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2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumThe Cowboy Republicans Can’t Quit
Jamelle BouieHe left us with two wars and an economic crisis, but Republicans still hold George W. Bush in high esteem.
We take for granted that, for all their ideological rigidity, Republicans have made a break with the recent past. Say what you will about the Tea Party zealotry of the last four years, it has been a break with the lazy incompetence of the George W. Bush years.
But is this true? Are Republicans as down on the Bush presidency as the rest of the world, or is this a tactical shift, a (so-far-successful) attempt to rebrand the party in the age of Obama? Will the next Republican absorb the lessons of the Bush administration, or should we expect a repeat performance?
I dont have an answer. But if theres a clue, it lies in the ongoing esteem of Republicans for their former leader. To wit, during a talk with the Economic Club of Chicago, Chris Christiethe embattled New Jersey governoroffered unqualified praise for the administration of George W. Bush:
In his most expansive, engaging and combative remarks since scandal enveloped him, Mr. Christie mocked President Obama for entering office without a respect for the other party, complained that George W. Bush was grossly underappreciated in the White House and seemed to make a novel case for his own, now-blemished candidacy for president in 2016.
Now, the idea that Obama entered office without respect for Republicans is ludicroushe kept one in his cabinet and bent over backwards to win GOP support for his stimulus packagebut were not here for Christies mendacity. Whats interesting about this is his clear admiration for Bush. And while its hard to know how much of this is self-interestthis group includes GOP donors, after allit is true that Bush retains his standing with Republican voters.
more
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/12/the-cowboy-republicans-can-t-quit.html
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The Cowboy Republicans Can’t Quit (Original Post)
DonViejo
Feb 2014
OP
Unqualified, unquantified and misplacedrRebranding. Tactic of the election year
nightscanner59
Feb 2014
#3
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)1. Ask Christie if he wants to bring back "free-speech-zones".
bemildred
(90,061 posts)2. They never give up.
They always double down. They got too much at stake.
nightscanner59
(802 posts)3. Unqualified, unquantified and misplacedrRebranding. Tactic of the election year
To whitewash all their cronyism "compassionate". *cough* and keep up the ludicrous "we're the ones reaching across the isle" meme.
santamargarita
(3,170 posts)4. Bush is a shitstain on the World that will take decades to remove!
SmittynMo
(3,544 posts)5. There is just no fix for stupid. n/t