I think Jeb was a great Governor. It’s just this stupid “forget Reagan” bulls**t really pisses me off. Tell us why we should vote for you, don’t try to get us to redefine what we think we want.
Just picked up another voter!
100% agree. GOP needs fresh faces espousing conservative SOLUTIONS. Reagan was great but his name alone won’t win elections.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.