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 would like to know what the leadership did to pander to the people who want to see his birth certificate? He sounds like a typical RHINO who wants all conservatives out of the party.
Bruce is a fat, whiny, sexually and professionally frustrated guy who is embittered because his career plans didn’t work out. This screed is typical of his approach to life, which is why he can’t get the sort of girlfriend he wants.
I know whereof I speak.
P.S.: He’s right about one thing: there are a lot of former Reagan Administration officials who feel as he does. A lot.
I wish I had those 20 seconds back before I saw him calling us crazies and stopped reading.
“All I see is pandering to the party’s crazies like the birthers .”
I would think its up to the birthers themselves to figure out reality.
I dont see the GOP to blame for that.
“Mr. Bartlett does not say what policies and principles the Republican party should support to “reach out” to him. Does he have anything positive to contribute?”
He does if you read his books.
That's hilarious, considering Glenn Beck has been ripping on the GOP for quite a while now. That little bit of untruth tells me all I need to know about this "moderate".
“This guys kind of republican ran the last time and we see just how well that turned out.”
No, he hates McCain. He hates big-spending Republicans.
He was a wall street journal editorial writer, small-govt, pro-business. he became a ‘disgruntled republican’. it’s ironic that he talks about extremists since he was one himself in a way.
I dont know what his problem is right now, we have way too many people who ran away from the party for now being perfect, and in doing so make it even less so.
Doubtful ... he's writing on Frum's "new Majority" site. Would Frum allow such a guy on there?!? ... on the contrary, I think he's got some Frum-like elitist issues with the populists. why else pick on Beck, who is not a Republican per se anyway.
Sigh ... a former supply-sider signed up to become the tax collector for the welfare state?!?!
How very unfortunate.
LOL!
I’m really not interested in why this person is anti-American.
“I know whereof I speak.” You better, that borders on TMI.
“P.S.: He’s right about one thing: there are a lot of former Reagan Administration officials who feel as he does. A lot.”
Are they just PO’ed because there’s not a White House gig they see in their future?
yes, he really changed.
It's comments like this that alienate a lot of people. Powell endorsed and presumably vote for Obama. I am assuming McCain did neither.
Bartlett never said that. I suspect he is angry that the conservatives DO NOT ACCEPT THE BIG TENT AND DO NOT ACCEPT THE IDEA OF A CENTER RIGHT COALITION.
Of course McCain did not endorse 0, he was running against him. By the McCain-Powell wing I mean moderates and ‘big-tent’ minded Republicans that would sell conservatives at the drop of the hat. If you still feel alienated, then I don’t know what to say.
I doubt it. Reagan not only picked a VP who called his tax cuts "voodoo economics" and who made an election year conversion to pro life, he also did amnesty, and never did a real cut to govt.
Furthermore, Reagan was such a nice guy, I don't recall hearing him say he was ashamed of any American in his entire life.
If you want to back up your "ashamed" comment. I would like to hear it.
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