Bush Gives Advice To The GOP

It would seem a bit counterintuitive for the GOP to take political advice from the man that drove it to its current state of disrepair and minority status. But George W. Bush offered a bit of sage analysis during an interview on "Fox News Sunday."

Acknowledging the cyclical nature of the political process, the president urged his party to abandon litmus tests and be more inclusive on policy issues, specifically immigration.

"Look, obviously we got whipped in 2008 and there will be a new wave of leadership arriving on the scene," Bush told Fox's Brit Hume. "But it's very important for our party not to narrow its focus, not to become so inward looking that we drive people away from a philosophy that is compassionate and decent and I -- my call for our party is to be open-minded about different people's opinions. We shouldn't have litmus tests whether or not you are a Republican. And we should be open-minded about big issues like immigration reform. Because if they're viewed anti somebody, if the party is viewed as anti-immigrant, then another fellow may say, well if they're against the immigrant, then they may be against me. We have to be a party FOR a better future."

Every political party and politician, of course, describes itself as Big Tent in focus. But it's been particularly interesting to watch as members of the Bush administration have broached the topic of minority politics. Karl Rove, at a forum debating the legacy of the man he helped make president, warned that the GOP would suffer even longer-term setbacks if it did not find a way to reach black and Latino voters.

Democrats, of course, recognize this as well, arguing that the switch in the Hispanic vote towards Barack Obama represented the single most important development of the '08 election. And in private -- and sometimes in public -- they will concede that Bush deserves credit for sticking his neck out on the immigration reform debates in '07. Not necessarily because the policy was humane -- but because it was smart politics, which his party ultimately rejected.

Comments

[Wilbur]

My advice to the GOP would be the same thing that D-i-c-k Cheney uttered to Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) on the floor of the Senate a couple of years ago.

Wilbur

[greatlardini]

In capital letters, with lots of exclamation points.

[SunnyT]

Hello ... if they were open-minded (i.e. intelligent) ... they would not be Republicans.

[rabiddog6708]

In other words.....don't be like me.

[Georgia1992]

So correct!

[Tabasco]

"..it's very important for our party not to narrow its focus, not to become so inward looking that we drive people away from a philosophy that is COMPASSIONATE and decent and I -- my call for our party is to be open-minded about different people's opinions."

Pure comic genius..... or clueless clod.

Either way, its funny as hell.

[JerseyBob]

The Decider, referring to Republican ideology when he speaks of "....a philosophy that is compassionate and decent..." continues to insult. He, nor the supposedly intelligent Republican right, seem not to have an understanding of the condescending nature of their use of the word compassion. Are there rings to be kissed? Genuflections to be made?

I don't remember the exact line fromTreasure of the Sierra Madre but there's a line that goes something like "Badges? We don't need your stinking badges!" Read compassion here.

So go back to where ever you came from. Put your trailing ermine robe in storage and give your luggish ring of compassion to an appraiser who will tell you it's glass. Godspeed and enjoy retirement.

(I just walked the dog and am listening to his new conference where he is again referring to compassion. 'nuff already!)

[PrickliestPear]

There are two things that are funny about this:

1. Bush is actually right about something.

2. The GOP will almost certainly do the exact opposite of what he's saying.

"Open-mindedness" is not a conservative trait. And conservatives love litmus tests -- anything that clearly delineates who's in the "in group" and who's in the "out group."

[solarian]

gop is open minded as bush and cheney not

[donttasemebro]

He dares to speak about party affiliation litmus tests after what his administration did at the DOJ? The hypocrisy is mind boggling.

[Ira7]

It's obvious the dummy is so frazzled by being such a failure that NOW he wants to be loved.

He didn't care when the majority of people couldn't stand him, because he still had his die-hard fans who would excuse away anything he did.

But he screwed things up so bad that even THEY abandoned him.

[rextrek]

Forget it - the GOP will ALWAYS stick to thier GOD,Gays and GUNS mantra to lather thier base.....PERIOD!

[BigHeadTodd]

REACTIONARY party politics is the most divisive movement in this nation's history. All they ever do is REACT to ideas that differ from their own by just saying "no" no matter the merits of the program for the nation's greater good.

There is no such thing as an "open mind" among that cabal.

[Yurdelite]

Don't you just love how Republicans do whatever dirt they want when in control then tell the other party in control how things should run and they should be included even though they treated you like crap?

REPUBLICAN D U M M I E S:

S H U T U P>>>

[taricaziz]

The legacy Pres. is almost gone.

[hortonhearsawho2]

I Almost got laid...just doesn't have the same appeal.

[Social Construct]

Hindsight is a funny thing. Rip Van Winkle awakes!

[greatlardini]

"Do as I didn't ", sayeth the George.