Bush-Bashing: The GOP's New Favorite Sport?

I’ve been bashing Bush since I still considered myself a liberal-leaning, really just apathetic, independent. Long story short, I was raised as a Democrat in Connecticut by a single mother employed by the state. My first vote ever cast was for Al Gore (again, I want to punch myself in the face for this. What can I say, I was a confused kid? We all have our moments!) Then I went to college.

Some, mistakenly, attribute my pilgrimage out of the cave to an infamous blond conservative. I would say it was more my natural inclination to rebel against the status quo, which on my campus was liberalism. That, coupled with a “crazy” group of College Republicans and some pivotal life moments (Thanks S.Logan) that sent me on my way to where I find myself today. But, I digress.

When I was first brought into the conservative fold, admittedly, I stayed away from insulting our trusty President Bush and other Party leaders. Then I experienced my first couple of run-ins with the Rhode Island GOP, where I was introduced to not only the concept of a RINO, but an actual state party full of them.

Although I voted for President Bush in 2004, under the “lesser-of-two-evils/please-keep-me-safe-from-terrorists” banner, I never felt the GOP represented me. What they claimed to represent always sounded like something I could believe in. It’s just that their votes betrayed the lie. To this day, I can’t say much has changed.

In my circles, call them conservative, Republican, confused, or whatever other label you want (refer to my previous blog, Mr. Steele, The Line Is Over There, for my opinion about labels), people have been bashing Bush for as long as they have known who Bush was.

Perhaps Bush-Bashing is the GOP leadership’s new favorite sport, as John Feehery recently suggested. I’m not sure. In a way, who could blame them? Bush might have done a lot of things right for the Party but, he also did a lot wrong.

The truth is, though, it’s the media’s misdirection of the public’s attention away from the socialization of the American economy that is the new favorite sport in Washington. For the life of me, I can’t get why the GOP alsways let’s them (the left) frame the game.

For a party struggling to find its way, an honest reflection on the Bush presidency is important. A look at the nomination of John McCain as it’s leader in 2008 is even more important. Most importantly, though, is some soul searching and self-reflection.

Bush wasn’t the only Republican wielding power for the past eight years. It is disingenuous for party leaders who fell in line with his policies and proposals (and, relied on him every election for fundraising) to now bash him for those same policies and proposals. If you felt so strongly, why didn’t you say something then? You weren’t elected to play follow the leader; you were elected to be a leader.

It’s all pointless, anyway, isn’t it? The right needs to stop playing into the left’s hand. This is what they are after, our infighting. Stop letting them dictate to us what the debate is going to be about.

Our political class lacks leaders. They sound like a bunch of children fighting over who started it first and what name who called whom. I don’t care who pulled Suzy’s hair first, or that it was even pulled. I just care how you plan to lead us back to the future and stop pulling us back into the past. This incestuous bickering is enough to make me reach for the vodka. Who am I kidding? Just hand me a glass, a couple of ice cubes, and the bottle of Maker's Mark.

If the GOP leadership is looking for a new hobby to try, well, they should try leading. Leave the Bush-Bashing to the historians and the left (yes, I realize those are one in the same). They’re better at it. They’ve been perfecting it for eight-plus years.

You just worry your pretty little heads about how to move forward. Return to the principles I’m still under the impression the Republican Party is supposed to stand for. Some high points might be smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense. For more suggestions, I refer you to the Constituion.

The Republican brand hasn’t been damaged because of what it’s supposed to stand for; it’s been damaged by those who wear the brand who haven’t been living up to the standard. Bush wasn't the problem; he was just a symptom.