Hey Pawlenty: Is George W. Bush a Republican?
By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
GOP12 has some interesting video where the Morning Joe gang tries to nail Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty down on whether Olympia Snowe is welcome in his Republican Party (that, GOP12 smartly argues, should be a 2012 Republican debate question: Do you want Snowe in your party?). Pawlenty dodges and weaves, repeating a mantra about what disqualifies one as a Republican. The list includes being for tax increases "repeatedly" (one can, apparently increase taxes if you don't inhale while doing it), being for card-check, being a friend of ACORN, being for the stimulus bill and being for bank bailouts.
But ... weren't the bank bailouts an idea originated by Republican President George W. Bush? The answer is that Pawlenty says that being wrong on these issues in totality is a sign of non-Republicanism. But it's striking that in his mind one of the signature domestic policy initiatives of the last Republican president is a bright line litmus test for ideological purity for Republicanism. Not conservatism, mind you, but Republicanism.
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Tags: Republicans | George W. Bush | Tim Pawlenty
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Reader Comments
To Commie Blaster:
Do you seriously think you represent the 300+ millions of Americans? Sorry to break it to you,but your kind are all a minority now (I'm referring to your few remaining fellow "commie blasters" from the United States of AmeriKKKa). I AM AN AMERICAN (UC BERKELEY TRAINED in the SCIENCES), and I deserve for my voice to be heard, to declare your "commie-blaster" site a piece of xenophobic propaganda dedicated to the few remaining bigots in the U.S. May you have a wonderful and productive day, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in OUR United States :) GOD BLESS AMERICA
Chesterton on apple trees bearing oranges.
The great conservative Catholic, Gilbert Chesterton, foiled your metaphor nearly a century ago in his essay on The Logic of Elfland. He said that things are not immutable, that one form of tree is not eternally bound to remain in its ONE form: Apple trees bear apples instead of pears(or oranges)because they are MAGIC trees---not because of some doctrinal necessity. We must all take care in advancing rhetorical figures lest we reveal a telling ignorance of our still available (and often keener) heritage.
Some people never learn!
B. S. you are one of those people who will never learn or understand the distinction of why Bush Jr. is not a republican but rather a RINO. Scozzafava is a prime example. If principle is not the guiding force in decisions you make then compromise is your rudder. If you say you are something then be that one thing. Stop trying to be something you are not. Apple trees dont bear oranges. If you happen to make the best tasting brownies in the whole world but you add just a pinch of shi^ to it. The only thing that will stand out in everyones mind is the shi^&y brownies.
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