During the GOP "Democrat-Lite" Listening Tour, Jeb Bush Says "Leave Reagan Behind"

I kid you not, people. The liberal and moderate Republicans have been trying to destroy Reagan's legacy for decades behind the scenes...now they've come out in the open in their desire to become progressive like the Democrats:

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Saturday that it's time for the Republican Party to give up its "nostalgia" for the heyday of the Reagan era and look forward, even if it means stealing the winning strategy deployed by Democrats in the 2008 election.

"You can't beat something with nothing, and the other side has something. I don't like it, but they have it, and we have to be respectful and mindful of that," Mr. Bush said.

The former president's brother, often mentioned as a potential candidate in 2012, said President Obama's message of hope and change during the 2008 campaign clearly resonated with Americans.

"So our ideas need to be forward looking and relevant. I felt like there was a lot of nostalgia and the good old days in the [Republican] messaging. I mean, it's great, but it doesn't draw people toward your cause," Mr. Bush said.

"From the conservative side, it's time for us to listen first, to learn a little bit, to upgrade our message a little bit, to not be nostalgic about the past because, you know, things do ebb and flow."

Source: Washington Times

Hat Tip: Drudge Report

Commentary

Listening Tour? This was a bad idea dreamed up by people who spend too much time listening to focus groups and trying to be in touch with their inner child.

If there are still large numbers of conservatives in the GOP...this type of pronouncement, if not taken out of context by the lefty media covering the event, should seal the end of the career of Jeb Bush. It is too bad we probably won't be able to hear his comments in context....like a full-length video of the event. I despair of my fellow republicans ever getting it that we have to go around the Legacy Media and present our case directly to the people instead of having these events that only a fraction of people will ever attend, and only a slightly larger fraction of people read about, or watch...in any meaningful way.

I'll leave you more of the reporting of Jeb Bush's words from the article for you to consider. To me, it sounds like he is trying to talk out both sides of his mouth at once in an effort to be all things to all people. That is exactly how the Republicans lost in 2006, 2008 and why we will lose in 2010 if these numbskulls keep it up:

Mr. Bush was the most forthright of the panel, repeatedly returning to the notion of looking forward, of the need to first and foremost "create a consensus around 21st-century ideas that truly matter for American families."

"We have principles, we have values. They are the values that are shared by the majority of Americans, there's no question about it. But we have to now take those principles and values and apply them to the challenges that our country faces today and in the future. ...

"And then, hopefully - God willing - [we] embrace our conservative principles and take these new ideas and present them to the American people," he said.

The message resonated with many of those who turned out at the Pie-Tanza restaurant, right in the heart of a firmly liberal community.

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Asheville Police criticize Dr. Mumpower's efforts to Combat Drug Dealers

The article I am responding to is here.

In the article, two officers are listed as sending emails opposed to Dr. Mumpower's efforts. A Sgt Michael Yelton, and a Lt Chris Young.



Michael Yelton

Sgt. Mike Yelton, in an e-mail to his supervisor, said Mumpower distracted an officer watching for signs of trouble in a stop that involved a cocaine seizure.

“I immediately thought this was a strange occurrence, but assumed he was conducting another of his many forays into law enforcement,” Yelton wrote.

“I was left with the distinct impression that Dr. Mumpower desired an immediate and personal response to his presence and waiting was not an option,” he wrote.

Hogan and City Manager Gary Jackson were included in the exchange of messages.

Mumpower made them public Wednesday, saying he heard of the complaints only one hour before a City Council meeting Tuesday night during which he criticized police.

Hogan would not comment Wednesday and would not say whether Mumpower should have been criminally charged.

First things first...Sgt Yelton's attitude toward Mumpower per his statement "forays into law enforcement" reveals a "group think" attitude. He seems to think that law enforcement is the domain of a knighted few, instead of every citizen's duty. APD has always had a bad rep, and their response isn't helping. I still remember the way APD handled demonstrators against the war in 2003. While I strongly disagree with the anti-war movement, they have a right to peaceably assemble.

Sounds like a typical strategy of attacking the messenger when the message is too dangerous. I can't help but wonder what the Asheville Police Department would do with photographic and Video Evidence of Drug Activity. Would they go after the providers of such data? I think so.

As a resident of a far western county, I can report that Asheville has been perceived as the regional hub of drug activity.

Chief Hogan should capitalize on this effort by Dr. Mumpower, and work with him, instead of against him. I smell a bureacratic tendency to 'protect his turf' from competition. Bureaucrats are the petty little tyrants that will destroy the fabric of our once free Republic. This is so sad. It is too bad that we are headed down this path.

I think of all the minds going to waste, and I wonder if Chief Hogan should set up a parallel hotline to Crime Stoppers for the Drug Dealers, and objecting APD Officers (And Mayor Bellamy) to use to report Dr. Mumpower's activities and call it Crime Enablers.

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