Looking more and more like a Christie surrogate, Jeb Bush jumped in front of the cameras this past weekend, posing as the rational alternative to Ted Cruz. Bush lamented the “Defund Strategy,” and offered the following alternative:
"I think the best way to repeal Obamacare is to have an alternative. We never hear the alternative. We could do this in a much lower cost with improved quality based on our principles, free-market principles. And two, show how Obamacare, flawed to its core, doesn't work. So have a little bit of self-restraint. It might actually be a politically — a better approach to see the massive dysfunction. But we don't even hear about that because we've stepped on that message."
Bush’s comments are a clear indication that the Republican Establishment still believes that the way to defeat the Left is to simply say “me too” on the fundamental issues, while tinkering around the edges. I’m not sure whether Bush is referring to the current Congress and President, or if he is projecting some future fantasy, but I will assume the former, because the latter needs no response. Recall that the main criticism against Cruz’s effort was that it would never work with the Democrats controlling the Senate, and Obama in the White House. What sort of “alternative” then does Bush envision? He only refers to it as “this,” and never mentions how such an alternative would pass the House, and survive the Senate and/or a potential veto. I would also add that Bush is clearly unaware of what “free market principles” are, because if you start a sentence talking about a government health care plan, and end it with “based on our free market principles,” unaware is the nicest thing I can manage to say about you---free market principles are, by their fundamental nature, the absence of government interference.
While the first portion of his statement was clearly absurd, the second portion revealed his more sinister intentions---and his complete disdain for the American people. Bush is criticizing Cruz for attempting to stop Obamacare, so as to spare the American people from its disastrous effects, because it would be more advantageous, politically, to allow for the harm to take place, and cash-in on the misery later. While I agree with Bush that showing beats telling, on what moral ground does he claim to stand when he makes such a statement? Morality aside, we were told that if we didn’t rock the boat in the 112th Congress, and gave the leadership the necessary breathing room, they would be able to repeal Obamacare; then we were told that the Supreme Court would strike it down as unconstitutional; then we were told that it was a good thing that John Roberts was derelict in his duties, because we were going to defeat it electorally in 2012; and now Bush can tell us with a straight face that if we just allow Obamacare to run its course, it will defeat itself? While this last part may be true, a cynic may look at such specious arguments and conclude that defeating Obamacare is not a priority for the Republican Establishment, and that they’ve been simply buying time all along.
While Bush’s criticism is absurd, at least he was not personally responsible for the existence of Obamacare---unlike another vocal critic of the Cruz strategy...I would like to address John McCain’s recent comments in the first-person, because his recent comments were so personally offensive:
Senator McCain, you recently said that defunding Obamacare was a “fool’s errand” because “elections have consequences.” For you to lecture us on the consequences of elections is quite offensive, and if it were anyone else, I would be shocked by the audacity. Obamacare was the grave consequence of an election that you lost. The Tea Party exists, because you failed; the defense of our liberty and the future of this nation made our existence necessary. Did you honestly expect us to surrender those values simply because you failed to defend them?
You seem to think that elections have consequences for everyone but yourself. You recently said that you “fought harder” against Obamacare than anyone who is now trying to repeal it. You would be well served to remember that they were not around when those debates were taking place; in fact, they were elected because of the fact that you failed in those debates. Is it the echoes of Obama’s words to you during those debates that you hear when you attempt to lecture us on the consequences of elections? In case you’ve forgotten, here’s what he said: "Let me just make this point, John, because we're not campaigning anymore. The election's over." He said those words to you, and the nearly year-long debate was over; in less than a month he would be signing Obamacare into law. It’s time for you to set aside your pride and realize that the fight goes on without you.
The Tea Party is a consequence of your failure, and that is the source of your resentment toward us. Ordinary men and women across this country took a stand against Obamacare, and formed a political platform with its repeal as its centerpiece. The American people endorsed that platform and swept us into office in an historical electoral wave. Why do you ignore the consequences of that election? And why do you ignore the fact that the American people re-elected a Congress that vowed to repeal Obamacare, continuously attempted to repeal Obamacare, and vowed to continue trying to repeal Obamacare, when you reference the consequences of elections?
I believe that you know the answer, but rather than acknowledge it, you’re fighting furiously to prop-up the flimsy narrative that Obamacare cannot be stopped, and that we should just accept it and move on. It’s clear who, or rather what, that narrative serves, but understand that your legacy is not our concern. If you were truly a “Maverick,” you would not excoriate a man like Ted Cruz who stands up in defense of principles, no matter what the political consequences are. I believe that you understand that the Left only considers you to be a “Maverick” in the moments after you’ve stabbed your Republican colleagues in their backs---while the wounds in the backs of men like Ted Cruz are still fresh. I believe that you know that by the time that the blood on your dagger has dried, you are no longer of any use to them.
I just want to make sure that you understand that you’re of no use to us either, and no amount of backstabbing will change that.
"I think the best way to repeal Obamacare is to have an alternative. We never hear the alternative. We could do this in a much lower cost with improved quality based on our principles, free-market principles. And two, show how Obamacare, flawed to its core, doesn't work. So have a little bit of self-restraint. It might actually be a politically — a better approach to see the massive dysfunction. But we don't even hear about that because we've stepped on that message."
Bush’s comments are a clear indication that the Republican Establishment still believes that the way to defeat the Left is to simply say “me too” on the fundamental issues, while tinkering around the edges. I’m not sure whether Bush is referring to the current Congress and President, or if he is projecting some future fantasy, but I will assume the former, because the latter needs no response. Recall that the main criticism against Cruz’s effort was that it would never work with the Democrats controlling the Senate, and Obama in the White House. What sort of “alternative” then does Bush envision? He only refers to it as “this,” and never mentions how such an alternative would pass the House, and survive the Senate and/or a potential veto. I would also add that Bush is clearly unaware of what “free market principles” are, because if you start a sentence talking about a government health care plan, and end it with “based on our free market principles,” unaware is the nicest thing I can manage to say about you---free market principles are, by their fundamental nature, the absence of government interference.
While the first portion of his statement was clearly absurd, the second portion revealed his more sinister intentions---and his complete disdain for the American people. Bush is criticizing Cruz for attempting to stop Obamacare, so as to spare the American people from its disastrous effects, because it would be more advantageous, politically, to allow for the harm to take place, and cash-in on the misery later. While I agree with Bush that showing beats telling, on what moral ground does he claim to stand when he makes such a statement? Morality aside, we were told that if we didn’t rock the boat in the 112th Congress, and gave the leadership the necessary breathing room, they would be able to repeal Obamacare; then we were told that the Supreme Court would strike it down as unconstitutional; then we were told that it was a good thing that John Roberts was derelict in his duties, because we were going to defeat it electorally in 2012; and now Bush can tell us with a straight face that if we just allow Obamacare to run its course, it will defeat itself? While this last part may be true, a cynic may look at such specious arguments and conclude that defeating Obamacare is not a priority for the Republican Establishment, and that they’ve been simply buying time all along.
While Bush’s criticism is absurd, at least he was not personally responsible for the existence of Obamacare---unlike another vocal critic of the Cruz strategy...I would like to address John McCain’s recent comments in the first-person, because his recent comments were so personally offensive:
Senator McCain, you recently said that defunding Obamacare was a “fool’s errand” because “elections have consequences.” For you to lecture us on the consequences of elections is quite offensive, and if it were anyone else, I would be shocked by the audacity. Obamacare was the grave consequence of an election that you lost. The Tea Party exists, because you failed; the defense of our liberty and the future of this nation made our existence necessary. Did you honestly expect us to surrender those values simply because you failed to defend them?
You seem to think that elections have consequences for everyone but yourself. You recently said that you “fought harder” against Obamacare than anyone who is now trying to repeal it. You would be well served to remember that they were not around when those debates were taking place; in fact, they were elected because of the fact that you failed in those debates. Is it the echoes of Obama’s words to you during those debates that you hear when you attempt to lecture us on the consequences of elections? In case you’ve forgotten, here’s what he said: "Let me just make this point, John, because we're not campaigning anymore. The election's over." He said those words to you, and the nearly year-long debate was over; in less than a month he would be signing Obamacare into law. It’s time for you to set aside your pride and realize that the fight goes on without you.
The Tea Party is a consequence of your failure, and that is the source of your resentment toward us. Ordinary men and women across this country took a stand against Obamacare, and formed a political platform with its repeal as its centerpiece. The American people endorsed that platform and swept us into office in an historical electoral wave. Why do you ignore the consequences of that election? And why do you ignore the fact that the American people re-elected a Congress that vowed to repeal Obamacare, continuously attempted to repeal Obamacare, and vowed to continue trying to repeal Obamacare, when you reference the consequences of elections?
I believe that you know the answer, but rather than acknowledge it, you’re fighting furiously to prop-up the flimsy narrative that Obamacare cannot be stopped, and that we should just accept it and move on. It’s clear who, or rather what, that narrative serves, but understand that your legacy is not our concern. If you were truly a “Maverick,” you would not excoriate a man like Ted Cruz who stands up in defense of principles, no matter what the political consequences are. I believe that you understand that the Left only considers you to be a “Maverick” in the moments after you’ve stabbed your Republican colleagues in their backs---while the wounds in the backs of men like Ted Cruz are still fresh. I believe that you know that by the time that the blood on your dagger has dried, you are no longer of any use to them.
I just want to make sure that you understand that you’re of no use to us either, and no amount of backstabbing will change that.
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