RAYNARD JACKSON COMMENTARY: Republicans Need To Go Back To The Bush Leagues

Asserts the moderate Republican political analyst: "According to the dictionary, bush-league is a reference to anything that is of an 'inferior class or group; marked by a lack of sophistication or professionalism.' But, I have a slightly different take on this expression. When I speak of the need for Republicans to return to the 'Bush' leagues, I am referring to former president, George Herbert Walker Bush and his team of statesmen, former Secretary of State, James A. Baker, and former Secretary of Commerce, Robert A. Mosbacher. I have known the Bush family for more than two decades and make a point to continue to stay in touch with the family. I was fortunate enough to be asked to chair the former president’s campaign in St. Louis back in 1988. I will always cherish and be grateful to the Bush family for giving a recent college graduate such a prominent position in a presidential campaign. The Bush family is one of the most decent families you will ever meet. They are a very private family, with most of their good deeds going unnoticed by the public. For example, the public is very surprised to find out that the Bush family has been involved with the United Negro College Fund for over forty years and counting."

He continues his commentary: "These three wise men are what I call the Bush League. Even though they are Republicans, they all are well respected by Democrats. Not being able to have dinner or drinks with someone because they are a member of the opposite party is a foreign concept to them. They could not imagine being speaker of the [H]ouse and not having a relationship with the minority leader. Foreign policy, like politics, is mostly based on relationships. I will go so far as to say foreign policy is 90 percent personal relations and 10 percent policy. The Bush League could not imagine not using personal relations to advance America’s security interests throughout the world. When the younger Bush got mired down in his foreign policy initiatives, who did he call for help? You guessed it, Jim Baker. When the younger Bush was in the early stages of putting together his fundraising team, who did he seek out for advice? Yep, Bob Mosbacher. These three wise men are constantly being asked to represent our country in various capacities throughout the world. Even though they haven’t been in public office for almost two decades, they are viewed as true elder statesmen."

More: "Who is there within the Republican ranks that can fill these men’s shoes? Unfortunately, the obvious answer is no one. The dysfunction seen within this current Republican Party would never have been allowed under these three wise men. The relevant people would have been ushered into a private meeting and given a chance to air their views; then they would have been told what was going to happen and that they were expected to fall in line. End of discussion! The thought of a military official publically [sic] disagreeing with the elder Bush on policy is unthinkable. The unfortunate thing today is that the current leadership within the Republican Party barely even knows these three wise men. Michael Steele would be wise to have a private lunch with each of these gentlemen to seek their guidance and advice. Can you imagine Dick Cheney being a party 'wise man?' or Newt Gingrich? Or even the younger Bush? Not even remotely conceivable! The Republican Party is in dire need of some Bush Leaguers, but are they willing to associate themselves with the bush-leaguers currently running our party?"

Booker Rising response: Mr. Bush was vice persident under former President Reagan, Mr. Baker was his former chief of staff, and Mr. Mosbacher was key fundraising guru and later Secretary of Commerce under Bush pere. All three men came into prominence as statesmen due to the efforts of movement conservatism - two directly and one indirectly riding Mr. Reagan's coattails - and not movement moderatism. During his tenure, moderate Republicans and Democrats often considered President Reagan a "bush-leaguer" (let's not forget the 1980 Republican primary campaign). Ironically, the same movement conservatism that Mr. Jackson despises in this historical revisionistic tale. Give credit where due because it wasn't movement moderatism that engendered their rise. I wonder why Mr. Bush was a one-term president? However, I can't imagine Bush pere dithering for months while his military general - whom he picked to head up an effort - had made recommendations and is looking for a response.