Jeb Bush: GOP Needs To Forget Reagan

Washington Times:

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.

Read the whole story: Washington Times

Comments

[filo]

Hey Jeb !

I'll make you a deal. I'll forget about Ronnie Raygun if you forget about ever running for public office again, especially the presidency !

[1differentdrummer]

""The Republican Party is founded on some common-sense conservative principles that are as effective today as they've always been." List those principles, please.

[RobertHenryEller]

The Republican President who Republicans need to reprise (for themselves, anyway; President Obama is doing a not bad job of this) is Dwight David Eisenhower.

[mgoblue08]

Just like I was against people judging Hillary based on her last name, I'm against doing the same to Jeb. Seems like a smart man speaking the truth! I get so annoyed with the Republican obsession with Reagan. I'm glad somebody finally said it!

[RobertHenryEller]

True, but remember where Jeb "stood" on Terry Schiavo.

Also, keep in mind that, when it comes to last names, Bushes do not ignore theirs.

[denisew]

Here in Florida, Jeb was a polarizing Governor, he ruined our schools, he infused religion with politics, he was as stubborn an idealogue as his brother.

[Bettysdad]

The problem with Reps is that they think their ideas have some validity to a majority of people.

It doesn't matter how they change style; they're still the people humanity has been fighting since day one.

[roshni]

I hope people know not to chance it with another Bush. Jeb is even more right wing that W if possible and he is downright dangerous.

[greyseal in tampa]

I don't care if Jeb adopts baby seals and plants trees, don't ever trust him (let alone vote for him for anything!)

[harrymellon]

At this point I'd rather forget Jeb and anyone his evil genetics have spawned.

[roshni]

Jeb Schiavo Bush should never be given an opportunity to affect public policy again.

[harrymellon]

Didn't Marvin Bush's housekeeper die by getting her own car pinned up against her in his driveway in 2002 or 2003. So many suspicious deaths surround this dark family.

[Wilbur]

Dear Jeb,

Go FYS!!

Wilbur

[candlepower]

Well don't that beat all?!
Maybe we just heard the first stirrings of a new kind of life evolving in the republican party. One that is struggling with the notion of "not taking the american people for granted"
Is this the evolution of understanding
or
Intelligent design?

[Skyhawk]

Jeb didn't excalty do wonders for FL when he was governor; and the current rethug legislature has just about slashed the hell out of our education system.

[Skyhawk]

If Fred Thompson had a working brain cell they'd prop him up to be Reagan 2.0

[1differentdrummer]

Now there's a big if.

[outnow]

The GOP likes front men and actors are the very best by their training. Reagan was not paid to think. He would have done more damage but was contained by numerous democrats in the house and the Senate. He had his Vice President who was a Bush - what does Jeb want?

If John Wayne were around, they would elect him.

[roshni]

What do you think Jeb wants?
The thought of it sends a shiver of horror up my spine.
Eight years was ENOUGH!

[BabblingBrooks]

Howdy, Jeb,

Are you sure the problem isn't that the Republican Party has already forgotten and abandoned Reaganism? It worked so doggone well for such a long time--and then things went to heck after it was abandoned!

[1differentdrummer]

Now that's babbling.

[Jonny38103]

Party of Lincoln? Bill Maher said the "party of shrinkin'".

It's going to be hard for the party of values to convince people again that they still can claim to own those values. Even suckers wake up sooner or later.

[Plus15]

Jeb Bush: GOP Needs To Forget Reagan - Did he mention anything about them forgetting his brother?

[robiform]

Actually, I would put the whole Bush clan into that "forget-about-em" category. As a Florida resident, I had the non-pleasure of witnessing first hand what Jeb's idea of governing was about. From allowing private schools to use taxpayer-funded vouchers, to the Terri Schiavo disaster, to the tag team of Jeb and Katherine Harris that screwed up the Florida election in 2000, I've had enough of Jeb and his dysfunctional family to last a lifetime!

I wouldn't worry about the resurrection of the GOP any time soon--they're still involved in their circular firing squad!

[roshni]

Unfortunately, the Bush destructive effects will take a century to remedy.