GW Bush: "There is no [conservative] movement...I redefined the Republican Party"

Washington Examiner ^ | September 15, 2009 | Byron York

[TBP]

Bush was preparing to give a speech to the annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC. The conference is the event of the year for conservative activists; Republican politicians are required to appear and offer their praise of the conservative movement.

Latimer got the assignment to write Bush's speech. Draft in hand, he and a few other writers met with the president in the Oval Office. Bush was decidedly unenthusiastic.

"What is this movement you keep talking about in the speech?" the president asked Latimer.

Latimer explained that he meant the conservative movement -- the movement that gave rise to groups like CPAC.

"Let me tell you something," the president said. "I whupped Gary Bauer's ass in 2000. So take out all this movement stuff. There is no movement."

[trumandogz]

Thanks, somehow I had forgotten about McCain-Feingold.

[sasportas]

All five of them? Rubbish, look at the voting results, minus the Rino’s, Repubs in congress come down invariably against the DemocRATS.

And what is your agenda? Pushing a third party? Or transform the Repub party into an actual conservative party? I’m for the latter. I’ve got no use for the hippy/atheist Liberaltarian Party. The only third party that has a long shot chance of getting anywhere.

[11th Commandment]

FROM THE ARTICLE:

Now, with unified Democratic control of the presidency and both houses of Congress, we're seeing spending that makes Bush's record look downright thrifty. Republicans have again found their voice on fiscal discipline. And some of them wish they had been more outspoken when a president of their own party was in the White House.

[right way right]

What we need is a GOP presidential nominee that Bush will not endorse.

Let Bush endorse Obama in 2012 that would be a hoot.

[Dr.Deth]

White men are incapable of understanding four women who sit around a table and talk to each other on TV.

[Rodebrecht]

All five non-RINOs. Don’t know where you get your info on the Libertarian Party.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

The GOP should stop awarding entire state delegates to the winner....and award delegate based on proportion

McCain won the nomination by getting only 35% of GOP primary votes. Nearly 2/3 of GOP primary voters VOTED AGAINST HIM.

A proportional delegate distribution would have probably kept McCain from winning the nomination. And, the GOP would have had a stronger candidate

[trumandogz]

I agree with you on that one, but the party wants winner take all in order to avoid GOP Convention floor fights.

[roses of sharon]

"men are incapable of understanding women who sit around a table and talk to each other on TV."

And thank the Lord for that!

[rbmillerjr]

George Bush...the liberal history book writers and academia will have a field day crushing his legacy.

I intend to enjoy it lol.

His disdain for conservatives is obvious, mocking and real.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

I think the GOP could use a few convention floor fights...it just is not wise to have a candidate with 35% of primary votes. If it was not for Sarah Palin, I think McCain would have been a 50 state disaster

Hey, I do enjoy reading your posts on this thread, you have made some really good points

[trumandogz]

Thanks.

WE must remember that the movement is about conservatism and not personality and that’s where the party failed on GWB.

[GunsareOK]

W. Bush, take your dad and peanut Carter with you too.

[Motorheadlemmy]

It doesn’t matter whether Latimer is telling the truth or not. Fact is...GW set us on a disasterous course. I know I’m not the only one here who’s had a sick feeling in his gut since last Sept/Oct when he started this Socialist BS. I wanna hurl when I hear Rush and Hannity defend the guy.

[iopscusa]

Why waste your time laughing at FR posters? The left/dims are really funny, why don’t you post at their sites?

[Captain Kirk]

Signed No Child Left Behind -- January 2002 Signed McCain-Feingold -- March 2002 Signed Medicare prescription drug benefit -- December 2003 etc.

Well said. On each and everyone of these Rush and Hannity were largely MIA. True, Rush did utter a few feeble protests but on prescription drugs I remember at the time that Hannity actually said he "didn't care." For both, the wars took precedence and thus Bush's support for big government at home was a worthwhile price to pay. It is a trite phrase: "war is the health of the state" but is nonetheless true, especially during the Bush years. Actually, it is still true now as conservatives continue to give Obama at blank check for his wars.

[browardchad]

What year did this happen in since President Bush has not been in the Oval office for some time.

Early 2008, per the linked Washington Examiner story.

You can click the link. It won't bite you.

[vpintheak]

Folks he always said he was a “compassionate” conservative. He made a lot of good calls, he made a lot of bad ones.

[Motorheadlemmy]

Sean’s ‘Stop the Hillary Express’ worked out well...

[elizabethgrace]

GW Bush: "There is no [conservative] movement...I redefined the Republican Party" Washington Examiner ^ | September 15, 2009 |

by Byron York