The devolution of the GOP - By Joe Scarborough

[DonViejo]

Friday started as it usually does: an early wake-up call, an interview with the next president of the United States and a hateful personal attack from Donald Trump. Such is life during these dog days of August in a nasty presidential campaign not even near its ugly end.

These days, a rudely out-of-bounds Trump attack surprises Mika and me about as much as a puppy relieving himself on a living room rug. We’ve figured out by now that it does no good to lose your cool with the puppy or Donald Trump since neither have and control over their bladder or mouth.

As Aristotle famously said, “It is what it is.”

Fortunately, things became a bit more interesting by the time we rolled into Kennebunkport for a speech on the 2016 campaign and made our way to Walker’s Point to visit President Bush and Barbara. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Bush biographer Jon Meacham was already inside the family home along with Nicolle Wallace when we arrived. Bush chief of staff Jean Becker joked when we joined the conversation that “all we need is Barnicle to complete the Morning Joe set!”

George and Barbara Bush were the same gracious and welcoming hosts Friday night that they had been when my family last visited Kennebunkport five years earlier. Mrs. Bush even asked about my youngest children, who she remembered remarkably well considering the countless guests that have streamed through their world since that summer’s day in 2011. But her human touch is the kind of thing the family always seems to manage with ease. They make others around them feel special despite the fact that they have lived the most remarkable of lives, serving in Congress, running the Republican National Committee, heading up the CIA, being the UN Ambassador as well as the US Ambassador to China, serving as Ronald Reagan’s vice president and then leading America as the 41st president of the United States.

-snip-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2016/08/28/the-devolution-of-the-gop/?utm_term=.cf47965399f0&wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

[Adrahil]

1. Okay... my thoughts on this.

It's true that the public face of the GOP has devolved. It's also true, IMO, that people like Bush 41 honestly believed they represented the best path forward for the country (and i actually admired his willingness to raise taxes despite his promise), but here's the plain facts: The GOP candidates, even Bush 41, have been more than happy to leverage racism, misogyny and xenophobia to advance their economic ideas. They have embraced the Southern Strategy, and now they are reaping the bitter harvest of that.

Joe Scar, how can you be surprised? You benefited from and levered the same racism and hate that you know decry. Bush 41 denounced David Duke, sure, but he still happily accepted all those racist votes in Louisiana and across the South (and the entire USA, if we are honest). The GOP has had a tiger by the tail for decades. You folks were HAPPY to let those teeth and claws do their work, so long as it wasn't obvious that you and your ilk were back there holding that tail and pointing it in the direction you wanted. But now it's obvious. Your brazen tactics are revealed. While I'll gladly accept your denouncement of this despicable behavior, I will not let you feign shock over the idea that these horrible ideas form the motivation for huge part of your base.

[Demsrule86]

2. Bush I did not believe in what he called voodoo economics.

He coined the term in fact. He raised taxes too when it became neccessary. His son was a different matter...but I have always believed that BushII was simple minded in that he saw complicated issues in the simplist of terms...anf thus could not develop good policy and unfortunately chose the worst vice-president /cabinet in the history of this country. I know of no president before him who lost two wars and destroyed the economy.

[Adrahil]

3. Yup. He thought it was bunk and he was right.

Having said that, he stifled his objections to ride the Reagan train. And his famous "read my lips" statement was intended to reinforce his image as Reagan's successor, which is kind of ironic given that even Reagan and his advisers recognized the failure of their model and raised revenue (in incredibly regressive, and destructive ways) many times.

And I agree. Bush II is not a smart man. He was a tool of a cadre of ideologically driven subordinates who manipulated his presidency. He is the worst President in modern history.

[NewJeffCT]

4. I never thought W was stupid

just not nearly smart enough to be a good, or even average, president. I bet you could have a great talk about baseball with him and George Will.

With Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, you knew that if they were not the smartest person in the room, they were probably a close 2nd to the smartest person. I want a president that is extremely intelligent - smart enough to understand the complexities of all the issues.