Tweety just had on a guy who was a Reagan and HW advisor.

[gateley]

Obviously an "old" Republican.

Made a hell of a lot of sense. Tweety showed a chart indicating that 3T of debt was caused by Bush tax cuts, most of the rest by the unfunded wars and unfunded Medicare thing, and some incurred since Obama took office.

The guest agreed, felt the best thing would be to go back to the Clinton-era tax rates. Agreed that it's essentially the republicans' fault for the mess we're in.

Doesn't think ANYTHING can pass the House now.

Hope we hear more from him, and more importantly, hope some Republicans LISTEN to what he has to say.

Anyone else see him? If so, please provide more specifics because I always suck at that. May be ammo we can use (although those who have made up their minds won't hear the facts).

[banned from Kos]

1. Bruce Bartlett rocks.

Wrote a book on how Bush the Lesser betrayed the country.

edit for title of book - 'Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy'

[gateley]

6. Did you read it? Sounds good, but because of the title, doubt

anyone other than Dems would read it. :(

[banned from Kos]

11. Must admit that I did not read it.

check this out though (his web site)

http://capitalgainsandgames.com/blog/bruce-bartlett/2309/people-support-higher-taxes-reduce-deficit-2-1-margin

As a finance geek I read him online whenever I can.

[gateley]

14. Thanks! I'll check him out! nt

[BeyondGeography]

2. Why doesn't Obama walk around with that chart plastered to his forehead?

He could do worse.

[gateley]

4. All they have to do is show charts! Like Rachel. It makes it

so much more REAL, and much easier to understand. Figures and percentages flying out of their mouths don't sink in, don't really MEAN anything.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Maybe he's afraid of looking like Ross Perot

Basically, he needs to stop being so afraid of appearances.

[gateley]

10. Ross Perot got a LOT of support. Even after they discredited him

by making him look like a loon, he got what, 20% of the votes? I think the plain talking, the charts, were what people wanted then, and what they want now.

[JHB]

20. "Could"? n/t

[spanone]

3. posted this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1590492

[gateley]

5. Thanks! He was pretty impressive. And sane. nt

[spanone]

7. yep, there used to be a few more like him....when sanity prevailed

[OHdem10]

9. Bruce Bartlett, worked for Reagan and GWB. Is a genuine

conservative Republican but rational. I think he
even spent time at Heritage Fnd. There are many
Republicans like him . I wish more would speak
out.

[gateley]

12. I think they're a diminishing breed, sadly. Too many New Kids

on the Block thinking this is all a game and a popularity contest. Makes me sick.

[CTyankee]

13. In a way, I kinda hate the guy...he was going along to get along for a while there...

but now he has come forward as a sane, rational person to deliver the bad news to other republicans. Tweety seemed surprised at what he said...crazy, that...hasn't Tweety ever heard of DU, we could have straightened him out real fast and a lot earlier...but let's let an adult into the room at msnbc.com.

[gateley]

15. I think once you're part of an Administration, you kind of

check a lot of things at the door and focus your support on The Leader.

I think about Biden. He's got the rep of "gaffes", but he was usually just saying what he thought and it was often the truth - stripped of political coloring. He's had to tone it down once he pledged allegiance to Obama. The Afghanistan escalation is an example. We knew he was advising against a build up (and to Obama's credit he put off making the decision to consider Biden's advice), but once Obama decided to go with the Generals, Biden had to support him.

So this guy is no different, I'd guess. At least some of them have ideas of their own and eventually put it out there. Others, it seems, just march to their drummer and engage in no actual decision making themselves.

[CTyankee]

16. Yep you are right about "checking stuff at the door" but I really am disappointed

that folks like Bartlett didn't sound an alarm earlier and state his case about what would happen along the way. He had to know that there were some things that could be averted. But he didn't say anything...

So I fault him on his LACK of ability to move forward more vigorously...but maybe his paymasters had a different agenda...hmmm...

[TNLib]

17. I thought it was pretty telling when he said Obama was a "moderate conservative"

Smart guy I think he's the best guest that I've seen speak on this issue.

[PA Democrat]

18. We were watching and were applauding Mr. Bartlett.

He ended by calling the Republicans crazy, craven cowards. :rofl:

[Cetacea]

19. K&R n/t

[one_voice]

21. He put me to mind of an...

"old school repub" in other words, he's reasonable and not nutty. My granny was an "old school repub" thought baby Bush was an complete idiot. She'd probably be a Dem now, with what's become of that party.

My husband was a repub...he's a Dem now..he thinks they've all lost their mind. He was a "moderate" repub though.

[Enthusiast]

22. Most anyone with a lick of fucking

sense agrees.