Bruce Bartlett on CSPAN2 now 3pm

[Viva_La_Revolution]

This week on After Words our guest is syndicated columnist Bruce Bartlett, former executive director of the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, which acts as the congressional counterpart to the President's Council of Economic Advisers. He also worked in the Reagan White House and the Treasury department for the first President Bush. He discusses his critique of the current President's domestic agenda titled, "Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy." He is interviewed by James Pinkerton, who also worked under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He is currently a fellow at the New America Foundation, writes a column for Newsday, and is a contributor to the Fox News Channel.


GOP: back to basics
By Bruce Bartlett
March 1, 2006

Last week, I published a new book, "Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy." Many of my friends are unhappy with me for writing it, and I have been embraced by a number of people on the left whom I would ordinarily consider my political enemies.
Both are mistaken about why I wrote the book and what I hope to accomplish with it. Some former friends on the right have attacked me as an opportunist who sold out his party and his president to get a best-seller.
They would not think so if they knew I started this project knowing I would probably lose my job with a think tank closely allied with the White House, which I did. My advance on the book was less than the salary I made. So if I am an opportunist, I'm a pretty poor one.
My new friends on the left are, of course, delighted to find someone on the right articulating a critique of George W. Bush. But if they read the book, they will find that my criticism has nothing in common with theirs. Just because I find fault with a president from my party doesn't mean I've switched sides. On the contrary, I wrote the book to help my side win.
http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/bbartlett.htm

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. "with all respects to the 'war on terror'...

I think the war on communism was a far more important fight"

Interesting, considering what we know now about how they blew that out of proportion too.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. "Bill Clinton was far better (concerning the budget) than Bush"

[IsItJustMe]

3. Notice all of these RW neo-cons are well fed.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. LOL

I've NEVER seen a skinny one!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. B*sh is the only 2 term president who has never vetoed a bill

since Jefferson.

FDR had the most, even with a Dem majority.

[IsItJustMe]

9. FDR vetoed the most bills, even though he had overwhelming majority of

Dems in congress.

A true profile in courage.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

6. Sarban-Oxley

Onerous legislation, and the White house just rolled over and played dead.

Medicare bill

Abdication of responsibility

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. House leader controlls the CSPAN cameras!!!!!

During the midnight session to pass the Medicare bill, the House leader ordered that the cameras be fixed (instead of panning the floor) so we could not see the furious activity going on on the Repug side.

:wow:

[acmejack]

8. Thanx for alerting me to this!

I think I'll have to read this book! I mean since it got him fired!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. just what I was thinking!

I refuse to pay full price though, I'll wait till I can get it Secondhand. :)

[cornermouse]

12. Better yet, check it out of the library.

I listened to him till I couldn't take it any more. As in, although I disagree with Bush on ________, _______, and __________, given the choice between him and Gore or Kerry, I would have to vote for Bush again.

For some people regret and repentence never goes more than skin deep or book salesmanship.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

13. Libraries and I don't get along...

They always want the book back, and I want to keep it for future reference. I've learned I'm better off buying most of what I read. If I end up not liking it, it goes back to Powells to get exchanged for something else.

Powells is cool. :)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. What do you think of the new energy policy?

Sounds like something that would come out of Carters admin. (is that supposed to be a slam? :P )

More tax on Gasoline, he says.