Jeb Bush Speaks Out about Republican Party

Three cheers for Jeb Bush. He just elevated himself to a very high level in my eyes. The nation (yes, the nation – not just political wonks) need to hear him; for, in spite of heavy criticism from Grover Norquist, Governor Bush is right on!
by Charlie Leck

To understand what I’m talking about here, please read the Dana Millbank column in the Washington Post. It really is a very important piece about getting politics back to some sense of sanity again – and it appears a Republican might be the leader of the movement.

Grover Norquist told Talking Points Memo that Governor Bush’s comments were “foolish” and “bizarre.”

Folks, that is Mr. Bazarro the First talking there – Grover Norquist. Norquist and his pledge have consumed the Republican Party and turned the Grand Old Party (GOP) into a walking and talking farce.

What is it that Governor Bush said? Well, here are some snippets…

"Ronald Reagan would have, based on his record of finding accommodation, finding some degree of common ground, as would my dad — they would have a hard time if you define the Republican party — and I don’t — as having an orthodoxy that doesn’t allow for disagreement, doesn’t allow for finding some common ground,"

"Back to my dad’s time and Ronald Reagan’s time – they got a lot of stuff done with a lot of bipartisan support,"

"I do feel a little out of step with my party on this,"

"It’s all about talking points rather than engagement,"

Now, let’s deal with the total picture and what Governor Bush was trying to get at… He was remembering a great political party that knew the art of compromise and had the ability to find common ground with other honest and sincere people of politics. He was remembering the days when bipartisanship was put before party. He was remembering a time when you would never allow people to suffer in order to gain a political advantage.

Three very loud cheers for Jeb Bush. He reminds me of the politics of yesteryear.

You might be thinking what has crossed my mind; that is, it’s too bad this Mr. Bush didn’t run for the Presidency this time around. Many people said the endorsement was absolutely his for the asking. I guess we better not deceive ourselves, however. Given the current climate of the Republican Party (a.k.a. the Tea Party) Bush would not have been able to talk the way he is now – as one with no hand in the game.

A day after saying what he did, Governor Bush tried to soften the pain of the blow that his remarks caused his party by twittering the following: “The point I was making yesterday is this: The political system is hyperpartisan. Both sides are at fault.”

If fact, Bush’s words were perfectly clear and it was very obvious what he was talking about (he singled out his party a number of times in those remarks). Frankly he should have let them stand without this attempt to soften their meaning.

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