George W. versus the Tea Party (Laura Ingraham)

PoliZette ^ | October 21, 2015 | Laura Ingraham

[Isara]

Tries to rescue brother's campaign by trash-talking Ted Cruz

We haven’t heard much from President George W. Bush during the past seven years.

After leaving office with approval numbers in the high 20s, he made a conscious decision to keep a respectful distance from Washington, to refrain from becoming the Pundit-in-Chief criticizing his successor’s every move.

“He deserves my silence,” Bush said of the newly elected Barack Obama. “I think it is essential that he be helped in office.”

Indeed, when the left was going wild in Obama’s first term, all the Bushes went mum. George W. was suddenly applauded by elites in both parties as a gallant statesman when he announced that he wouldn’t criticize his successor.

Thankfully, grassroots Republicans didn’t agree. And when the Tea Party upstarts helped the Republican Party roar back in the 2010 midterms, the Bushes knew they were revolting not only against Obama, but against Bushism.

President Bush broke his self-imposed silence in January 2011, in a speech at Southern Methodist University. The only problem was, he wasn’t attacking Obama, but conservatives. Addressing the immigration debate, he said: “(I)f you study history, there are some ‘isms’ that occasionally pop up … One is isolationism and its evil twin protectionism and its evil triplet nativism.”

These were potent insults directed at millions of hard-working patriots who helped elect him twice to the White House. Elites in both parties gleefully gobbled it up.

Now, with his younger brother Jeb’s presidential campaign sputtering, George W. is officially silent no more. The man whose own party wouldn’t feature him as a speaker at its past two conventions is trying to reclaim the GOP for the Bush family, to preserve his presidential legacy and that of his father.

At numerous closed fundraisers, George W. Bush is sounding off on the GOP field, according to a new Politico report. Sources who attended say he singled out his home state’s junior senator, Ted Cruz, for withering criticism.

“I just don’t like the guy,” he sniffed. The former president went on to call Cruz’s anti-Iran deal alliance with Donald Trump “opportunistic.”

The more I think about it, the more troubling this is. For years now, as the left has been trying to destroy the country with its open borders, a bumbling foreign policy, the health care takeover, and massive executive overreach, George W. Bush never said anything. He never criticized Obama, or Harry Reid, or Nancy Pelosi. Not when they sunk to their vicious depths to use the “war on women” against Mitt Romney. Not when they whipped up racial tensions in Eric Holder’s Justice Department. Not when they used the IRS to harass patriotic Tea Party groups.

George W. Bush never defended the people who voted for him, or explained that they aren’t guilty of all the cultural or political crimes attributed to them by the left. In fact, he essentially dumped all over the millions of conservatives who were responsible for electing him twice.

Fast forward four years. When George W. emerges in a campaign setting — when he finally breaks his silence to attack someone by name — he attacks Cruz. Apparently, while Obama deserved George W.’s respect and silence, not so for Cruz, who actually worked in his administration, and who became a U.S. senator by tapping into a wave of anti-Washington discontent. The Bushes take this as personal criticism of their family — perhaps Cruz’s biggest sin of all.

Conservatives are trying their best to sort out the post-Bush era within the Republican Party. I believe the vast majority of conservative voters — including those Tea Party voters who like Cruz — honor the Bush family for its service and would like to work with the Bushes and their supporters to build a better country. But it is disappointing to see former President Bush — a man who so many conservatives worked for and believed in — resort to behind-the-scenes attacks on someone like Cruz, who is risking his own career to fight for conservative principles.

Any partnership requires an element of trust on both sides. If conservatives believe that the Bushes — and other GOP establishment types — are attacking them behind closed doors, the trust and cooperation necessary to build a winning Republican message in 2016 may be impossible to develop.

[CaptainPhilFan]

You know what? Excellent piece.

I’m actually sitting here crying now, with a pain in my heart. She brought it all home.

Glad you shared it. Speaks volumes.

I knew W said crappy things about Cruz the other day but I haven’t thought about his silence for Barry and his non-defense of grass root right-wingers.

Can’t help but believe there’ll now be a surge for Ted.
W can’t be that ignorant.

[Cold Heat]

Actually he did not, but he did make the same error that daddy Bush made because he did not keep going.

Frankly the error has been made before during WWII when we did not take out the Russians. So Eisenhower made the same mistake.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

George W. Bush never defended the people who voted for him

This is a recurring pattern with GWB.

I is a recurring pattern with Republicans, period. In 1996 Jack Kemp, who I thought the world of at the time, accepted Dole’s VP nomination on the condition that he would not be a political pit bull. Well, he wasn’t - in fact, he was a pussy cat, and allowed Al Gore to rip us a new one.

I had had such high hopes for Kemp as presidential timber. But after that, when a canvasser called asking about Kemp’s chances, I told him to tell Jack that he had jumped the shark.

[EternalHope]

The true nature of the Bush family is finally clear.

I’m embarrassed I ever supported any of them. Never again.

[glenduh]

Having problems with this site. Doesn’t load right. Links not working. Trying to read why Trump is yellow on 2nd Amendment. Do you know?

[Jeff Chandler]

George W. Bush never defended the people who voted for him, or explained that they aren’t guilty of all the cultural or political crimes attributed to them by the left.

[Jeff Chandler]

He invaded the wrong damned country!!

No, he just quit too soon and decided to engage in nation building. Iraq should have been a pit stop on the way to Iran.

[Cold Heat]

he doesn’t want the ghetto beatdown so he goes after Cruz.

Cruz is well known in Texas. Not a single moderate appreciates him, nor did they appreciate Reagan.

Not holding it against Bush, because I have a lot of respect for him, but it is a sign of a significant split in the party.

But I already knew that......

[samtheman]

President Bush broke his self-imposed silence in January 2011, in a speech at Southern Methodist University. The only problem was, he wasn’t attacking Obama, but conservatives. Addressing the immigration debate, he said: “(I)f you study history, there are some ‘isms’ that occasionally pop up … One is isolationism and its evil twin protectionism and its evil triplet nativism.”
Bush Family Mexican

[Cold Heat]

Trying to read why Trump is yellow on 2nd Amendment. Do you know?

He has made past comments regarding the assault weapon ban....he was favorable to it. That is the best I can do for you and it's a easy reply.

[deport]

Polling Data

Poll	Date	Trump	Carson	Rubio	Cruz	Bush	Fiorina	Huckabee	Paul	Christie	Kasich	Santorum	Graham	Pataki	Jindal	Spread
RCP Average	10/4 - 10/18	27.2	21.3	9.0	8.0	7.0	5.5	3.7	3.3	2.5	2.0	0.5	0.5	0.3	0.3	Trump +5.9
ABC/Wash PostABC/WP	10/15 - 10/18	32	22	10	6	7	5	3	2	3	2	0	1	1	0	Trump +10
NBC/WSJNBC/WSJ	10/15 - 10/18	25	22	13	9	8	7	3	2	1	3	0	0	0	0	Trump +3
MonmouthMonmouth	10/15 - 10/18	28	18	6	10	5	6	4	4	3	1	0	1	0	1	Trump +10
CNN/ORCCNN/ORC	10/14 - 10/17	27	22	8	4	8	4	5	5	4	3	2	1	0	0	Trump +5
FOX NewsFOX News	10/10 - 10/12	24	23	9	10	8	5	5	3	1	1	0	0	1	1	Trump +1
CBS NewsCBS News	10/4 - 10/8	27	21	8	9	6	6	2	4	3	2	1	0	0	0	Trump +6

[Amntn]

I could have written those very words about my dad.

[x]

More info:

KARL ROVE: Here's what's behind George W. Bush's beef with Ted Cruz and Donald Trump by Colin Campbell

Bush disliked Cruz's "opportunistic" closeness to Donald Trump, who had called for Bush's impeachment years back. He also resented Cruz's criticism of John Roberts, Bush's appointment as Chief Justice whom Cruz had originally warmly supported.

Of course it may just be preppy-jock-fratboy vs. debate geek/nerd bullying. In any case, it was a private comment (or supposed to be, though Bush should no by now that nothing he says is private anymore) and certainly a lot milder than things we say here everyday about politicians.

[Cold Heat]

The true nature of the Bush family is finally clear.

Gimme a break here! Bush was never known as a Conservative. He was a conservative leaning moderate at best, some of the time. But he was more conservative than daddy or most certainly his bros.

[Thumper1960]

I certainly do remember all of those. And more. It is the spit in the face and the middle finger from Bush that grates me. I value loyalty, honor and dedication. Never will I trust a Bush. As for “Yeb”, he can go straight to Hell.

[glenduh]

Confused but thank you. That is not in Trump’s “position” on donaldjtrump.com.

[Isara]

Having problems with this site. Doesn’t load right. Links not working. Trying to read why Trump is yellow on 2nd Amendment. Do you know?

I don't have any problem with the site.

"In the past Trump has payed lip service to the Second Amendment. More troubling is that he supported the so-called assault weapons ban and a longer waiting period for gun purchases. However, during the 2015 campaign, Trump has made a major shift on Second Amendment issues. He released a policy paper on the Second Amendment which promises major reforms that gun rights activists have long wanted. Examples include support for national reciprocity for concealed carry permits, the end of weapons and magazine bans, and curtailing of the expansion of a failing background check system. Time will tell if the 180 about face is principled driven or merely political in nature. -"

See more at: https://www.conservativereview.com/2016-presidential-candidates/candidates/donald-trump#article-13

[vbmoneyspender]

But he was more conservative than daddy or most certainly his bros.

Or John McCain, who was the other choice in 2000.

[laconic]

Maybe he’s gone back to drinking heavily.

[Cold Heat]

yeah......well.....a lot of things changed when he decided to run...

Just know that in my humble opinion, Trump is not a conservative, and perhaps not even a republican. To be sure I would put him as a blue dog democrat.

But then, I seem to be a minority around here..