now is not the best time for a Bush to be casting his net into the political waters.–Matt Helm

Matt,
Like you, I appreciate the good achievements from each of our Bush politicians. So far as the public is concerned, get over your own hang-ups without laying them on Jeb’s shoulders.

GWB and the first Pres.Bush are silent by choice. Whatever Jeb has to say is his own right. If Jeb has thoughts to share, then take them for consideration. The aspiration motivating the article centers from contemporizing Reaganism, building the conservative movement’s momentum. Take Jeb’s advice in the reading and the thinking of conceptual applications; get past the personality for the moment. And don’t censor who has a right to speak from a warped public perception of name association. Hell, why shouldn’t a Bush project conservatism at this already infamous Obama-50-Day point in American history?

“Now” is the time for discussion, and Jeb’s article is part of that discussion in the Washington Time’s series, “Reinventing Conservatism.”

maverick muse on March 11, 2009 at 8:34 AM

Regarding Jeb’s article, “Loyal Opposition,” we are to be loyal to Reaganism, specifically to the referential point of “Grace” that Reagan “launched in 1982 to investigate waste and inefficiency in the federal government. The commission offered provocative and thoughtful recommendations to make government more effective and less expensive.”

With a “loyal opposition,” conservatives will regain the confidence of the American people by offering creative, 21st century, reform-oriented policies that adhere to our longstanding principles of limited and efficient government. This ‘loyal opposition’ should base its policies on the two pillars of conservatism – a bedrock belief in limited and efficient government and a passion for reform of the services government must provide. Our guiding principles should be that government should not grow faster than people’s ability to pay for it, that it is immoral to indebt the next generation to pay for things in the here and now, and there is always a better, improved way to deliver government services.” Putting these principles into practice isn´t easy when so many are clamoring for the federal government to “do something” about every problem that exists, regardless of how it was caused or who is responsible for fixing it.luntly, taxpayers should not be forced to abandon their personal goals – whether it is saving for college, paying off the mortgage, starting a new business or taking the vacation of a lifetime – to pay for a skyrocketing growth in government just because elected officials didn´t have the courage to say no. A belief in limited government should not be confused with eliminating government altogether. Where government plays a role, it needs to get a lot better. Developing a zeal for reform will reinvigorate the conservative movement but, more important, our success in transforming government will usher in an era of prosperity that will improve the quality of life for all Americans. J.Bush

I get skiddish whenever I hear “reform” where I’d rather have REPEAL. If government burdens our lives with a monstrosity that misses hitting any of its intended goals, ELIMINATE that monstrosity from the record; and knowing what fails, start with a clean slate. THAT is the only way to keep things efficient and effective within reasonable costs paid by taxpayers.

Re: education

conservatives should advance proposals that enhance accountability for student achievement, …Bush

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Given accurate texts and teachers that “appropriately” present lesson materials in a thorough and timely fashion, the ACCOUNTABILITY for learning rests within the STUDENT and the parental input leading their child’s homework efforts even MORE than folks admit. PTA, volunteers and school websites are there to help. There will always be a population segment that refuses to fulfill their own obligations to do all that it takes themselves to gain knowledge. THEY need to accept their own obligations either to get with the program and LEARN THEIR LESSONS, or be directed into specific training to productively serve society. Ultimately, age limit per provision of public education needs to be obliterated, as Adult Education should be part of the public education. Adults are paying the taxes; age should not be used to discriminate against a student ready to learn.

HEALTH CARE
problem: affordable insurance
“promote prevention and control costs by drastically reducing the need for more expensive medical treatments that come from chronic and possibly preventable illness.”

“Promote prevention”
Tax the “bad for your health” products to specifically pay for treatments required?

INSURANCE skyrockets cost of medical treatment. Eliminate insurance and lawsuits, the middle men, and deal directly between the patient and the medical treatment.

THAT is even less likely to happen than the projected education reform.

“Reinventing Conservatism” is like reinventing the wheel.

maverick muse on March 11, 2009 at 9:16 AM