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Timothy Carney

Why conservatives have good reason to give thanks

But the two most conservative candidates running for federal office both won: Jeff Flake and Ted Cruz. Over six terms in the House, Flake racked up an American Conservative Union score of 96.73. Along with Ron Paul, Flake typically topped the scorecard of the National Taxpayers Union. He also regularly posted 100 percent scores from National Right to Life.

Flake is not only roundly conservative, he has no qualms about defying Republican mandarins. He was comfortable in tiny minorities opposing popular measures. He also was the founding father of the House “Anti-Appropriators,” a tiny caucus of Appropriations Committee members who repeatedly voted on the floor against their leadership and who used their committee perch not to bring home pork, but to try to reduce spending…

Conservatives can also be thankful that the 2016 Republican presidential field might be very strong. Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Rand Paul, Susana Martinez, Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, Mitch Daniels, Rob Portman, Bob McDonnell, Nikki Haley — not all of them will run, but some of them will. The prospective field sure looks better than Romney, Santorum, Gingrich and Huntsman.

Jindal has a solid conservative record as governor. Walker is battle-tested and clearly willing to stand up to special interests. Rand Paul is showing political carefulness his father has lacked. And maybe by 2016, the name “Bush” will no longer be an albatross for Jeb.

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And maybe by 2016, the name “Bush” will no longer be an albatross for Jeb.

ha, good one, you silly goose.

keep the change on November 22, 2012 at 8:32 PM

I’m thankful we aren’t Zimbabwe already; but we’re getting close.

viking01 on November 22, 2012 at 8:52 PM

Conservatives can also be thankful that the 2016 Republican presidential field might be very strong…Jeb Bush

The fact that Jeb Bush’s name shows up on the roster, even as a garbage time scrub, is a sign of an incredibly weak bench.

fitzfong on November 22, 2012 at 9:56 PM

The world of politics has given conservatives and libertarians very little to be thankful for recently. But amid the setbacks for the causes of limited government and traditional values, there have been blessings, and on Thanksgiving we ought to recall them.

This is very true. In the middle of a recession……whose “Keynesian solution” is fueled by Debt, more Debt, and intergeneration Debt……unemployment rate is almost TWICE the rate before President Obama took office…..more job layoffs….more economic bad news……yet the Incumbent Democrat Party actually picked up both House and Senate seats in…..RED STATES????

And the incumbent Democrat President actually won big……despite all the signs that things are still going bad……

But the two most conservative candidates running for federal office both won: Jeff Flake and Ted Cruz. Over six terms in the House, Flake racked up an American Conservative Union score of 96.73.

Ummmm…..shouldn’t we expect conservative candidates to win BIG in conservative Red States? Or is this changing too?

Conservatives can also be thankful that the 2016 Republican presidential field might be very strong. Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Rand Paul, Susana Martinez, Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, Mitch Daniels, Rob Portman, Bob McDonnell, Nikki Haley — not all of them will run, but some of them will. The prospective field sure looks better than Romney, Santorum, Gingrich and Huntsman.

Jeb Bush?

Good grief.

I thought the article was supposed to make me feel better……not worse.

A Jeb Bush Presidency will be another nightmare for conservatives and libertarians.

But in a way, Thanksgiving, when most of us take a time out from our regular lives, ought to remind us not to look for meaning and happiness in politics. Conservatives and libertarians already understand this.

Face it: America is a Center-Left country.

My hope is in Jesus Christ alone.

56andwarmweather on November 22, 2012 at 10:51 PM

This year I am thankful for the 22nd Amendment.

jefrey with one f on November 23, 2012 at 12:12 AM

And maybe by 2016, the name “Bush” will no longer be an albatross for Jeb.

And why would this be a good thing? Have we not yet learned that political dynasties are bad for America, or do we need still another Bush in office to make this clear?

DrMagnolias on November 23, 2012 at 9:06 AM