Posted on 08/30/2009 6:50:33 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
I got an e-mail from a prominent Republican asking why I am so anti-Republican these days. Since many of my friends ask the same thing I thought I would share my reply:
I think the party got seriously on the wrong track during the George W. Bush years, as I explained in my Impostor book. In my opinion, it no longer bears any resemblance to the party of Ronald Reagan. I still consider myself to be a Reaganite. But I don’t see any others anywhere in the GOP these days, which is why I consider myself to be an independent. Mindless partisanship has replaced principled conservatism. What passes for principle in the party these days is “what can we do to screw the Democrats today.” How else can you explain things like that insane op-ed Michael Steele had in the Washington Post on Monday?
I am not alone. When I talk to old timers from the Reagan years, many express the same concerns I have. But they all work for Republican-oriented think tanks like AEI and Hoover and don’t wish to be fired like I was from NCPA . Or they just don’t want to be bothered or lose friends. As a free agent I am able to say what they can’t or won’t say publicly.
I think the Republican Party is in the same boat the Democrats were in in the early eighties — dominated by extremists unable to see how badly their party was alienating moderates and independents. The party’s adults formed the Democratic Leadership Council to push the party back to the center and it was very successful. But there is no group like that for Republicans. That has left lunatics like Glenn Beck as the party’s de facto leaders. As long as that remains the case, I want nothing to do with the GOP.
I will know that the party is on the path to recovery when someone in a position of influence reaches out to former Republicans like me. We are the most likely group among independents to vote Republican. But I see no effort to do so. All I see is pandering to the party’s crazies like the birthers . In the short run that may be enough to pick up a few congressional seats next year, but I see no way a Republican can retake the White House for the foreseeable future. Both CBO and OMB are predicting better than 4% real growth in 2011 and 2012. If those numbers are even remotely correct Obama will have it in the bag. Also, Republicans have to find a way to win some minority votes because it is not viable as a whites-only party in presidential elections. That’s why I wrote my "Wrong on Race" book, which no one read.
I agree, but the purge of Reaganism out of the party started with GHWB.
Hey Bruce, nice to hear your two cents worth. Now go crawl back in your hole for 20 more years.
Reagan would be ashamed of Mr. Bartlett.
he was pretty good. I’ve seen some of his stuff from the NCPA
Who knows maybe he’s more comfortable with Holder, Obmaa, ACORN, and the ACLU. If he is, he needs to move on over to them.
The Democrats were forced to move a little to the center in the 80's because the were perceived as too liberal, while the Republicans had built a successful center-right coalition.
Now, the Republicans occupy a space a little further to the left than before, while the Democrats have gone hard-left. So, Bartlett's helpful suggestion is for the GOP to move a little more to the left?
I call BS on two counts. One, because his analysis fails to properly identify the current political center of gravity in America, which is still center-right, and two, because I believe his real objection is to the war on terror and the influence of Israel on our foreign policy. He has written a scathing book about the "neo-cons" that all but screams: "It was the Joooos!!!!". Just my opinion.
at least mccain voted for himself even though Palin was on the ticket. :)
“The party’s adults formed the Democratic Leadership Council to push the party back to the center and it was very successful. “
The center of what, Stalingrad?
He has written a scathing book about the “neo-cons” that all but screams: “It was the Joooos!!!!”. Just my opinion.
ahhh that’s why
What a complete idiot.....I guess he voted for Hugo, er I mean zerObambi....
When I first started reading the article, I figured it was about how he hated the GOP because it had become too liberal and militaristic. Instead, it’s because the GOP is too conservative? Isn’t that a bit like grabbing some raw ground chuck and complaining that it’s overcooked?
Yes, it’s funny how he says that in the 80s the democrats were “out of touch”, when in fact they kept winning elections until 1994.
He also believes that the entire 2012 presidential election will be based on the GNP for the year. If that was really the case, he’d be saying that we can only win the White House if we destroy the economy until after the election.
We went to the middle of the road with McCain, remember - and look what that got us. What would have WON the election would have been a candidate who did exactly what Reagan did in 1980 and 1984 - espouse Conservative values and the greatness of American ideals. McCain did none of that. Why? Because he wanted to present himself as a ‘middle-of-the-road’ candidate, that's why.
This idiot calling himself a Reaganite is an embarrassment.
I agree, this irrational Jew/Israel hating has left these men very confused.
The “stability” crowd is not to stable these days.
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.