President Bush may not have governed as a TrueConservative™ down the line for the last seven years, but this exchange with AP Radio’s Mark Smith highlights President Bush’s belief in those core conservative principles of Freedom and Choice.
Shorter Mark Smith: “Why aren’t you emulating the Magi Emeritus, Jimmy Carter, and asking Americans to wear sweaters and eschew heat and air conditioning, and sit at home instead of driving places?” [raised nose, satisfied look]
Not shorter, but actual, President Bush: “Well, they’re smart enough to figure out whether they’re going to drive less or not.”
“The consumer’s plenty bright, Mark,” Bush continued. “The marketplace works.”
Well said, President Bush. Well said. As The Directors said on Monday, the essence of the GOP as a Party, and Republican Conservatism as an ideology, is Republicans’ belief that “People must be free to decide how to direct their lives for themselves, and then be responsible for their choices.”
It was a nice lesson in conservatism for Mr. Smith, AP Radio savant. I wish we’d gotten a chance to view his reaction to Bush’s response, so that we could have seen whether he was still gazing down his nose at the President, or was studiously ignoring the very necessary lesson.
h/t Ace
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Daniel Horowitz
Jake Walker
Victoria Coates
Bush at his finest
Brian Simpson (Diary) Tuesday, July 15th at 9:36PM EST (link)He really does seem to enjoy sparring with the reporters. He did well for himself in this one too.
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Important principles may and must be inflexible. ~ Abraham Lincoln
That was awesome
tcgeol (Diary) Tuesday, July 15th at 9:57PM EST (link)Too bad he hasn’t been doing that these last 6 years. If so, we would be in decent shape going into these elections.
Just your typical bitter gun- and God-clinger
Even the Left admits we’re Right
Will We See More of Bush Now???
quill67 (Diary) Tuesday, July 15th at 10:37PM EST (link)We haven’t seen much of Bush in the last couple of years (limited oval office speeches in particular). I suppose it was a smart strategy since people probably would not have listened given the problems in Iraq.
But now that Iraq seems to be turning up, I think it would be beneficial to see more of Bush. He is a likeable guy and more importantly I think people agree with him. The more they see of him, they will conclude he is not so bad and the need for “Change” less pressing.
I do not know if they are coordinating with the McCain campaing but the drill here drill now issue is gold for the Republicans. The Democrats don’t get it, Americans don’t want to “make do with less”. They want to do better for less.
(make sure to bring in a heavy dose of alternative and domestic energy–particuarly environmentally friendly sources but also natural gas and U.S. clean coal).
Jeff, who sat next to Compton?
pilgrim (Diary) Tuesday, July 15th at 11:07PM EST (link)I was enjoying the look of disgust the man was showing toward Mark as he spoke his question to Pres. Bush.
Turn that into an ad!!!!
Raven (Diary) Tuesday, July 15th at 11:48PM EST (link)“It’s a basic philosophical difference. Should the people spend their money or should the government spend their money?”
!!!!PUT THIS ON TV!!!!
“If you do not have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
Luke 22:36
both ways?
UncleKoz Wednesday, July 16th at 10:11AM EST (link)“People must be free to decide how to direct their lives for themselves, and then be responsible for their choices.”
then why is the government bailing out everyone for their poor decisions, particularly finacial ones?
can’t have it both ways.