Skip to comments.
George W. versus the Tea Party (Laura Ingraham)
PoliZette ^
| October 21, 2015
| Laura Ingraham
Posted on 10/21/2015 4:25:39 PM PDT by Isara
Tries to rescue brother's campaign by trash-talking Ted Cruz
We havent 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 successors 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 Obamas 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 wouldnt criticize his successor.
Thankfully, grassroots Republicans didnt 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 wasnt 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 Jebs presidential campaign sputtering, George W. is officially silent no more. The man whose own party wouldnt 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 states junior senator, Ted Cruz, for withering criticism.
I just dont like the guy, he sniffed. The former president went on to call Cruzs 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 Holders 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 arent 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 Cruzs 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.
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: bush; cruz; georgewbush; gwb; lauraingraham; tcruz; teaparty; tedcruz
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-92 next last
To: Isara
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.
To: WENDLE
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.
To: vbmoneyspender
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 Doles VP nomination on the condition that he would not be a political pit bull. Well, he wasnt - 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 Kemps chances, I told him to tell Jack that he had jumped the shark.
23
posted on
10/21/2015 5:03:50 PM PDT
by
conservatism_IS_compassion
('Liberalism' is a conspiracy against the public by wire-service journalism.)
To: Isara
The true nature of the Bush family is finally clear.
I’m embarrassed I ever supported any of them. Never again.
24
posted on
10/21/2015 5:05:13 PM PDT
by
EternalHope
(Something wicked this way comes. Be ready.)
To: 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?
25
posted on
10/21/2015 5:05:23 PM PDT
by
glenduh
To: Isara
George W. Bush never defended the people who voted for him, or explained that they arent guilty of all the cultural or political crimes attributed to them by the left.
26
posted on
10/21/2015 5:05:26 PM PDT
by
Jeff Chandler
(No more Bushes. W killed the brand.)
To: WENDLE
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.
27
posted on
10/21/2015 5:06:37 PM PDT
by
Jeff Chandler
(No more Bushes. W killed the brand.)
To: Georgia Girl 2
he doesnt 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......
To: Isara
President Bush broke his self-imposed silence in January 2011, in a speech at Southern Methodist University. The only problem was, he wasnt 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
29
posted on
10/21/2015 5:06:59 PM PDT
by
samtheman
(2014: Voters elect Repubs to congress... 2015: Repubs defund NOTHING... 2016: Trump/(Cruz or Palin))
To: glenduh
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.
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 |
31
posted on
10/21/2015 5:10:25 PM PDT
by
deport
To: Psalm 144
I could have written those very words about my dad.
32
posted on
10/21/2015 5:11:23 PM PDT
by
Amntn
To: Isara
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.
33
posted on
10/21/2015 5:12:13 PM PDT
by
x
To: EternalHope
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.
To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
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.
35
posted on
10/21/2015 5:18:08 PM PDT
by
Thumper1960
(A modern so-called "Conservative" is a shadow of a wisp of a vertebrate human being.)
To: Cold Heat
Confused but thank you. That is not in Trump’s “position” on donaldjtrump.com.
36
posted on
10/21/2015 5:18:29 PM PDT
by
glenduh
To: glenduh
Having problems with this site. Doesnt 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
37
posted on
10/21/2015 5:20:51 PM PDT
by
Isara
To: Cold Heat
But he was more conservative than daddy or most certainly his bros. Or John McCain, who was the other choice in 2000.
To: vbmoneyspender
Maybe he’s gone back to drinking heavily.
39
posted on
10/21/2015 5:24:13 PM PDT
by
laconic
(M)
To: glenduh
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..
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-92 next last
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.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson