Posted on 05/03/2009 6:05:21 AM PDT by 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).
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The other leg of the socialist beast.
“You have sat for too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”
That wasn't the "message" Obama was peddling. In fact, it looked more like "make me the first Negro President because it's historic and you'll feel good".
There was absolutely nothing else in the guy's campaign that was positive.
If you take a stand, and you make it a very clear difference between the two parties, you set exact goals, and actually intend to implement them if you win, you do something which has been absent for some time - you make a difference between the parties and the candidates and offer the electorate a choice.
Jeb, if you're looking for a roadmap, might I point out attacking the vast amounts of money that is being spent, the huge tax raises that have already gone into effect, and the outright taking of private property by the federal government, destroying investments for private citizens and ensuring there is no chance of recovery for those companies?
If you can't beat them (in the arena of principles and ideas), become more like them.
It seems clear to me that a return to Reaganism WOULD represent hope and change - REAL hope and change.
Let us not forget the the First George Bush lost the nomination to Ronald Reagon - not even close! Without Reagon, there would have been no Bush presidency at all because Daddy wasn’t anymore “Republican” than young George. Considering our choices (Gore and Kerry) Bush was easily the better of the pickings but now is the time to get back to the orginal Republican values. The Bush family, themselves, have largely been the downfall of the Republican party - Jeb is simply trying to divert our attention from the truth of the matter.
I agree as I am Bushed out as well. However, I also can see Jeb’s point. It's kind of like down in Alabama; whenever the University of Alabama has as a bad season (didn't win the national championship) the alumni association would hold a seance at the Bear's grave to attempt his resurrection. The fact that the Bryant die hards would not let the Bear go so to speak, hurt their football program for many years. Hope the parable makes sense. I am not suggesting however that conservatives should give up their core principles and become liberals-light. Just need some new blood and new ideas on how to grow the base and market the product better.
Can the Bushes PLEASE go away already???
..their jealousy of the Reagan legacy is what contributed greatly to most of the failures of Bush 41 and 43. This kind of attitude is what Karl Rove fed off of and branded RINOism as Compassionate Conservatism. It may be time for something new, but all this talk of “leaving Reagan behind” is obnoxious because the Bushes themselves saw to it that Reagan was left behind by abandoning his principles while they were in office....
Buzz words for liberalism, especially "relevant". Time to flush the Bushies.
What’s that Jeb? The Democrats don’t eat their own. YOU do. I don’t remember Reagan trying to destroy other members of the party.
To what am I referring to? Katherine Harris of course! She diligently did her job to give your brother the highest office in the land, and did you show any gratitude? NO! You tried to destroy her within the party. We remember Jeb.
We will leave Reagan behind when the ‘RATS leave Roosevelt and Kennedy behind.
Hey Jeb.....
.....Reagan was RIGHT.
His message is timeless.
Sarah Palin will never abandon Ronald Reagan for political expediency. We cannot abandon Sarah Palin.
Thanks for coming, Governor. Sorry it didn’t work out. Best of luck to you in your continued job search.
The tent called Liberty is so vast it could fit whoever in the whole world wanted to be in it. Why do these RINOs think we need them?
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