Did Bush Destroy The Republican Party?

Captain's Quarters ^ | Jan. 25, 2008 | Ed Morrissey

[catbertz]

I wouldn't say he destroyed us, just betrayed us frequently. He has certain issues and motivations that do not line up with conservatives. Illegals, belief in big government solutions, misplaced loyalty to lackluster advisor's, excessive willingness to make nice with the Dems etc.

He isn't the first president to piss on his own party, they all do it, usually in the second term. He has carried conservative water on many occasions, even if we had to push him hard, that's ok. I think we are just fatigued after eight years of one man, and the drama that 9/11 sowed, followed by Iraq.

We as a party will survive even if we loose to Hillary. Perhaps it will foster a resurgence of conservative values if we become the opposition party again, fighting a guerrilla war against the evil queen and her stooge first husband.

[TSchmereL]

good point

[I_like_good_things_too]

Does everyone forget how the left felt after 2000 & 2004? (liberalism is DEAD, blah blah blah). And look at how “well” the far left has recovered. One of their candidates has the probability of being in office.

Why is it we think conservatism in the republican part is “dead” because of setbacks?

[Dead Corpse]

Meh... Bush wasn't alone. Half of the Republicans in Congress were along for the ride.

Hell, half the GOP membership Nationwide gave up on Conservatism back with Bush41. Further poisoned by trying to swallow "read my lips" for a second term followed four years later by "Brady Bill" Bob Dole. Getting a "compassionate conservative" RINO like Bush43 pushed at us not once... but TWICE is just more nails in the conservative coffin.

Is there any wonder why "conservatives" are feeling like their Party left them battered and abused on the side of the roadway somewhere?

[catbertz]

spellcheck: I meant to say lose to Hillary, which I hope doesn’t happen ;)

[lonestar67]

Peggy Noonan is just wrong and it is high time to out her.

Her unease with Romney’s religion speech was a powerful sign of her disaffection with conservatism. She is old school secular Republican.

President Bush presides over a global Gettysburg and only fools fail to see it. Like Lincoln, he is presently besieged and belittled. This small minds will all be swept away by the overwhelming tides of history.

President Bush is a critical historical centerpiece that deserves praise and not the absurd dishonor that supposed conservatives and deranged liberals heap upon him. Had Bush only prevented a repeat of the 911 attacks, his Presidency should be judged a success. That fact that he stubbornly stuck to his principals challenging the bogus “international law” protecting terrorism globally is astounding. The military has crushed no less than three major foreign governments encompassing 50 million lives, forced the surrender of a sovereign WMD program in Libya, chased terrorist with explicit operations on the oceans and in Somalia and the Phillipines.

Old School conservatives resent President Bush because he has changed the terms of debate. The Neocon has introduced a way of thinking that so demands a creativity which they lack that they can only respond with reactionary scorn. Paleocons and Radical leftists know that their worldviews are hopelessly doomed. We all now see clearly see before us the hatreds that are in the world which Paleocons and various ideological stripes of isolationists have promised us will pass away with mere denial. FALSE.

Paper Tiger or Strong Horse?: pick one.

Bush picked the Strong Horse— are you in our out.

[Types_with_Fist]

Aside from two good SC Judges

We had to work hard to keep him from screwing that up too.

[llevrok]

ping

[Bitsy]

Reading articles like this and a lot of the posts on this site in recent weeks, I think that folks need to look up the terms “hyperbole,” “Chicken Little,” and “gloom and doom.”

Sheesh!

We’re doomed, Gulliver! Doooooooomed!

You are right!

[Greg F]

Peggy Noonan is right. I’ll add that Reagan made two great mistakes. One was the first illegal amnesty bill. The second was George Bush.

[Phlap]

There isn’t anything wrong with the Republican Party. Peggy is reading too much E.J. Dione and Maureen Dow. It is the democrats that are the party of Abortion and Surrender.

[jwalsh07]

No. But it is amusing to see the support for this particular hysterical statement here at good ole FR!

To those agreeing with the hysterical Peggy Noonan I say thanks for the laugh.

[xzins]

I agree with Noonan to a degree.

The Miers nomination and the Dubai Ports deal, in particular, led to total outrage and near civil war among republicans.

Terry Schiavo didn’t help.

McCain-Feingold didn’t help.

McCain-Kennedy didn’t help.

Each of those things split off a segment of the party and set them warring with one another.

[Publius Valerius]

despite the fact the Bush didn't mention reducing the size and scope of gov't even once during the campaign.

Although I don't think he ever used the term "privatize," Bush certainly gave the impression--during both campaigns, that he was going to dramatically overhaul social security. Then, after he was re-elected, he made a half-hearted, crap effort to create optional private accounts, and then as soon as he caught some flak, he shrugged his shoulders and walked away. Pathetic.

[jrd]

we all know Bush did everything, but whe give him the credit ...they did it all by themselves

[bonehead4freedom]

I was lurking on this board in 2000, then the general consensus was the party big wigs were behind Bush and he had so much money he basically blow everybody else out of the primaries.When Bush got in he did give us tax cuts but from immigration, international trade and big government solutions he basically did what the lobbyist on K street wanted along with the cozy K street congress. That should come as no suprise because that's who gave him his sack so that's who has his ear.I feel that it's truly sad that the current crop of candidates and Mr.Bohner in congress still haven't learn a damn thing they want to shutout the small government conservatives unless they either need their votes or donations to the R.N.C. otherwise we're suppose to stand by until called and keep repeating we need these guy or it will be worse!

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>Did Bush Destroy The Republican Party?

The GOP is on life support, but Bush was the catalyst on the road to destruction. By removing conservatism from the GOP domestic agenda, the party of Lincoln and Reagan has been reborn as the party of big govt Republicanism. The 2008 general election will seal the party's fate.

[Uncle Miltie]

"Republicans elected Bush knowing what they were going to get, and Noonan can't seriously claim shock over the result."

And McCain would be FAR WORSE.

[roamer_1]

The Neocon has introduced a way of thinking that so demands a creativity which they lack that they can only respond with reactionary scorn.

Ahhh. Sophistry. Too complicated for our wee little minds.

Complete, unmitigated pap.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>Reagan made two great mistakes. One was the first illegal amnesty bill. The second was George Bush.

The first one is easily rectified. Reagan would say, don't make the same mistake again. The second mistake is set in concrete, forever. Read my lips ...