I am unable to cease my complaints about today’s GOP, and for good reason. There is no resemblance to the Republican Party I once admired and respected for their efforts in Washington. They represented all of our nation’s people, not just the wealthy class.

Although George W. Bush was a disgrace to the Presidency, and will be remembered for failing to keep our nation safe, engaging in two unnecessary wars, and allowing Wall Street to bankrupt our nation, his father will have a place in history decorated with reverence and respect.

“Americans unhappy with the reflexively polarized politics of the first decades of the 21st century will find the presidency of George H.W. Bush refreshing, even quaint,” Meacham writes. “He embraced compromise as a necessary element of public life, engaged his political foes in the passage of important legislation, and was willing to break with the base of his own party in order to do what he thought was right, whatever the price. Quaint, yes. But it happened in America, only a quarter of a century ago.” Jon Meacham is the biographer who wrote the recently released account of George H.W. Bush’s presidency.

Although many will remember the senior Bush for his efforts to free Kuwait from an invasion by Iraq under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, his focus was on domestic issues. He should and will be remembered for constructing a fiscal policy which led to the balanced budget during the Clinton Administration; he signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, and updated the Clean Air Act. He doesn’t sound like todays Republicans in any manner. He also gave amnesty to hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers.

As a Congressman, a younger Bush worked and often voted across party lines. His record includes casting votes in favor of the Fair Housing Act; he supported family planning, bilingual education, and an expanded Head Start. Would any of today’s GOP presidential wannabees vote positively for these issues, including his son; I doubt it very much.

George H.W. Bush was a model for the modern day president. He believed strongly about the issues he supported, and just as strongly about those he opposed; but he was always willing to deliberate and if reasonable solutions could be found he compromised.

In the book he also had harsh words for those who worked in the administration of his son, Bush 43. I labeled Dick Cheney “iron ass,” and Donald Rumsfeld “arrogant.” He was also openly critical of George W. Bush’s foreign policy.

Intelligence is the most important aspect of a great leader. Labels, personal attacks, and the use of emotion to create fear and anger reveal ignorance and a lack of ability to govern in a rational manner.

If indeed Donald Trump is symbolic of today’s Republicans, the party is in very serious trouble. They are displaying the fact that they not only refuse to govern effectively, they no longer know how. If a TEA Party member such as Ted Cruz receives the nomination, the American people can expect the possibility of four more years of ‘no,’ and a refusal to compromise; our nation would be led by an extremist and controlled by the Koch brothers. If another TEA Party darling, Marco Rubio receives the nomination, we could see a failed fiscal policy, and face a leader who would rather lie to the American people and work hard for their future. With both we could expect a rush to another unwinnable war.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of Marion Doss

Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2