George H.W. Bush Challenges GOP On No-Tax Pledge: ‘Who The Hell Is Grover Norquist, Anyway?’

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/07/13/516248/george-bush-grover-norquist/

George H.W. Bush Challenges GOP On No-Tax Pledge: ‘Who The Hell Is Grover Norquist, Anyway?’

By Travis Waldron on Jul 13, 2012 at 11:12 am


Grover Norquist, the anti-tax activist who authored a no-new-taxes pledge popular among GOP politicians, has called Republicans who raised taxes “rat heads in a Coke bottle.” A former Republican president who raised taxes during his administration, however, is now challenging Republicans to set aside the Norquist pledge.

In an interview with Parade Magazine, George H. W. Bush, who broke his “no new taxes” election pledge, said he didn’t like the “rigidity” of pledges like Norquist’s. “Who the hell is Grover Norquist, anyway?” Bush added:

PARADE: During your presidency you gave in on your “no new taxes” pledge. You’ve been vindicated in many respects for that decision. I wonder how you view the “no new tax” pledge from Grover Norquist that seems to be requisite for GOP political candidates.

GB: The rigidity of those pledges is something I don’t like. The circumstances change and you can’t be wedded to some formula by Grover Norquist. It’s—who the hell is Grover Norquist, anyway?

BB: I think he ought to go back to Alaska. {laughs} Don’t quote me! {A reference to a comment Mrs. Bush made about Sarah Palin in a 2010 interview, in which she said, “I think she’s very happy in Alaska—and I hope she’ll stay there.”}

Bush isn’t the only member of his family to disavow the Norquist pledge — his son and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) told the House Budget Committee that signing the pledge was akin to “outsourc{ing} your principles and convictions to people.” Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) refused to sign the pledge during his brief presidential campaign, and lately, even conservative stalwarts like Rep. Steve King (R-IA) have wavered in their support for the pledge. Dozens of candidates backed by the National Republican Congressional Committee, meanwhile, have declined to sign it.

[JHB]

1. Remember "read my lips, no new taxes," Poppy?

Grover is one of the main guys who made you say that, and made sure that you got crucified for admitting it was unsustainable.

I realize you're of the "speak no ill of a fellow Republican" generation, but there's no need to be so passive these days. You know damn well who he is and that he'll burn the whole country down to get his way.

I suggest actively denouncing him for the dangerous radical he is. What can he do to you now?

[MADem]

2. The mark of a stupid man is one who doesn't learn from his mistakes.

Poppy was a lot of things, but he wasn't -- and isn't -- stupid.

I think this is the first small wave of a coming sea change in the GOP. Poppy probably won't live to see the results, but he's starting something, here, make no mistake. He's trying to smooth the path for his descendants, plainly.

He's trying to parse, here, so he doesn't burn any bridges. He's no fool.

The GOP's full message, though, will have to undergo a sea change, before they can recover from the mutilation they have endured since Nixon. No one, nowadays, believes that there used to be "liberal" Republicans. They look at Lincoln Chaffee (before he went INDY) and think he's an odd one-off. In fact, many, many decades ago, the Lincoln Chaffee type was a common member of the GOP. They weren't always stupid racists--hard to believe, now!