Jeb: Reagan, Bush Sr. ‘would have hard time’ in new GOP

111219_jeb_bush_ap_328

From the New York Times:

“Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida said his father, George Bush, and Ronald Reagan would find themselves out of step with today’s Republican Party because of its strict adherence to ideology and the intensity of modern partisan warfare.

“Ronald Reagan would have, based on his record of finding accommodation, finding some degree of common ground, similar to my dad, they would have had a hard time if you define the Republican Party — and I don’t — as having an orthodoxy that doesn’t allow for disagreement,” Mr. Bush said at a question-and-answer session with reporters and editors held Monday morning in Manhattan by Bloomberg View.

“Back to my dad’s time or Ronald Reagan’s time,” he said, “they got a lot of stuff done with a lot of bipartisan support that right now would be difficult to imagine happening.”

I think that’s notable for several reasons. It helps to explain why Bush, like Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie and other more pragmatic Republicans, declined to run for president this cycle even though, as Jeb said last week, “This was probably my time.” They were unwilling to claim to believe the nonsense that is required to win the nomination in this day and age, and abandoned the field to the far-more-malleable and opportunistic Mitt Romney.

Jeb’s more honest appraisal of his party is a welcome if belated effort to pull it back from the brink and force it to become more responsible. As the former Florida governor noted last week:

“Here’s what I know to be true. Next year or the year after there’s going to have to be a grand bargain. We are on an unsustainable course. It is not possible to continue to do what we are going — what we’re doing today. It’s just not possible. And I think most people that have looked at our structural deficit problems would admit it. If they were put on a lie detector or, you know, under oath or something like that, they would admit it.”

Asked about comments to Congress that he would be willing to take a hypothetical $10 in budget cuts for every $1 in higher revenue, Bush said his willingness to take that deal shows that he is no longer seeking office as a Republican.

“It was living proof I’m not running for anything I think more than anything else,” Bush said.

I’ve said it before repeatedly: This nation needs a sane, rational and conservative Republican Party, and those adjectives — “sane, rational and conservative”– should not be and need not be contradictory, as they have become in recent years.

I agree with Jeb about the necessity of a grand bargain on the nation’s financial future. But I very much worry that Republican leadership and the Republican media machine have succeeded so well in drilling the “no new taxes” mantra into the head of their base that they no longer have any room in which to manuever and negotiate.

Given his statements in recent days, I suspect that Jeb Bush has had similar thoughts.

– Jay Bookman

1,055 comments Add your comment

USMC

June 11th, 2012
11:29 pm

“USMC Vortex has the best burger IMO”–Don’t forget

Well, there is actually hope for “Don’t Forget”! :-)

USMC

June 11th, 2012
11:32 pm

@They Both Suck…

I didn’t mean are you really “kidding” me… I meant “that sounds awesome! ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME!?!

I will take your recommendation next time I cook a burger on the grill (this weekend) Thanks! :-)

Jm

June 11th, 2012
11:36 pm

“Not even coffee, tea, Coca-cola, Pepsi, Mountain Dew?

Caffeine, the original gateway drug.”

Ok, guilty as charged.

Bro – dude, I wouldn’t want to try lying to you, I’m sure you’ve heard it all

USMC 11:23 – I wish. But yes, a pitcher of 420 + burgers + george’s + summerfest is very very difficult to beat

TBS – where does one get good sausage? Hard to find unless you go to NC IMO

Ok, I’m ducking out. Work…. tomorrow.

They BOTH suck

June 11th, 2012
11:36 pm

USMC

You will love it. 1/4 to 1/3 (tops) for every lb of hamburger.

Peace

Jm

June 11th, 2012
11:37 pm

“I wouldn’t want to try lying to you, I’m sure you’ve heard it all”

oh wait, maybe that’s why you’re always dropping the “pure BS” line :)

Brosephus™

June 11th, 2012
11:44 pm

jm

I use that line far more at work than I do here. :)

I have heard quite a bit, but my favorite is the person who’s never been arrested even when they have a criminal record. Once I suggest the idea that they let a friend or family member borrow their fingerprints, they realize how dumb it is to try to lie anymore.

Jm-pass Tsplost unless you really love congestion

June 11th, 2012
11:55 pm

Bro

Identity theft! :)

Don't Forget

June 11th, 2012
11:58 pm

USMC

June 11th, 2012
11:27 pm

“Yeah, who cares if Rick Scott was CEO of the company charged with the largest medicare fraud in history.”–Forgets everything
-not intended to be factual information…

Hey clueless, Rick Scott’s company BOUGHT many healthcare companies that HAD been deemed guilty of MISMANAGEMENT. He CLEANED them up. But don’t let facts get in your way.
Honesty is the best policy!

Yeah, honesty is the best policy. So why did Scott take the fifth amenment 75 times in a court deposition.

http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2010/oct/12/florida-democratic-party/rick-scott-dodges-answers-invoking-fifth-amendment/

And why did he take responsibility in a campaign ad because he was the CEO:

“The McCollum crowd says the hospital company I started was fined by the government for Medicare fraud.

Unfortunately, that’s true.

I wasn’t ever charged or even questioned by the authorities, but that’s not what matters.

What matters is that the company made mistakes. And as CEO I take responsibility and I learned from it.”

Rick Scott

http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2010/jun/04/rick-scott/rick-scott-former-healthcare-ceo-defends-columbiah/

You should have done your homework because you wouldn’t look so foolish now if you had.

Brosephus™

June 12th, 2012
12:03 am

Some of the stuff we hear is funnier than anything any comedian has ever delivered. The only thing that I ever worry about is someone hurting any of my family or friends to get back at me personally. There are a few countries that I will not visit because of the number of people I’ve sent back home.

Brosephus™

June 12th, 2012
12:06 am

Way past my quitting time

Catch y’all later

New Messiah!

June 12th, 2012
12:20 am

U Dumbocrats should be choosing your next great messiah!! U realize after u guys Riot in November because your guy lost that u will need to Move On like George Soros!

New Messiah!

June 12th, 2012
12:22 am

Rick scotts fraud dont hold a candle to solyndra? That was a fraud against all off the american people!!

The Thin Guy

June 12th, 2012
12:26 am

Would Bush One have a tough time fitting in with today’s GOP? Of course. He’s 87. Would be like Bookman trying to join the Cub Scouts. Neither the GOP nor the demoncraps have a moderate wing. Don’t have much use for either. The GOP wants my soul and the demoncraps want my wallet. Am more fond of my wallet. At least the Pubbies want to let us keep some of our money whereas the dims to take all of our money and have us sit us and beg and be grateful when they let us have some of it back. But to be fair about it there have been 3 great Democrats in American History: Andrew Jackson, Larry McDonald, and Zell Miller. They just don’t make ‘em like that anymore.

ODD OWL

June 12th, 2012
12:40 am

Romney-McConnell-Boehner ===> Bush-Cheney-Paulsen… Tea party Hero Mitttens Romney have taken the Republican party to the radical, extreme far right.. President Reagan, President Bush-1, Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater and even Bush/Cheney would be rejected by the extreme right wing, tea party controlled, Mutt Romney led Republican party today… Goldwater, Reagan and Bush-1 could not win a Republican primary today.. Romney and the tea party Republicans are too extreme for America…

G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)

June 12th, 2012
12:42 am

Yeah, especially since Zell is a republican.

ODD OWL

June 12th, 2012
12:45 am

The Democrats are entrenched centrist moderates… President Barack “the hawk” Obama is right of center and quite hawkish… All Americans who believe in moderation will find the welcome mat out at the Democrat party…

ODD OWL

June 12th, 2012
12:54 am

Rick Scott and all the state wide elected officials in Florida should be arrested and charge with treason, sedition and disobeying an direct order of the Federal Government concerning scott’s illegal voter roll purge… Rick Scott and his co-conspirators should be rounded up and shipped off to Git-Mo and held without trial or legal council…

Oscar

June 12th, 2012
1:01 am

They just don’t make ‘em like that anymore
++++++++++

Thank goodness.

Oscar

June 12th, 2012
1:01 am

Yeah, especially since Zell is a republican

__________

Either that or he is just insane. Not sure which. Seems to be a fine line.

Oscar

June 12th, 2012
1:03 am

Dumbocrats should be choosing your next great messiah!! U realize after u guys Riot in November because your guy lost that u will need to Move On like George Soros!

_____________

Nobody is going to riot. You predictions never come true and can’t be taken seriously. Come back when your meds wear off.

Oscar

June 12th, 2012
1:05 am

Putting pork sausage in a hamburger. Didn’t that kind of mixing used to be illegal in Georgia. What will liberals do next.

Oscar

June 12th, 2012
1:12 am

G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)

____________

Yes, I will vote no.

You are not going to tell me to go away again, are you, uppidity women?

I'sMe

June 12th, 2012
4:16 am

“Back to my dad’s time and Ronald Reagan’s time – they got a lot of stuff done with a lot of bipartisan suport,” he said. Reagan “would be criticized for doing the things that he did.”

The notion sparked debate amongst the “Real News” panel. Not in regards to whether Reagan would be welcome amongst todays Republicans, but whether it is today’s Democrats that are a shell of their former self. S.E. Cupp first reminded Jeb that while Reagan was reasonable and practical from the Oval Office, he held the conservative line on welfare reform, hawkish foreign policy, opposition to the PATCO strike, support of capital punishment, advance of the War on Drugs and attempt to nominate Robert Bork to the Supreme Court. The discussion got especially interesting though when the debate shifted to where liberal icnon John F. Kennedy would find himself in today’s Democratic Party; considering his 1 percent wealth, neoconservative foreign policy approach, balanced budget pledge, and push for lower income and corporate tax rates. From there, look just two decades back to Bill Clinton‘s support of Don’t Ask, Don Tell, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, and North American Free Trade Agreement.–S.E.Cupp

Mick

June 12th, 2012
5:55 am

The only thing I can say about jeb bush is, “beware of greeks bearing gifts”. He may be positioning himself as con lite but he still is a con. He is NOT an expert on education rather he is the fore runner of dismantling public education in favor of charter and private schools. Not to mention that he is in bed with all these fly by night testing companies. To me, he is a wolf in sheeps clothing which should caution all america to wisely heed this phrase: No more bush!!!!

Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!

June 12th, 2012
6:07 am

KMJones

June 12th, 2012
6:31 am

I’m not a Republican but Jeb hit it dead on!!!! I always heard he was a smart man….

Brosephus™

June 12th, 2012
6:32 am

Normal

That looks like one of those old Southern Bell rotary phones. :lol:

Screwball

June 12th, 2012
6:40 am

Juvenile political thought, Jay. Gee, why not go back to Abe Lincoln in today’s GOP. You don’t mention that Democrats like Jimmy Carter (circa 1976), Tip O’Neill, Scoop Jackson etc would have trouble with their party’s leftists as well. Politics are fluid.

Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!

June 12th, 2012
6:41 am

BHro,
My work shop/office is set up like Sam Spade’s P.I. office…all 1940-1950 stuff including a desk fan. I also have a rotary phone hooked up as my main outside line. My Grandkids are just amazed with it. It’s a hoot to watch them call home just to use it. :)

Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!

June 12th, 2012
6:42 am

Bro,
Sorry about the “H”…fat fingers and a complete refusal to read what I write, :)

Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!

June 12th, 2012
6:50 am

Screwball ,
Lincoln would have the same problem as Obama…he’d never carry the South… ;)

Good Nom de Blog, by the way…

Donovan

June 12th, 2012
6:54 am

What you sow you must also reap.

When you Democrats walk off the reservation with people like Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Franken, Shumer, Waxman, Boxer, Gore, Kerry, Edwards, Obama, etc., compromise with these nuts is gone. Bipartisanship is totally out the window.

The Bush family was totally accomodating to you lunatics and see where it got them.

You Democrats started this assault against conservatism way back in the 80’s. Now we are not taking anymore prisoners.

Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!

June 12th, 2012
7:03 am

Donovan

June 12th, 2012
6:54 am

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Former Reagan Republican

June 12th, 2012
7:07 am

Thank you, Jeb. I could not agree more. That is why I joined the Libertarian Party in 2008. Jeb, come join us in the LP.

JamVet

June 12th, 2012
7:09 am

The Democrats don’t revere Carter like the irrational neocons idiotically idolize Ronnie though, screwball.

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
7:10 am

mornin’.

When you Democrats walk off the reservation

heh. I think someone just got put on Josef’s permanent sh-t list.

Rightwing Troll

June 12th, 2012
7:18 am

“Rick scotts fraud dont hold a candle to solyndra? That was a fraud against all off the american people!!”

Because Medicare has NOTHING to with the American people?

Wait.. you’re that guy…aren’t you?

That guy at the Tea bag rally holding the sign that said “Keep Your Damn Filthy Government Hands Off My Medicare!!!!”, that was you!!!

hryder

June 12th, 2012
7:18 am

VOTE OUT ALL ELECTED INCUMBENTS IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS which might lead to our countries survival and the halting of vote purchasing with taxpayer funds to remain in political power which the current elected egocentric maniacs desire above all else except for life.

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
7:20 am

He may be positioning himself as con lite but he still is a con.

Do you believe he was ever called “Jeb” as a child?

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least that he adopted that faux-folksy sh-t when he decided he wanted to politic like Daddy, and that stupid made-up name would be his hook.

Brosephus™

June 12th, 2012
7:23 am

Normal

No problem. I like the classic stuff too. I still have a 3 track reel-to-reel tape deck. ;)

—————–

Wait.. you’re that guy…aren’t you?

That guy at the Tea bag rally holding the sign that said “Keep Your Damn Filthy Government Hands Off My Medicare!!!!”, that was you!!!

I’m glad I had already sat my coffee down before I read that one.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I must say, though, it is not nice to pick on the mentally challenged.

Recon 0311 2533

June 12th, 2012
7:41 am

“Above all, God wanted us to love others,” she noted. “It’s not up to me to judge anyone.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of same sex marriage.

Thomas Heyward Jr.

June 12th, 2012
7:45 am

“I must say, though, it is not nice to pick on the mentally challenged.”
.
Spoken like a true TSA or other government thug.

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
7:45 am

I wonder how many fans she’s gonna lose this week and next…

How many did Garth Brooks lose when he sang this ditty?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1419784736758648402

Doggone/GA

June 12th, 2012
7:49 am

“Not exactly a ringing endorsement of same sex marriage”

Not exactly a ringing condemnation

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
7:55 am

from Bros’ link:

Underwood, who is married to hockey star and fellow Christian Mike Fisher, says she and her husband attend a gay-friendly nondenominational church. “As a married person myself, I don’t know what it’s like to be told I can’t marry somebody I love,” she said. “I can’t imagine how that must feel.”

“I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love.”

It’s certainly sounds like an endorsement for marriage equality.

Whether it’s “ringing” or not certainly sounds like nitpicking at this point.

Adam

June 12th, 2012
7:57 am

TBG: Adam, would “Yeah, you’re right, the EXTREMES in EITHER party have zero interest in being moderate” be too much for you to say. Why is it that you MUST be right, even if you have to change the initial statement to do so?

The statement you implied I should have said and the one I actually made are both correct and not mutually exclusive. So I am not sure why you are trying to imply I am twisting things around to make myself correct. Of course extremes have zero interest in being moderate. But you act like I can’t point out that the sides do not approach the extremes equally at this time.

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
8:00 am

[T]he sides do not approach the extremes equally at this time

Nice and succinct. I think we have a winnah.

Brosephus™

June 12th, 2012
8:03 am

Spoken like a true TSA or other government thug.

Spoken like a true Ron Paul zombie or jock strap holder.

—————-

dB

I had not heard that one before. Good question..

I'sMe

June 12th, 2012
8:06 am

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
8:12 am

The free market takes over.

Read between those lines. They’re wussing out of the pre-existing conditions provisions.

And besides, it’s a “pledge” by several businesses. Last I checked, that and two fitty gets you a ride on MARTA

Tundra Dude

June 12th, 2012
8:18 am

Jeb: Reagan, Bush Sr. ‘would have hard time’ in new GOP

I disagree. With all the Tea Party-approved candidates dropping out, I think Bush41 cudda beat out the Cayman Islands dude for the nomination.

Dixie Chicks got it right....

June 12th, 2012
8:21 am

…they knew that history was about to be made with the “worst” U.S.Presidet ever…George W. Bush….they paid an unfair price for their comments…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pojL_35QlSI

TaxPayer

June 12th, 2012
8:26 am

Additionally, they all pledged to continue to offer a simple process for patients who want to appeal when their health insurance claims have been denied.

I hear the insurance companies have even implemented a simple form for the simple process:

Customer Inquiry for payment:

Will you pay?

Company Reply:

No.

And the best part is that the company reply section comes pre-populated to allow for faster customer service and cost savings since the form does not need to be mailed in.

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
8:30 am

TaxPayer, don’t be a meaniehead. After all, think of all the tangible value we American citizens get from the private health insurance industry.

Williebkind

June 12th, 2012
8:30 am

“they knew that history was about to be made with the “worst” U.S.Presidet ever…George W. Bush….they paid an unfair price for their comments…”

I am so happy the Dixie Chicks have one remaining fan.

G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)

June 12th, 2012
8:31 am

Oscar, thank you for voting against tsplost; I promise not to tell you to go away again. That wasn’t very nice of me, especially since you were kind to me when I first came on this blog.

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
8:34 am

By the way, I wasn’t really all that tuned in to the mainstream media yesterday. Did this story get much play at all?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/fed-americans-wealth-dropped-40-percent/2012/06/11/gJQAlIsCVV_story.html?hpid=z1

I see some links to the Federal Reserve’s findings about middle-class family wealth taking a dive, in fairly prominent outlets, but not all that many.

Was it on the front pages / lead TV news stories?

Should I be shocked if it wasn’t?

Dixie Chicks got it right....

June 12th, 2012
8:35 am

Williebkind

June 12th, 2012
8:30 am

So True I am a fan…and I am happy that they were able to bring about the truth! Maybe you might want to become a fan also!! The truth will set your mind free!!

Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette

June 12th, 2012
8:38 am

Heavens above, Jesus Christ would have a hard time in the new GOP.

TaxPayer

June 12th, 2012
8:39 am

After all, think of all the tangible value we American citizens get from the private health insurance industry.

What. Did they start promising to provide postage-paid payment envelopes? They’ll just tack the cost on to the premium. By the way, did anyone else notice that the insurance companies are not promising to keep the requirement that they will accept folks with pre-existing conditions or that they will spend at least 80% of customer premiums on the customers. I’m sure there are other details not yet revealed as well. Most likely to do with premium increases based on age, etc. I think it pretty obvious why they are willing to keep young adults on their parent’s policies though.

Divide and Conquer

June 12th, 2012
8:39 am

Awesome Jay; almost 1,000 comments. Do you get a bonus for more than 1,000? You should. :-)

Oblama

June 12th, 2012
8:39 am

Read his entire conversation. Any Republican would have a difficult time dealing with today’s Senate and President because they refuse to compromise. Good try JAY but no cigar.

Mick

June 12th, 2012
8:41 am

Someday soon, many will be saying this line: I didn’t leave the gop, the gop left me. How true that will be…

godless heathen

June 12th, 2012
8:41 am

I see some links to the Federal Reserve’s findings about middle-class family wealth taking a dive, in fairly prominent outlets, but not all that many.

Was it on the front pages / lead TV news stories?

Should I be shocked if it wasn’t?

They were yakking about it on Morning Joe this AM. Almost all due to the housing market tanking.

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
8:42 am

By the way, did anyone else notice that the insurance companies are not promising to keep the requirement that they will accept folks with pre-existing conditions or that they will spend at least 80% of customer premiums on the customers.

yeah, first thing I noticed. They’re cherry picking a few nice-sounding provisions.

It’s pure PR of course; they know that the role they played in this clusterf### is going to wind up, at some point, being exposed and Americans will be mightily pissed when the Roberts court throws its hissyfit (which I’m betting they will), so at least they can try to say “Hey, we’re on YOUR side!”

Mick

June 12th, 2012
8:44 am

By the way, as much as the cons hate and detest nancy pelosi, at least she knew how to run the house and get things done. With the boehner at the helm, the one thing he accomplishes quite effectively is putting the house into recess. Now, some would say that’s a good thing but in the end all it really helps is his tanning parlor and the golf courses. American citizens having their congress working? Not so much…

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
8:44 am

They were yakking about it on Morning Joe this AM.

Well, that’s something at least.

St Simons - we're on Island time

June 12th, 2012
8:45 am

our internal survey of clients who are employers indicate that all plan
to either keep or increase payroll in the next financial quarter.

I know tourist areas tend to be artificially inflated, but we are also
leading indicators for the economy as a whole.

So, no matter how much the Republicans ‘get their crazy on’
it appears we are slowly crawling out of the Bush wreckage.

Tundra Dude

June 12th, 2012
8:45 am

Heavens above, Jesus Christ would have a hard time in the new GOP

I noticed all those claiming to be called by god, dropped out.

Paul

June 12th, 2012
8:49 am

morning, sfd 8:34

Saw that in the paper this morning. The entire article is quite sobering and horrific. Who got hit the hardest? Middle class an minorities. How long will it take to recover? Years and years. Go to related articles – who recovered and in many cases are ahead of where they were now? The super wealthy.

I know many on the Right aren’t big on nuance (we won’t even get into accuracy) but they seem to be stuck on the “Blame Bush” mantra. (For the record, I was critical for the length of time the Administration kept referring to Bush by name, rather than focusing on the conditions, system and cause). But here’s the nuance part: maybe I’m missing it, but it seems to me a long time since the administration has referred to Bush. What they have done is describe the magnitude of the event, when it occurred and what makes this much more serious than anything most Americans have experienced in their lifetimes.

I think that’s a reasonable approach. It’s also more than nuanced, but I still expect to hear those on the Right continue the chorus of “All Democrats do is blame Bush.”

Finn McCool (The System Isn't Broken; It's Fixed ~ from an Occupy sign)

June 12th, 2012
8:50 am

Spitzer with some good ideas:
The economy is lousy for kids just out of college or high school. How about a year of national service? This should be the modern-day WPA: We will give you a job—it can be enlisting in the military if you choose. But we will pay you, give you skills, keep you off the streetsand, by the way, cover your student debts for the time you are in the program. Slay the student-debt issue as part of this, and align yourself with community and patriotism.

slate.com

Sunshine State

June 12th, 2012
8:51 am

Rick Scott: Florida Suing Federal Government Over Voter Purge

Two weeks after Florida defied a U.S. Department of Justice order to stop trying to purge as many as 182,000 people it suspects are non-citizens from voter rolls, the state and U.S. governments both fired the legal equivalent of live rounds Monday.
The Justice Department said it will sue Florida in federal court for violating two federal laws that prevent states from suppressing voters.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/rick-scott-florida-suing-government-voter-purge_n_1588012.html

St Simons - we're on Island time

June 12th, 2012
8:51 am

The real Jesus would be thrown out of today’s GOP.
waaaaay too liberal for them.
He would then sue them for slander, and win.

Paul

June 12th, 2012
8:51 am

Morning, Granny

“Jesus Christ would have a hard time in the new GOP.”

You mean that socialist, wealth redistributing, tradition-breaking, pro-women activist that so many on the Right adore?

marc

June 12th, 2012
8:52 am

Today’s GOP got done exactly what they wanted to get done….hate Obama with all their might…and most likely, right out of office. Now, go ahead and tell me again it had nothing to do with his race.

Not that everyone in the GOP is racist…..they’re not; but most stood by and watched as hate speak was spoken…muslim, birther, radical, socialist, un-american….spoken loud and often and rarely condemned by GOP leadership. They made their point: Barack Obama is not our President. Really?….1 step up and 2 steps back.

Reagan and Bush Sr….would have another message for today’s GOP….”you should be ashamed of yourself”.

barking frog

June 12th, 2012
8:53 am

An unpopular ACA decision on the heels of Bush v. Gore
could get a constitutional
rethink of SCOTUS decisions.
Also with the Carter draft
dodger and Reagan Mexican
Amnesty and various pardon
sales it may be time to
revisit the Executive Clemency thingie..

.

Paul

June 12th, 2012
8:55 am

Oblama

“Any Republican would have a difficult time dealing with today’s Senate and President because they refuse to compromise. ”

I know what you mean. What can you do with a President and Senate who consistently say “we don’t care what’s been given away to some groups in the past, we don’t care what special treatment some groups get, we don’t care what’s happened in the economy, we don’t care that deficits are piling up at record rates, we will never, ever, no way, no how, no where EVER vote for a tax increase.”

(but we might just talk about eliminating deductions and stuff like that so we get lots and lots more money from some groups, but… wink, wink, that’s not really a tax increase).

godless heathen

June 12th, 2012
8:58 am

Who got hit the hardest? Middle class an minorities.

Middle class because all they got is a house, minorities because the housing markets that were hardest hit are where a lot of minorites live. Not like it was some conspiracy against the middle class and minorities.

If you view your house as your home instead of an investment (as I do) this paper loss is nothing but a loss on paper and not worth crying a lot about.

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
8:58 am

Paul, I read your post, but I have to come back to this:

I was critical for the length of time the Administration kept referring to Bush by name

Did they really do it all that often? That’s really not how I remember it. What I mostly remember is that almost any time the Administration would talk about the magnitude of the recession and remind people of its history, it became somehow shorthanded into “blaming Bush.”

I’m not saying you have been bamboozled or are remembering wrong; maybe it’s just a matter of our respective expectations

kayaker 71

June 12th, 2012
9:00 am

Compromise….. what the hell is that? Scott Walker didn’t compromise one bit. He stood his ground for what he thought was right and won. Property taxes down or staying the same, turned a 3.5B dollar shortfall into a 140M surplus, more money to the schools, smaller class size…… and all it cost was collective bargaining for the unions. And all done in 18mos. Show me a liberal governor who has accomplished a fraction of this. Liberals hate to lose.

Alabama the Heart of Dixie

June 12th, 2012
9:01 am

Civil rights groups urge immigrants to use hot line

The Southern Poverty Law Center is advocating a legal hot line for immigrants in Alabama in response to a recent change to that state’s immigration law, the center said Wednesday.
Alabama, a state that heavily depends on immigrant labor, now has what is considered by some as one of the harshest anti-immigration laws in the United States.
The hot line launched in September, shortly after the state’s original immigration law went into effect. The law had several provisions, including one that allowed police to check a person’s immigration status if they suspected the person may be in the country illegally. The law was changed in May in what lawmakers said was an attempt to fix some of its unintended consequences and to simplify the law. The new law also clarified what constitutes proper documentation and relaxed provisions dealing with religious leaders and subcontractors who unknowingly hire illegal workers.

http://articles.cnn.com/2012-06-06/us/us_alabama-immigrant-hot-line_1_national-immigration-law-center-immigration-status-anti-immigrant?_s=PM:US

Brosephus™

June 12th, 2012
9:01 am

I think that’s a reasonable approach. It’s also more than nuanced, but I still expect to hear those on the Right continue the chorus of “All Democrats do is blame Bush.”

If you refer to the clusterf**k that this country was subjected to, that is considered blaming Bush by some people, even if you never mention him by name. Nevermind the fact that the policies we’ve been subjected to since Carter have all aided in some form or fashion to things. What we experienced in 2008 was simply the perfect storm of all things that could go wrong.

Brosephus™

June 12th, 2012
9:04 am

Liberals hate to lose.

You’re gonna stick to that one, really??? Especially when Conservatives consider compromising as losing??? C’mon man… You couldn’t sell that fecal matter to the Roto Rooter man.

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
9:04 am

If you view your house as your home instead of an investment

Godless, I kinda figured that’s where you were going with your remark @ 8.41, and I was going to let it go.

But (at the risk of hair splitting) that’s kind of a chicken-egg thing. Americans are incentivized nine ways to Tuesday to grab that bottom rung and buy something, anything, rather than rent a house/apartment. Not just through tax policy but via a million free-market messages delivered by associated industries that promote home ownership.

Of course people should view their homes as homes, and their investment portfolio as something else entirely. Of course they should diversify. In theory. In practice, it is unreasonable for things to work out that way for a big chunk of the population.

That said, I to don’t see the Great Recession as a “some conspiracy against the middle class and minorities” and I don’t think that’s a useful take-away from history. But they did get screwed, and our policies should be crafted to ensure that’s less likely to happen in the future.

(and no, I haven’t had enough coffee yet to expound on how to make THAT happen in 25 words or less.)

G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)

June 12th, 2012
9:05 am

PS to Oscar, “upiddy women” rock & rule! :)

stands for decibels

June 12th, 2012
9:05 am

You couldn’t sell that fecal matter to the Roto Rooter man.

well, someone sold it to Kayaker, so I guess it’s worth something.

Paul

June 12th, 2012
9:08 am

morning, godless

I told kids and friends who asked before the crash ‘don’t look at a house as a way to make money. Look at it as a place to live. Period.” Even advised one guy to rent. He bought. Within two years the crash hit. He was upside a quarter million.

Those who got hit and saddled with huge debt were those who’d just entered the housing market, who were likely just looking for a home for their new family, not looking for a money-making scheme.

Thomas

June 12th, 2012
9:09 am

Buffett Pounces in Private-Jet Slump With $9.6B Deal

Further states that his secretary pays more in taxes than the announced deal.

Mick

June 12th, 2012
9:11 am

yaker

Nice glossy picture of little scotty walker there, look closely and you’ll see that the 3.5 billion deficit was created by his giving tax cuts and what was the payoff? Wisconsin, one of the worst in the US for job creation during his term, fact…

Paul

June 12th, 2012
9:12 am

sfd

“Did they really do it all that often? That’s really not how I remember it.”

I’d really have to go back and look, but to me anything over a relatively few number of months, say six (and that just because it’s a great Battlestar number) is too long. I remember giving the example of hiring a new CEO and if he kept coming back to “when David was CEO and engineered this mess I’m digging out of” it would not fly for long. But saying “Let’s review our progress. Here’s where we started and the conditions. This is what we’re doing. Our latest update is this is where we could be in N months.”

I admit that’s more clinical and less emotional, therefore not political, but to me it demonstrates working the problem.

I do wholeheartedly agree with you – “Obama blames Bush” has become, for the Right, just another variation of “let me tell you what Democrats really believe….”

barking frog

June 12th, 2012
9:13 am

Without genitals and bowels
our conversations would
lack a lot of emphasis.

kayaker 71

June 12th, 2012
9:13 am

The labor unions are fuming and with good cause. They have lost 60,000 members in WI since the election. Now that union dues are not deducted directly by the state from their paychecks, they have a choice. Less members, less dues. Less dues, less power over election contributions going to Democrats.

JamVet

June 12th, 2012
9:14 am

Further states that his secretary pays more in taxes…

You have got to be one immature individual to even write something that childish…

Doggone/GA

June 12th, 2012
9:14 am

“Those who got hit and saddled with huge debt were those who’d just entered the housing market, who were likely just looking for a home for their new family, not looking for a money-making scheme”

Yes, they were…but then if you are dumb enough to spend a quarter of a miilion, or half a million dollars for a 30 year old house that cost MAYBE $20,000 to build – that’s beyond foolish.

Owning a house is nice, but buying at inflated prices is just as dumb as buying stocks at their highest price. You can only lose in the long run.

godless heathen

June 12th, 2012
9:15 am

hat said, I to don’t see the Great Recession as a “some conspiracy against the middle class and minorities” and I don’t think that’s a useful take-away from history. But they did get screwed, and our policies should be crafted to ensure that’s less likely to happen in the future.

And I agree. But if we just say the net worth of the middle class and minorities tanked without the caveat of why then it sounds like the system singled them out. And of course the net worth of the uber wealthy has not taken such a big hit. Their net worth is typically not in a single basket like real estate. Although a well to do friend of mine was crying the other day because his Gulf Coast Condo had dropped in value from $350K to $150K and the bank was calling in the note.

Mighty Righty

June 12th, 2012
9:16 am

Paul

Do you think you could work for a company for 41 months, be unable to correct the problems you were hired to fix, blame the person you replaced, and keep your job? Most company’s would have let you go long before now. Business does not retain people who do not produce.

Paul

June 12th, 2012
9:16 am

kayaker 71

I realize you were addressing ‘no compromise’ on the state level, but on another level, here’s what a Republican icon had to say: (I know, I know this just proves he’s a RINO, right?)

““You can’t cut spending your way out of this hole. You can’t grow your way out of this hole, and you can’t tax your way out of this hole. So put that in your pipe and smoke it, we tell these people. This is madness. If you want to be a purist, go somewhere on a mountaintop and praise the east or something. But if you want to be in politics, you learn to compromise. And you learn to compromise on the issue without compromising yourself. Show me a guy who won’t compromise and I’ll show you a guy with rock for brains.”

‘Alan Simpson Slams Fellow Republicans For Lack Of Compromise’

http://www.inquisitr.com/244137/alan-simpson-slams-fellow-republicans-for-lack-of-compromise/

TaxPayer

June 12th, 2012
9:18 am

Buy high, sell low. That strategy works just as well with housing as it does with stocks.

ragnar danneskjold

June 12th, 2012
9:19 am

Jeb errs; only egomaniacs would have a hard time in the “new” GOP, that is, the one that stands for individual rights against the power of the state.

OedipusTax

June 12th, 2012
9:21 am

The key element of the quote by Jeb: “if you define the Republican Party — and I don’t — as having an orthodoxy that doesn’t allow for disagreement,” But Jay Bookman does. His lead paragraph is a lie. I would think it would be beneath the AJC to employ a blattant liar as a columnist. But, no, the AJC and Jay Bookman continue to set new lows in journalism, honesty, and ethics.