George H. W. Bush

[Ardent15]

Reading about him, he seemed so much more pragmatic and levelheaded than the Contract for America ideologues.

If Republicans can return to the old conservatism, or at least incorporate some aspects of it into their ideology, they might have more success. I would certainly respect them more.

[Imagevision]

1. George H. W. Bush, "what this country needs is another Pearl Harbor to unite the people" that's a

quote

[Ardent15]

2. I never said I liked him, I didn't like him, but I could respect him

There's a difference between liking someone and respecting someone.

[Imagevision]

3. George H. W. Bush, the real "deep-throat"

[AlCzervik]

4. you should read the book "American Dynasty" it's about the Bush clan, all of them

it was written by Kevin phillips and it's an excellent and informative read. 41 looks great compared to the idiot spawn of his and his harridan wife's loins but there are plenty of issues with him as well.

43----just like his Momma.

[LoveIsNow]

5. I have more respect for Bush, Sr.

than for other Republican presidents in recent history. He at least had the sense to break his campaign promise and raise taxes, to get our economy in shape.

[leftstreet]

6. Pragmatic and levelheaded in his CIA drugs/arms dealings, fer sure

To save their party the Repubs will need to look forward - not back.

[Ardent15]

They should study their history and see what went right and what went wrong

[TahitiNut]

14. Unfortunately, they'll assess 'right' and 'wrong' in terms of party, NOT country and NOT world.

There's partisanship ... and then there's GOP partisanshhip - a whole order of magnitude more of self-centered political myopia.

[alittlelark]

7. Read 'The Shock Doctrine' by Naomi Klein.....

You need to take the red pill.

[AlCzervik]

8. another good book, a must read really.

[Ardent15]

10. I don't think you understood my OP

I said I thought he was pragmatic, not an ideologue.

[alittlelark]

18. You will not be able to engage in an informed conversation

without KNOWING what these ppl/ideologies are all about.

[Imagevision]

9. Gotta give Poppy credit, he did put a lid on contra affair... using Ollie North as the goat

[napoleon_in_rags]

11. Thus the threat of Ron Paul.

It would nice to see conservative climb out of the cesspool of hypocrisy and actually stand for something, but at the same time that represents the largest long term threat to the Democratic party. From a practical perspective, give me Rush Limbaugh, give me screaming about government spending after GWB spent more than any president in history, give me Rush's war on reality and the mobilization of intelligent folks across the spectrum against it brings. In many ways, that is what the times call for, deep questioning. In some ways we don't need that kind of intelligent debate right now, what we need is consolidation of the big tent on positive change. So no, in that sense I disagree with you.

[Ardent15]

12. I agree in the short term, we need Democratic unity and Republican disarray...

..but in the long term, we need two opposing parties.

If the Republicans can't get it together, we may see a new Progressive Party split off from the Democrats, and the Dems would swallow the GOP in the process.

[napoleon_in_rags]

13. I agree the people need viable political options.

Choice is really important. The key word right now is viable, which conservative opinion is not given the current situation. The truth be told, I hope we move beyond this whole dynamic in the future, to two different parties of truly fresh and relevant ideas. That would be wonderful for our country.

[Old and In the Way]

15. Actually, I think there could be a day when the conservative Dems/Blue Dogs

bolt the Party and hook up with the moderate Republican wing to take back that Party or reconstitute as an opposition party to liberal/progressive Democrats. Hopefully, the splinter Limbaugh-Dobson Party will become the isolated lunatic fringe that they deserve.

[Ardent15]

17. That seems possible

and if that happens, that would be good for the nation.

[MannyGoldstein]

16. Everything He Did Was For The Profit Of The Bush Family

It was clear while he was President that the only thread that tied his actions together was cash for Bushes. For example, why else would he, as a Republican, veto de-regulation of the cable TV industry? Could it be because one son was a Director of a cable TV outfit at the time?

And so forth.

It was single-minded and unrelenting.

[grasswire]

19. remember what he said to Mary McGrory

He said to her: "If the American people knew what we have done, they would chase us down the street and kill us."