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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Thought for the Day

A lot of random thoughts this morning as the healthcare passage sinks in, but there's one that I haven't seen anywhere else.

Doesn't the Republicans current tone completely repudiate the Bush/Rove presentation of "compassionate conservatism?"

We can debate whether "compassionate conservatism" was ever anything more than rhetoric, but it was pretty good rhetoric, and it was a way for the Repubs to chop into the traditionional electoral Dem perception.

This current Republican version is really a return to the worst of the late Reagan republicanism. It's Pat Buchanan at the convention and Pat Robertson running for President.

3 Comments:

  • I'm not sure anyone took Bush's "compassionate conservatism" BS seriously... Not after his squandering of world support post 9-11 anyway. Wedge politics is wedge politics, and you don't get there without calling your fellow Americans enemies of "real" America.

    But I get what you're saying. Bush could "Aw shucks, he just doesn't care about American values," and Bachmann just vomits out "UnAmerican, socialist, nazi, islamofascist, baby killing anti-christ." (why do images of Bill the Cat pop into my head when I think of these people and their goon-squad followers?)

    By Blogger -epm, at 8:55 AM  

  • Agreed. Compassionate Conservatism was no more than a slogan, but it was a softening slogan, softening the image of the GOP.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 9:50 AM  

  • Why does your version of compassion always involve turning so-called rich people upside down so all their coins fall out of their pockets? Today I am reading that a new tax program will be coming into effect whereby there will be a withholding of $120-$250 monthly (monthly!) for long-term care insurance? I'm sure many people will be exempt... those earning under $200,000 a year? Soon, all the taxes on those earning over $200,000 a year will ensure that they take home no more than anyone making under $200,000 a year. That seems to be the plan.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 5:53 PM  

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