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 ...
Exactly. What I want to know is why they feel uncomfortable articulating those principles? Do not they not believe them because that is what it suggests to me. It isn’t as if those founding ideas do not ring true in the hearts of men as they did in 1776. I believe there is a hunger for them. People want to be called to greatness and that is one thing Obama did. McCain did some of it too but not consistently enough. He could have been one of our greatest leaders if he’d only stepped fully up to plate.
I’ve been hard on a lot of these guys not because I want to hate them but because I want them to show some passion and that understand these principles, conservatism is not a dry philosophy based on outdated traditions. It is based upon what works and an appreciation for what has worked since the foundation of this country. It is the philosophy of the left that is faithless. Conservatives should not be looking for the government to feed the needy they should be out there feeding the needy and showing the example that there is not just the way of bureaucracy with their own hands.
That is how you win citizens over.
You call them to greatness you do more than provide a plastic smile to the poor man. You take out of his way the road blocks that liberalism and over grown bureaucracy has placed in his way to make him jump through hoops like some kind of circus animal that his experience tells him instinctively is ridiculous. Appeal to personal pride and honor in men and women. Call them to be more to want to be Mothers and Fathers and be good parents.
UP YOURS, JEB.
We need to demand that every Republican Party REP today in office present to the floor a signed written document of their beliefs. These documents need to be available to ALL so we can clearly see who is a true conservative and NOT! This documet would be no different than a statement of faith that a christian group would present for all to see, showing transparency that they too are “beleivers”.
This would separate the wheat from the tares, i.e., Republicans from Moderates.
the Republican Party to give up its “nostalgia” for the heyday of the Reagan era
Maybe it’s time for the republican party to give up its nostalgia for the heyday of the Bush socialism era, and put some real conservatives in office.
What’s wrong with the old America?
Hey, if you wanna be a member of the New Coke, er, New Republican® party, you gotta take on the "look & feel" of your opponents. It's the only way to win!
Ping
Never, EVER give up your principles, Reagan did not, and WE WILL NOT! So long Jeb...I think I hear Arlan Spector, somewhere, applauding your anything to win strategy.
Is there a family that has done more to harm the GOP than these losers? I will never vote for a Bush again. The good news is that I won’t ever have to make that choice. The Bush name is mud in national politics.
“Stay out Da’ Bushes!”
(Sheesh! Can’t believe I agree with Jessie the Extortionist for once.)
Super
Happy
Inclusive
Tent...For Bush
Ping List
I listened to all that he said and do not accept the premise of the headline.
He actually said the things, but in a very different context of Moving Ahead, not looking back to Reagan. Never said that the values should change, I think.
Well, I don’t want him to run, but seldom disagreed with him here in Florida.
Romney aside given his remarks regarding Palin, there's plenty of time to for these guys to hang themselves.
Ernie, add sauropod to your Super Happy Inclusive Tent list.
Added
Time to leave Jeb behind.
Don’t let the door hit you in the @$$, Jeb!
Newt’s part of it. Don’t be Snowed (sp is intentional).
And yet Rush was defending Jeb as a conservative today....
I know.
I don’t think Jeb is one.
Me neither...
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