How widespread is dissatisfaction over the Bush administration? Well, read this via Steve Clemons:
Barbara Bush is allegedly TICKED off at Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Andy Card, nearly all of them — except Karen Hughes — for how her boy is faring in the hearts and minds of Americans.
The matriarch of the Bush clan is colder than North Pole ice right now to those around her son who she thinks have undermined him. I’ll tell who my sources are if Patrick Fitzgerald gives a call and makes me — but the sources are very close to Poppa Bush (41), who has been traveling a bit with some of his old entourage, including Brent Scowcroft and others of the first Bush regime.
While TWN has been able to confirm that Laura Bush’s mother-in-law wants to do more than put coal in the stockings of the Vice President and the other top handlers of her son’s White House, we have not been able to confirm a slightly stronger bit of the rumor, which is that Barbara — not Laura — was planning to call on Nancy Reagan just to get a refresher lesson on how she took on and kicked out then Chief-of-Staff Donald Regan. (I embellish here; Barbara Bush is not going to take lessons from Nancy, it just sounded good. My source told me that Barbara was about to “pull a Nancy Reagan” on these attendants.)
Two things about this report: (1) Clemons has the integrity to stress that it isn’t quite confirmed — but his source he says is a good one (and Clemons has a good track record) and (2) It fits in with various reports about others close to Bush 41 being upset or highly critical of the present administration.
Which allows us to make a point we need to make:
Since this blog started two years ago we’ve been blasted by liberals (who have said TMV is a closet conservative) and by conservatives (who say TMV is a closet liberal). Most usually write in emails or comments or posts “moderate” in quotes. Because if you dare not to agree with their agenda, you’re not a moderate, centrist or an independent. You’re the enemy.
BUT that was par for the course…until later this summer. When the Bush administration hit its big bumpy patch this took on a new tone. Emails, some comments and some posts INSISTED TMV was a liberal site. Yes, and we won the Lotto, too..
For instance, yours truly has supported the war and has not endorsed calls for an immediate pull-out. But that doesn’t mean yours truly thinks those who have a different view are traitors, undercutting the troops, or should stifle their debate. Yours truly considers those on the right or left who express differing views without smearing others patriotic — and thinks elected officials who question the patriotism of other Americans who care enough to question policy need to be unelected. Read OUR POST HERE.
Actually, you could chart the loss of Bush and GOP support among independents by reading this weblog. Most independents, whether they voted for Bush or not, have long given him the benefit of the doubt. But with each day (SCROLL ABOVE) there are more and more news stories that alienate all but the most staunch Bush partisans. The stories sometimes entail corruption, changing the rules, or incredible political unfairness.
But it’s not just that. I visited Texas a lot when Bush was governor. He enjoyed a reputation as a governor who worked well with Democrats. He seemed to be surrounded by conservative but highly skilled, inclusive-friendly and wise political advisors.
Today it seems he’s surrounded by conservative advisors. Period.
And that’s what’s apparently bugging Barbara Bush and other Bush 41 associates.
So now we’re seeing a MAJOR SHIFT:
The Bush administration is NOT now only losing independents and Democrats (such as Reagan Democrats) but it’s losing people associated with the first Bush administration. Why? Because that was a DIFFERENT KIND of Republicanism. Just as Barry Goldwater Republicanism differs from the present administration.
So when TMV or the co-bloggers here (who are center-right, center and center-left) are dismissed as just a bunch of liberals, we shrug and say those folks are entitled to their viewpoint but the fact is each co-blogger has his or her OWN opinion: some will even think this post is too far right or left. Which is their right.
But, in reality, TMV’s evolution reflects the reaction of many independent voters and centrists who are INCREASINGLY critical of this administration and the GOP elite leadership now in charge of that party for many reasons.
Of course, staunch Bush supporters will disagree.
With us.
And — if this report is true — with Barbara Bush.
SOME OTHERS COMMENTING ON THE BARBARA BUSH TIDBIT:
Middle Earth Journal
Prairie Weather
Brilliant At Breakfast
Suburban Guerilla
The Little Green Blog
Inkdog
Pramatic Liberal
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.