Charles Krupa/AP Photo
President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara (file)
Former President George H.W. Bush, now 88, has something to say to those who are unwilling to compromise — specifically to Grover Norquist and those who sign his tax pledge.
"The rigidity of those pledges is something I don't like," the former president said in an interview with PARADE. "The circumstances change and you can't be wedded to some formula by Grover Norquist. It's — who the hell is Grover Norquist, anyway?"
At this point, former first lady Barbara Bush interjected, "I think he ought to go back to Alaska [laughs]." This being a reference to a comment she made about Sarah Palin in 2010.
During the 1988 presidential campaign, Bush made a very bold campaign pledge not to raise taxes on the American people. Once he was elected, however, Bush 41 made the choice of compromising with the Democratic-controlled Congress in order to tackle the country's deficit. In doing so, the president broke his famous campaign pledge and alienated members of the Republican party establishment.
Besides scolding Grover Norquist and criticizing the partisanship that plagues Washington, the Bush's describe their relationship with former President Bill Clinton. Once bitter political rivals, the two men have worked together on charitable causes over the past decade and in doing so have become an example of friendship transcending politics.
Mrs. Bush summed up their relationship as that of father and son saying, "I think he thinks of George as the father he never had. Truthfully. I mean that as a compliment. He's been very thoughtful about calling and he's a good fellow."
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Mr. O'Donnell please introduce the fusion of Reagan/Obama, ReagaBama into the political lexicon. Specifically the ReagaBama Fairness Doctrine on Taxes. Equity for bus drivers and millionaires
read my lips. No more republican communist presidents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The following is from a synopsis of a Canadian article about Grover Norquist and George W. Bush, regarding the 2000 election. It might shed insight on recent events.
When Bush took office, President Clinton left a surplus of 8 trillion dollars. Plus trillions more in state public pension funds. Grover Norquist, architect of Bush's economic policy, had his eye on this money as well as the surplus.
George Bush followed to the letter the first two planks of Norquist's three-step formula for transforming government. First, he radically cut taxes, especially to the rich, thus creating mammoth deficits. Secondly, he used those deficits as an excuse to slash non-defense spending.
Now, the third step. State by state, Norquist told the Nation's Robert Dreyfus, and at the Federal level, he and Bush would dismantle and privatize public pension funds and "liberate" the trillions of dollars held in trust for retirees. Referring to those who believe in public services such as public pension funds, Norquist stated, "We want to take that power and destroy it."
It’s taken a while, but Republican state Governors and Citizens United have managed to now move Grover’s nefarious little plan closer to its completion.
Grover himself, has since gone on to the business of scamming Republican legislators into signing pledges to never raise taxes... without said legislators realizing they are under no apparent legal or governmental requirement to honor that pledge. Only Grover’s threats and coercion keep them in cowering at their desks..
Wussie group, these Republican lawmakers
Clinton left a surplus of $8 Trillion dollars? What are you smoking?
Hate that panelists think we simply want to put up with a reformed guy. If Romney is a liar and a crook, he needs to be prosecuted. He is applying for the world's most important position. The Presidency is not a confessional. Romney can clean up his act on his own time.
Who said "history repeats itself"? I don't know but I do know that just as the Nazi Germans marched the goosestep in unison destroying everything that got in their way, the republinos are marching the vote in unison destroying everything that gets in their way. Just as the Germans followed one mind the republinos follow one mind. I urge caution and that we fight to avoid America becoming just another example of "history repeating itself".
This shows why we should be concerned about repub party going over the edge and destroying the country, violently if they want and need to which you know they own most of the civilian assault weapons and guns. Reason it shows it, only their 80+ year olds have a heart and are reasonable, they are Ike Eisenhower/Lincoln/Ted Roosevelt repubs, not a bunch of spoiled rich kids like Mitt who now want to treat the rest of the country like peasants. Maybe Bush Sr. and a few other old repubs should say they are not going to vote for repubs until they change.
I have a difficult time understanding why the Republicans would nominate Romney. I think the Republicans are no longer the Republicans of the past. The Republican Party seemed to have chagned at the end of the last century. Why nominate a person with so much baggage. If they have any kind of common sense (common sense is the ability to know the diffeence between a dip of ice cream and a dip of horse manure) they would nominate somone who is clean. Santorum could be a better candidate even though I do not agree with him. I am only considering what is best for Republicans. Obama would have a much more difficult time running against Santorum. I can understand why they are against all the good programs, but I don't understand how they can do something that is against themselves such as nominating Romney. Almost any other person that tried to get the nomination would be better. Also a political party should never nominate someone who four years earlier lost in trying to be nominated. Romney lost to McCain. That in itself shold eliminate him as a possible candidate for the Republican Party.
I feel for former POTUS G.W.H. Bush. In his day, Birchers and lobbyists like Norquist were referred to as "The crazies" and generally just ignored. Now they run the party. it must be very unsettling
My older relatives in their 80's and 90's, who have been dedicated Republicans for years, can't believe that these "crazies" have infiltrated their party. They don't know what to do... except continue to vote Republican and hope everything will turn out, because they believe that the Democrats are going to tax them to death. This is their political doctrine that they believe like their religion.