The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Stopping the Bush Bandwagon

Posted on | March 30, 2014 | 89 Comments

Even before the 2008 campaign had ended, it became apparent to me — from the rumblings about certain aides to the McCain/Palin campaign, especially Nicolle Wallace — that Sarah Palin was being sabotaged by Bushies, so that one could perceive at that early date the stealthy moves toward a dynastic restoration via former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. As I said at the time, however, the lesson was obvious enough: “Lie down with Bushes, wake up with Democrats.” That is to say, electing a Bush to the White House is always the foreshadowing of a future Democrat victory, and therefore the urgent task of conservatives since 2008 has been to rid the GOP of its doomstruck taint of Bushism. Thus to explain my horrified reaction at this Washington Post story:

Concerned that the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal has damaged New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s political standing and alarmed by the steady rise of Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), prominent donors, conservative leaders and longtime operatives say they consider Bush the GOP’s brightest hope to win back the White House. . . .

(The reported “alarm” toward Rand Paul is ill-founded. If Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker can get re-elected in November, he will immediately emerge as the likely 2016 GOP nominee, based on his success in fighting Big Labor in an industrial Midwestern state.)

One bundler estimated that the “vast majority” of Romney’s top 100 donors would back Bush in a competitive nomination fight.
“He’s the most desired candidate out there,” said another bundler, Brian Ballard, who sat on the national finance committees for Romney in 2012 and John McCain in 2008. “Everybody that I know is excited about it.” . . .

(Obviously, the idiotic big-money GOP Establishment would be “excited” to repeat the doomed campaigns of 2008 and 2012.)

On Thursday night, Bush was feted here at a VIP dinner held by Sheldon Adelson inside the billionaire casino magnate’s airplane hangar. When one donor told Bush, “I hope you run for president in 2016,” the crowd of about 60 guests burst into applause, said a donor in attendance.
Bush also met privately with Adelson. One person with knowledge of the conversation said that the former governor was “very laid back and comfortable” and that they did not discuss the 2016 campaign.
Bush has been nurturing donor relationships for years. Earlier this month, he headlined a fundraiser for Virginia Senate candidate Ed Gillespie at former ambassador Al Hoffman’s home in North Palm Beach, Fla. Private-equity manager Lewis M. Eisenberg and former ambassador Ned Siegel were among the heavy hitters in attendance.
And in July, investor Scott Kapnick threw a book party for Bush at his Manhattan apartment. About 100 leading GOP donors showed up.

Well, so much for ditching that “Republican Party controlled by billionaire neocon warmongers” stereotype, I guess.

Despite my avowed anti-Bushism, I am nonetheless sufficiently pragmatic as to nod in agreement with Kevin Williamson:

Even if you think that Romney is a squishy RINO Massachusetts technocrat with a secret crush on Obamacare, you have to be on the wrong side of the border between ideologically hardcore and ideologically blinded to conclude that spending four years fighting against the very worst imaginable tendencies of a Romney administration would have been anything other than wine and roses compared with spending four years fighting against the very worst tendencies of an Obama administration, especially when the president is in the position of never having to face another election.
You can tell yourself a just-so story about how the guy you liked who couldn’t beat Romney in the GOP primary would have beaten the mom jeans off of Obama in the general, and maybe you’re right, but it didn’t happen that way. . . .
The question wasn’t “Mitt Romney — yes or no?” It was: “Mitt Romney — compared with what?”
Compared with this.

(Hat-tip: Instapundit.) A libertarian populist (or social conservative) opposition to the unprincipled drift of the Republican elite can only succeed if we can develop the kind of team spirit and political professionalism necessary to unite behind a plausible alternative to the GOP Establishment choice, nominate that candidate and then defeat Democrats in the general election.

Without re-hashing every failure of the conservative grassroots since 2007, however, both team spirit and political professionalism have been in short supply. Finger-pointing recriminations are useless, but we must avoid the mistakes of the past and be prepared (a) to support any candidate — Paul, Walker, Ted Cruz, Rick Santorum, whoever — who emerges as the conservative alternative to GOP Establishment offering (Christie, Bush, whoever) in the Republican primaries. And if (b) the Establishment nevertheless imposes its will on the party again, we must be prepared to go all-out for the spineless sellout nominee we can’t stand.

A Republican victory in 2016 is essential, and nothing must distract us from that object, not even our existential horror at another Bush.

God help us.

 

Category: No More Bushes

Comments

89 Responses to “Stopping the Bush Bandwagon”

  1. Quartermaster
    March 30th, 2014 @ 9:58 pm

    Just in from an unnamed source: Adjoran is really a 95 year old woman living in Montana who pays some guy to make public appearances for her.

  2. K-Bob
    March 31st, 2014 @ 12:18 am

    Clue: A huge amount of the problems since 2000 were done entirely by, or with major assistance from Republicans.

    So sure, you can call it a “fact”. It’s a joke of a meaningless fact.

  3. K-Bob
    March 31st, 2014 @ 12:20 am

    So far I’ve camped on Allen West. In fact I’ve promised it.
    But if Cruz gets the nomination, I’ll be hoping West gets the VP slot. I happen to like Cruz best at the moment.

  4. K-Bob
    March 31st, 2014 @ 12:23 am

    Exactly. Almost every person on the right I regularly see at the places I hang out has stated unequivocally that Romney was absolutely the last time.

    And we all stated it BEFORE November 2012. So our consciences are clear. We did our duty.

  5. Monday opinions and news | Walla Walla TEA Party Patriots
    March 31st, 2014 @ 4:40 am

    […] Stopping the Bush Bandwagon […]

  6. Bob Belvedere
    March 31st, 2014 @ 7:57 am

    As The Egghead once said: ‘Egg-actly, Batman’.

  7. NeoWayland
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:01 am

    I could have sworn I posted this yesterday. Cut & paste from my notes.

    —–

    The party system is stacked against the people.

    “None of the above” is a good first step.

  8. Winston Blake
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:29 am

    The floating fat man, Baron Harkonnen from Frank Herbert’s “Dune.”

  9. Winston Blake
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:31 am

    mahomet = baphomet (mammonism)

  10. Winston Blake
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:32 am

    mahomet = baphomet

  11. Winston Blake
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:33 am

    Two lying metrosexual bítches of the devil…

  12. Winston Blake
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:35 am

    Picture this…

  13. Winston Blake
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:36 am

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94rcOVJBMYQ

  14. Winston Blake
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:39 am

    They all worship the power seated upon the dark waters of Gihon Spring.

  15. Winston Blake
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:40 am

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94rcOVJBMYQ

  16. Winston Blake
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:44 am

    Russia has real soldiers on their border and no gay pride marches in their army… imagine that…

    The U.S. State Dept. has been infested with communists since WW1 and Woodrow Wilson, they tried to steal the Russian elections for their comrades in the Russian Communist Party through non-profit n.g.o.s… just like at home in America… But Vladimir Putin beat them… so they launched a fággot jihad against the Russian Orthodox church over the the punk rock band and the Olympics (something Romney also piled onto).

    While Leon Puñettas was so busy with gay pride celebrations at the Pentagon, three Navy Seals and a U.S. ambassador were murdered, all because everyone was being so fúcking gay… These people just can’t stop playing with their dícks… Who is going to fight a war against the Russians with cúm drunk morons like this in charge?

  17. Christopher H Fromme
    March 31st, 2014 @ 9:24 am

    Best place for Cruz is to stay stay in the Senate . Gov Palin has the experience to be POTUS, West would be a great choice for VP to deflect the Muslim inflence that Hillary has brought to the State Dept.. A Palin vs Bush primary would be similar to Reagan vs Bush cira 1980

  18. Is it time to start Panicking? Jeb Bush 2016? | Batshit Crazy News
    March 31st, 2014 @ 9:30 am

    […] RSM and Smitty, along with Glenn Reynolds and Ron Radosh, are spreading the alarm … […]

  19. Christopher H Fromme
    March 31st, 2014 @ 9:46 am

    Gov Palin has the plan to reform DC that is why both Dem’s & GOPe fear her, but the grassroots should back her. She is a TRUE Reagan Conservative. First on her bucket list in Jan 2017 total repeal O-Care. Then America energy independence. Balanced budget. In the primary just call her the “Bushwacker”

  20. NewsSprocket | Larwyn’s Linx: Obama administration released 68,000 convicted criminal aliens last year
    March 31st, 2014 @ 9:54 am

    […] Stopping the Bush Bandwagon: R.S. McCainWhat Happens When The Facts Don’t Fit The Progressive Script?: FederalistBlack Democrat Gunrunner Linked To Yee Case Blames Racism: VDARE […]

  21. ArdvarkMaster
    March 31st, 2014 @ 10:05 am

    Establishment Republicans have stopped nothing the the Dems have done since 2000. In fact they have aided the Dems (just look at their support for amnesty). So it appears there is no difference between establishment republicans and Democrats.

  22. IngeC
    March 31st, 2014 @ 10:19 am

    Exactly!
    Every election cycle – the establishment plays the same game-forcing their ‘selected’ puppy on the grass roots.
    Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz among other have brought out the corruption of the rovian GOP.
    Each time – grass roots held their noses and, voted for their selection.
    Not anymore – the jig is up and, our votes are no longer for sale. Never will we vote thinking it’s the only way to win.
    We have grown and, smarted more than anything.

  23. Lemuel Vargas
    March 31st, 2014 @ 10:29 am

    So vote Tea Party, the only viable alternative to both the GOPe and the Dems.

  24. Lemuel Vargas
    March 31st, 2014 @ 12:48 pm

    Well, they (GOPe) has become Democratic Party lite, doing its bidding but in a lighter form (for now.)

  25. K-Bob
    March 31st, 2014 @ 8:36 pm

    For the country, the best place for Cruz would be the White House. He’s the complete, real deal.

  26. rrpjr
    March 31st, 2014 @ 9:17 pm

    >>”And if (b) the Establishment nevertheless imposes its will on the party again, we must be prepared to go all-out for the spineless sellout nominee we can’t stand.”

    1. accepting this fallback position seems to guarantee that we get stuck in it. 2. it just won’t sell anymore. I’ve met too many people who are bone-tired of it. One more demoralizing defeat of conservatives at the hands of the Establishment (who will once again attempt to smear and savage the base in the primaries before playing clueless pattycake with the Left and media in the general election) will prove too much. We just won’t turn out. I know I won’t. 2016 is it. The GOP gets a clue or it’s over.

  27. pete4palin
    March 31st, 2014 @ 9:47 pm

    Sometimes when you keep running into a roadblock, it’s easier to around it than thru it. The logical alternative to an establishment run party, is to start over with a new one. GOPe = Whig party.

  28. JamesBenson
    April 1st, 2014 @ 3:33 am

    She will not run this time.

    But, I suspect she is saving up all of those IOU’s from people she helped get elected. One day she will collect.

  29. JamesBenson
    April 1st, 2014 @ 3:35 am

    Bush would just get destroyed by the media as soon as the time was right.

    Even if he got elected, he would be a one-termer, and we would have 8 years of another communist in the WH.

    Nothing good can come from nominating or electing another Bush.

  30. JamesBenson
    April 1st, 2014 @ 3:38 am

    No, you are the joke.

  31. section9
    April 1st, 2014 @ 8:08 am

    No, Robert. Not only will I not sit back and accept Jeb, but I will leave the Party and vote Libertarian.
    The GOP will nominate a conservative like Cruz or Palin, or I’m g-d leaving. Mittens was my last RINO. I refuse to be gulled by appeals to the Supreme Court, not after Roberts saddled us with O-Care’s legality in 2012.
    I will not cast a vote for the Party of Incumbent One Party State Fascism. I’ve been there with the Bush Family before, and got the unpaid-for Iraq War and Part D Medicare for my troubles.
    I was looking for Eisenhower and Reagan, and got Mini-Me Bush and Karl Rove for my troubles. Never EFFING Again!

  32. Christopher H Fromme
    April 1st, 2014 @ 10:50 am

    Do you know Ted Cruz’s resume? 1) Lawyer for John Boehner in late 90’s 2) Bush campaign 2000 in Texas 3) Bush Justice Dept 4) Solicitor in Texas 5) Private practice 6)Won the Texas primary in large part due to the endorsement of Sarah Palin
    So what Governing experience does he have? And explain how he is eligible ?

  33. Christopher H Fromme
    April 1st, 2014 @ 11:13 am

    S9 you always have the best insite on the Bush Crime family. form your posts at C4P. Palin needs to declare early, Feb 6,2015 –Reagan’s birthday is my favorite. That is to have a chance against the big money RINO’s and maybe to keep out some of the stalking horses that call themself conservative

  34. K-Bob
    April 1st, 2014 @ 5:12 pm

    Yes I know his record. It’s about as good a record as you’re going to find among actual human beings. You skipped over his litigation before the Supreme Court and everything he’s done in the Senate and to help elect actual conservatives.

    I don’t want someone with “governing experience” unless they are not a sellout to the left. The list of people that fit that qualification is extremely small. And Cruz is saying and doing all the right things to make a Constitutional case for small-r republicanism and conservative values. Like Reagan, I trust his ability to govern, because you can see him leading, day in and day out.

    He’s eligible. I don’t have to explain it. It’s been done to death. barack made him eligible, even if nothing else did. So just get used to it. No one is going to derail his candidacy (if he chooses to run) with that.

  35. mombrown1
    April 1st, 2014 @ 9:40 pm

    OMG I can’t believe you
    just suggested that we should put another criminal in the White House. The
    constitution is the LAW of the land. No. 1 for eligibilty is “You must be
    born on American soil.” Cruz made a mistake when he published his Canadian
    birth certificate.

    Only twice have I voted
    for candidates that were not the lesser of two evils – Goldwater and Reagan.
    The lesser of two evils is still evil and look what all that evil has done to
    our country.

    But then none of this
    really matters. There is no political solution to saving our country.

  36. mombrown1
    April 1st, 2014 @ 10:10 pm

    OMG I can’t believe you
    just suggested that we should put another criminal in the White House. The
    constitution is the LAW of the land. No. 1 for eligibilty is “You must be
    born on American soil.” Cruz made a mistake when he published his Canadian
    birth certificate.

    Only twice have I voted
    for candidates that were not the lesser of two evils – Goldwater and Reagan.
    The lesser of two evils is still evil and look what all that evil has done to
    our country.

    But then none of this
    really matters. There is no political solution to saving our country.

  37. K-Bob
    April 1st, 2014 @ 11:38 pm

    You are in error. Cruz is eligible. Calling him a criminal is ludicrous.

  38. Christopher H Fromme
    April 2nd, 2014 @ 5:59 pm

    So cause Barry shreds the Constitution to be elected and then does it like he is king it is ok for “Constitutional Conservatives” on the right to do the same thing come 2016 to get even with the left. Some people have principals

  39. K-Bob
    April 2nd, 2014 @ 7:09 pm

    Some people take the time to study the issue and learn that Cruz is eligible. Your pathetic disparagement means nothing.