Jeb Bush, GOP: Time to leave Reagan behind ("nostalgia" for the heyday of the Reagan era)

The Washington Times ^ | 5/3/2009 | Joseph Curl

[Born Conservative]

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Saturday that it's time for the Republican Party to give up its "nostalgia" for the heyday of the Reagan era and look forward, even if it means stealing the winning strategy deployed by Democrats in the 2008 election.

"You can't beat something with nothing, and the other side has something. I don't like it, but they have it, and we have to be respectful and mindful of that," Mr. Bush said.

The former president's brother, often mentioned as a potential candidate in 2012, said President Obama's message of hope and change during the 2008 campaign clearly resonated with Americans.

"So our ideas need to be forward looking and relevant. I felt like there was a lot of nostalgia and the good old days in the [Republican] messaging. I mean, it's great, but it doesn't draw people toward your cause," Mr. Bush said.

"From the conservative side, it's time for us to listen first, to learn a little bit, to upgrade our message a little bit, to not be nostalgic about the past because, you know, things do ebb and flow."

The Florida governor joined former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor on Saturday at a small pizza parlor in Arlington for the inaugural event of the National Council for a New America (NCNA).

[TomGuy]

disaffected

If the disaffected Republicans (typically, conservatives) and disaffected Democrats (typically, conservatives/Reagan democrats) could get away from their party affiliation/identification and unite, they would have greater numbers than the lib-Democrats or mod-Republicans.

Until they do -- they will just continue to be disaffected.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

GOP is democrap lite.

[DTogo]

No, even if you don’t beat the Dems, it will (should anyway, but may fall on deaf ears) serve as a wake up call to Washington that the 2-party system is over.

[dinoparty]

How would electoral failure provide a wake up call to anyone?

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Ah, a total female ticket! I like it, both women are solid conservatives, but it will never fly.

Way too many men are not ready for that. But hey, some said that America was not ready for a Black President, let alone a Marxist.

[SteamShovel]

If this crap continues the GOP is dead!

And so is the USA.

The truth of the matter is, our election system works for two parties, but three or more divides opposition.

The Republicans are squandering their position as the party that opposes change for the worse and supports the principles that made this country great. In doing so, we end up only with a Communist party (RATS) and a Communist Lite party (RINO).

Until a critical mass of Patriots forms within ONE PARTY, the alternative is RATS in control with the "me too" RINOs.

I'd dearly love for the Republican party to just cease to exist. Then a true conservative party would be able to form and actually win enough votes.

[ckilmer]

This meeting was not held in a republican county.

The meeting was held in a democratic county.

The county will go majority Hispanic in another election cycle or two.

When you hear Jeb Bush talking you have to remember he needs American votes so he can sell out the country

Bilingual guys are double minded. He speaks with forked tongue.

[TomGuy]

Jeb Bush, GOP: Time to leave Reagan behind ("nostalgia" for the heyday of the Reagan era)

Hey Jeb.....

.....Reagan was RIGHT.

The irony is this:

How many of the GOP candidates in 2008 invoked the name of Reagan?

How many of the GOP candidates (including, possibly, Jeb) in 2012 will invoke the name of Reagan?

[IIRC, all of them did at one point or another in 2008. Wasn't that a drinking-game element for live debate and speech threads?]

[Will88]

But the unfortunate truth is, the same primary process that gave us Juan McCain could also give us Jeb Bush.

Blue states with little prospect of becoming red in the foreseeable future can select the Republican nominee, as they largely did for Juan. Conservatives better have a better strategy for 2012 than for 2008 where the vote was split among four or five, allowing Juan to get the nomination with barely 30% of the vote through Super Tuesday.

[Norman Bates]

First poster to say anything remotely constructive.

[kedd]

Thank you for those quotes. I’m so weary of republicans who believe becoming “moderates” is the way to win elections. Look at the November 2008 elections. How is that working out for them? The ultimate moderate got shot down. This is why I never consider myself a republican. I’m a conservative. Period.

[jla]

Former governors Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush joined Congressman Eric Cantor to talk health care, the economy and national security at the first town hall meeting for the National Council for a New America on Saturday. But the group steered clear of abortion and same-sex marriage -- wedge issues that have led to the defection of moderates and independents.

...and then we have Sarah Palin:

Video of Sarah Palin's speech at Right To Life dinner in Evansville, Indiana on Apr 16, 2009.

From Sarah Palin's Twitter page:

AKGovSarahPalin Piper, Trig & I just finished March of Dimes walk – what a great event! See how they promote healthy babies at http://tinyurl.com/cpqgso
about 18 hours ago from web

Three politicians sitting in a pizza parlor in Virginia, who won't talk about those 'pesky' pro-life issues but are more than willing to proclaim their eschewing of that 'nostalgic' notion of Ronald Reagan and all that great man stood for.
How many of you on the Right are also willing to forget about Reagan? How many wish to see his principles again leading the way for the G.O.P.?
Can there be a scintilla of doubt who, if he were with us today, Ronald Reagan would be supporting? No, there is not.

[Norman Bates]

“To what am I referring to? Katherine Harris of course!”

Get over it. Seriously.

[Mr Rogers]

New blood IS appropriate.

That means no to Jeb Bush. No to John McCain. And no to Mitt Romney. Three OLD BLOODS, and only a fool believes this is a LISTENING tour.

They are not touring to LISTEN, they are SAYING. Saying no to embarrassing tea parties. No to social conservatives. No to defense. And perhaps most of all, NO to Sarah Palin!

It is ‘Night of the Living Moderates’, with politicians who will not die.

[Bernard]

Interesting comment about leaving Ronald Reagan behind on today of all days. Isn’t this the 20th anniversary of the berlin Wall becoming a symbol of the past?

[ColoCdn]

Reagan quotes ping.

[Moonman62]

Why do RINOs like Jeb and Romney want to ditch Pres.Reagan?

Don't forget W and his dad. They are the ones who really ditched Reagan as I've been saying all along.

[TomGuy]

Jeb was my governor and he did a find job overall

His bro did a decent job as Governor of Texas. But he succumbed to the Peter Principle as President.

[nonliberal]

Romney, Cantor and Jeb:

Romney socialized the Massachussetts health care system and bankrupted the state
Barack Hussein Ocantor voted FOR the bank bailout and PRESENT on the auto bailout
Jeb Bush is, well, a Bush.
These three assclowns are the last ones the GOP needs dispensing advice.

[maggief]

“It’s time to form another party.”

I agree. The RINO strategy is to continue to move the GOP to the left while taking Conservative votes for granted. I say NO MORE.