In eulogy, Alan Simpson praises George H.W. Bush for raising taxes (after "read my lips")

The Washington Times ^ | December 05, 2018 01:35 PM | Philip Klein

[Stalwart]

GHWB knew it was a lie when he said “Read my lips...”

Jon Meacham’s hagiography reveals the post-election call Bush made to Dukakis.

In the following YouTube, I’ve reset the start point to a couple minutes before the admission, for context:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQIZo4lj8H4&feature=youtu.be&t=2556

[JPJones]

” it’s for our country that I fought for.’”

I believe that to be totally sincere.

But raising taxes is NOT something you should be fighting for.

It didn’t help the country.

[DiogenesLamp]

If Bush hadn't broken that promise, there would have been no substantial movement towards Ross Perot.

I looked at Ross Perot precisely because Bush broke his promise. I wanted him out. I think others felt the same way.

Bush created the Ross Perot phenomena.

[dead]

Well, at least it worked and the debt was eliminated.

[colorado tanker]

Both Simpson and Bush 41 were deliberately ignorant about political economy, even after Reagan schooled them. The ruling class will not shake its addiction to government revenues.

[DiogenesLamp]

At that time he thought it was best for the country so he thought of the country over himself.

God, I hate this sh*t argument. The country's money problems have never been on the tax side, they have always been on the *SPENDING* side. Raising taxes *NEVER* solves the problem because spending goes up with taxes. (As it did in this case too.)

The idea that giving the junkie another hit will work out better this time is idiot stupid. It is not "best for the country" to give the junkie another hit. What is "best for the country" is keeping human garbage pieces of sh*t like Bill Clinton out of positions of power. *THAT* is what is best for the country, and Bush blew it in the most collossally stupid way possible.

I don't think there has ever been a worse political blunder in American history than breaking the promise that was the *ONLY* thing that made people want to vote for you.

Who are these people who thought giving the spending junkie another hit was going to be "best for the country"?

What is wrong with their thinking process?

[ealgeone]

Why isn’t there ever a discussion about cutting spending and how that’d be good for the country?

[oh8eleven]

And that raising of taxes gave us Bill Clinton.
Not as much as Ross Perot did.

[LeonardFMason]

Go away Alan Simpson. Way past your SELL BY date.

[bert]

Hey...... the man was great. Fantastic performance. He was there precisely because he needed to be there as a very close friend of the President 41

I especially liked the parts where he pulled the speech from his hip pocket and licked his finger to turn the pages of his speech

[bert]

Conservative self righteous sanctimony elected Bill Clinton

Conservatives who stupidly voted for Ross Perot are responsible for the stain on monica’s blue Dress

[DiogenesLamp]

Bush is responsible for running off his base. I was part of his base, and his breaking of his promise despite the obvious trap the Democrats were laying for him, was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I looked at Clinton and I looked at Perot. I finally went back to Bush, but only because I didn't have a non-evil/non-insane choice to pick from.

If the Democrats had nominated Sam Nunn, I would have vote for him just to get rid of that backstabbing Bush.

[GranTorino]

I agree. It was the tax lie not Perot that cost him a second term. At least where I’m from.

[HighSierra5]

Then Bill raised taxes immediately again in 93.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Bush got sandbagged by the sleazy dishonest greasy dog squeeze George Mitchell who promised serious spending cuts in return. Never cut a penny and publicly laughed at Bush.

---

So, G.W.Bush was naive?

[The_Media_never_lie]

So he praised Bush for being a typical politician that lies to his constituents? Got it.

---

Sounds like he was praising his own skilled statecraft and legislative acumen, something mere citizens could not hope to understand the complexities thereof. And, of course last but not least, George H. W. Bush, who dutifully took one for the team.

[alternatives?]

“Conservative self righteous sanctimony elected Bill Clinton”

My recollection was the polls showed Clinton won even if Perot dropped out.

The good news was that Clinton winning led to Bush win.... never mind.

[Jimmy Valentine]

He was an honorable man and made the mistake of thinking he was dealing with honorable men. Mitchell was as slimy as as two oysters screwing in a bucket of snot.

[RightLady]

Wasn’t there an indictment of Casper Winberger (sec Def) a couple weeks before the election when Bush had moved up almost even with Clinton. The polls flattened out, Clinton won, and the indictment was dropped. Everyone forgets this.

[Sequoyah101]

Bush trusted the wrong people. He paid his money without getting the goods. He should have used escrow.