On Demand
The Future of the Republican Party
Monday, November 19, 2007
President George W. Bush’s former speechwriter, Michael J. Gerson, shares his vision for the Republic party. He says the party must adopt what he calls "heroic conservatism" with more focus on promoting human rights and ending poverty. Gerson’s new book is Heroic Conservatism: Why Republicans Need to Embrace America's Ideals (And Why They Deserve to Fail If They Don't).
Heroic Conservatism is available for purchase at amazon.com
Weigh in: Are you a registered Republican? What direction would you like to see the party take?
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I would ask this same question if the book were Heroic Liberalism, but how "heroic" can a person really be when they choose to frame even their most noble actions and opinions in such a politically divisive framework? Need we politicize even these qualities? How about a book called "Heroism: Why Republicans and Democrats need to place certain ideals above Red and Blue" Otherwise this is just postering for regaining power.
"We will not falter....we will not fail...." Written by Gerson?! Hello! Churchill?!?! Battle of Britain?! The sheer arrogance of taking credit, and to hear those words coming out of W's breathless mouth (is it me or does he gasp at the end of every sentence?) makes me ill.
Good point, Paulo. I heard that Bush quote just now about how we'll insprire people with our courage, etc., and that was my immediate reaction: just a load of unrealistic and facile posturing.
Gee, and I thought Bush was a failure.
Probem was chaos after the Iraq invasion? That was the goal, not the problem. W's pals wouldn't be making buckets of dough if it weren't for the chaos.
Hahahahaha. Iraq a security problem for the U.S. No one believes that anymore and no one believes that any of the neocons believed it prior to the invasion.
Come on Leonard. Call this guy on his lies.
Income mobility hasn't slowed in the U.S., it's sped up. There's a real fast race to the bottom for most people.
Why wouldn't any country want to counterbalance U.S. foreign policy, it's such a disaster! Can't imagine what Sarkozy is thinking.
Hey, all those rights Gerson claims U.S. benefits abroad--when are they going to be restored at home?
The difference between Churchill and Bush speeches is that Churchill inspired people by his depiction of the importance of, and effort required for, the dire struggle ahead.
Bush's words pretend we've already got it in the bag. We're already perfect and good. (As befits any born-again.)
No inspriation necessary.
The Party of Torture believes in human dignity!
If it were true compassion it would be without strings attached and the faith based clauses would be left out of the equation!!!
He just admitted it's not a christian nation...so religion should be left out of official policy.
a republican advocating liberal American goals, such as fighting poverty? a conservative who's first political ideal was a failed Democrat? how is this traditional American conservatism?
Gerson sounds terribly naive, but I doubt that's the reality of who he is. But I hear a consistent ideology from him and the administration as a whole which is the self-righteousness. If you start out from the premise that you are already right, then everything you do is justified because you are right. That attitude and a lot of high-minded language doesn't make you an ethical leader. It's what you do that defines who you are and how others will view you.
Hey Aspid. Thanks for the heads up. I'll be aware that wingnuts like Gerson don't try to join the Ds. It took us a long time to get the racists to become Rs. Don't want to have to go thru that again.
the Bush-haters are out in dorves today - but hey, we're in nyc - we're people make the big $$ liek republicans but have the big guilt that makes em vote dem
wish I could be a limousine liberal too!
This thread is closed.
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