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Joe Scarborough Can Save the GOP
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I’ve found the new face of the Republican Party. It’s not a new one, entirely, and it’s been hiding out on national television every weekday morning from six to nine.
There’s been a lot of talk lately among Republicans about the need to find a new face for our party. Rush Limbaugh’s and Dick Cheney’s are, let’s face it, a bit scary. John Boehner’s looks like it wants to sell you a used car. Mitch McConnell’s looks like that of the accountant who’s explaining to you why you can’t afford the car that Mr. Boehner is trying to get you to buy, no money down.
So we Republicans have a Face Gap with the Democrats, who—let’s face it—have the best one of all in Mr. Obama.
Well, I think I’ve found the new face of the Republican Party. It’s not a new one, entirely, and it’s been hiding out on national television every weekday morning from six to nine.
Joe Scarborough.
I say this because I have just read his new book, The Last Best Hope: Restoring Conservatism and America's Promise. It’s not a perfect book by any means. It’s a bit preachy here and there, a bit speechy here and there, a bit cutesy here and there, and occasionally repetitive. That said, it is a thoroughly honest book about the largely, if not entirely, self-inflicted wounds the Republicans have visited upon themselves over the last eight or more years. And his argument that we are heading to certain fiscal disaster is quite calmly and dispassionately made. Into the bargain, Joe Scarborough comes across as a profoundly likeable and reasonable man. Reagan Lite, you might even say. Could we do better? I’m open to suggestions.
One truly senses that Scarborough, who went out of his way as a congressman to befriend such lefty firebrands as Ron Dellums and Maxine Waters, doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.
(Full disclosure: He repeatedly invokes William F. Buckley, Jr. in more or less hagiographical terms; and I was recently on Morning Joe, during which, if I recall, Mr. Scarborough said pleasant things about the book I was on to promote. If that makes me out to be in the tank, fine—but read the book and decide for yourself.)
He is unsparing about the disaster wrought by George W. Bush and the Republican majority. At times, indeed, it reads like an indictment co-authored by Michael Moore and Paul Krugman. Iraq, reckless spending, the works. His insight is that Bush and the Republicans were not in any sense “conservative,” but rather radical and ideological. In foreign policy, they tossed aside the Powell and Weinberger doctrines of restraint and went pell-mell into every quagmire in sight.
At home, Bush accumulated more debt that the country had amassed from the presidency of George Washington’s to Ronald Reagan’s.
“Big-government conservatism? Woodrow Wilson Republicans? Really. Is it any wonder that the Republican Party got slaughtered at the ballot box over the last two elections?”
Joe Scarborough was one of 74 Republicans elected to the Congress in 1994, in response to the missteps of the early Clinton era. He was the first Republican elected to Congress from his northern Florida district since the 1870s, and handily won re-election three times. He takes credit, legitimately, along with his fellow conservative young Turks, for forcing Clinton to balance the budget, reform welfare and cutting taxes. (Odd how Mr. Clinton claims credit himself for those accomplishments.)
Then things went to hell (as Lord Acton would say) and we got Newt Gingrich’s tantrums and Ken Starr’s unmagnificent obsession. Then we got George W. Bush, Iraq, Katrina, and mind-boggling deficits.
Scarborough—who left Congress in 2001 to go into TV—became a pariah in his own party for his Cassandra-like warnings against the fiscal excesses of the Bush era. He was actually blackballed by the Bush White House in 2006 for writing a caustic Washington Post op-ed. (Op-ed pieces seem to be the modern equivalents of medieval gauntlets.)
All this gives him considerable street cred. He’s been there and done that.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
One Hell of a Speech
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
The Audacity of Oops
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
Too Big to Succeed
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
Historyboy80
chris, I agree with you. Republicans must listen to what Joe is saying; if they continue listening to People like Rush the Republicans will be the "new" Wig Party. Once I finish your book, I will pick up Joe's new book.
cbeenthere
Joe Scarborough is a bag of wind on a high horse.
drkaza12
amen brother.
jake-the-goose
Joe is a good man - but he flops in the wind.
cbeenthere
Thanks, love when I get validated, but I am a sister. Thanks again.
ElizabethKaye
Amen and then some. How disappointing that you, Mr.Buckley, fail to perceive what so many posters here see so clearly:: that Joe Scarborough is a self-enchanted blowhard who is rude to guests (apparently not you) and that he gets favorable press because the founder of this site and the Huffpo founder are both eager for airtime on his dumbed down show.
Truly, it is a pathetic sight: Mike Barnacle, Mika, Willie all agreeing with the Bully day after day while the Bully disses some guests and makes an aggressive fool of himself with others...if Joe is what the Republicans need, the country won't need the Republicans.
spinozareader
cbeen...
okay--Amen, sistah!
OnwardRocinante
When Joe gets on his high horse, his ears (and mind) close and he treats all others with differing opinions like ignorant children. He becomes a grumpy, arrogant old man sitting on the porch yelling at kids to get off his lawn.
As for foreign policy experience, Joe has none. Let the UN handle things? That is ignorant. The UN can only handle paper pushing and occasionally, almost by mistake, it saves a few lives here and there. Passing the buck to the UN is the same as doing nothing, which is what I believe Joe's intent really would be in all too many cases.
crymeariver
"When Joe gets on his high horse, his ears (and mind) close and he treats all others with differing opinions like ignorant children. He becomes a grumpy, arrogant old man"
--------------------------------------
Wow, that is the most PERFECT description of Joe Scarborough I have ever heard. Spot on!
mindlessmissy
Doucheborough ain't saving anybody ...
Except Starbucks ....
Opus007
Good one!
lostatski
He is a total extremist. There is video, USA TODAY, of Scar in Boulder protesting an abortion clinic.
Not to mention his work as the defense attorney for the killer of an abortion doctor in FL/ 1993!
palmharbor11
You have that Right as our all Florida Republicans especially Jeb Bush
and Charlie Crist. Two Right Wingers who have driven Florida off a cliff.
Joe is the same kind of idiolog as they are....the only ideas are keeping the wealthy from paying taxes and cutting services to the poor. The Republicans REJECTED UNEMPPLYMENT FUNDS from Obama.
People are voting with their feet and leaving Florida by the thousands every day
jeannedeming
You know, I agree with you- I used to like him a couple years back- he seemed like he remembered you could retain your civility even if you disagreed with someone. I was distressed to see that he became a yelling, rude typical "Fox-like personality" as time went on. I hope he's flopped back to being a reasonable person...but from the look of some of these posts, maybe not....
SCMax101
I always love your Articles Mr. Buckley, but in this case it seems like you think fiscal responsibility will be enough to reinvigorate a party that still has unpopular social views and is mistrusted by the American people. Still, good article.
Cforchange
Here from Wiki, "Scarborough supported a number of pro-life positions while in Congress including legislation that made it a crime to harm a fetus during the commission of other crimes."
So Joe can please the base but how about all the other voters meaning the majority. Also, I would have concerns that he was part of the 1990's GOP machine that has gone down in a blaze.
Interestingly, if one reads comments posted as C Whitman's Republican Leadership blog you get the sage advice from those who do more than talk for a living. There are alot of military responders who really want the GOP to step back from the social issues. These folks have the front line view to suffering - we should contemplate and respect their opinions well above that of those who sit safely within the confines Washington DC or a room with a mic and a keyboard.
JohnnyAces
I could be wrong, but I don't think Buckley was implying that Joe should run for office again, just that compared with the ugly rhetoric of Limbaugh and Cheney, Scarborough is one of the few rational voices for the GOP. He may not be Mr. Intellect, but I do agree that Joe is a moderate and tempored spokesman for the party. That's something the GOP could use a little more of.
Cforchange
JAces, We need new role models that aren't constrained by the social con litmus test. No matter what way you slice it - Joe is more of the failing same. THe GOP needs a new voice to surface, one of charisma, reason full of futuristic ideas. Maybe someone from the hinterlands of the North East - that would make me happy.
JohnnyAces
C, I agree with you on that one. Let me know when such a person surfaces!
dchuckster
agreed--i rarely agreed with his father, and, on politics, i rarely agree with the son.
but, i always look forward to reading him.
why do even the smartest people on the right, like Mr. Buckley, always conflate social security and medicare liabilities? anyone who can read knows that medicare is in trouble in less than a decade, while social security is ok for 30 years or more?
Obama will fix medicare by fixing healthcare generally.
Econolicious
You have to be kidding Chris, you are kidding, aren't you....?
What's Joe gonna do....? Sell me a Pontiac....?
Sometimes I wonder if one of the qualifications for being a conservative is being a moron.... No offense, but I find it offensive that you would try to sell Morning Joe to my mother, your are behaving like a tele-marketer selling AAA Lehman paper.
Best regards,
Econolicious
This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--JAsMomLAallonfla
Sorry, I don't buy it. After seeing him on Morning Joe, it does not match the person you speak of here. What I see on Morning Joe is an idiot and I say that because if I know the facts and someone like Joe doesn't - he's an idiot.
Sorry love but there is no President Scarborough in the future.
Gwazdos
allonfla great comment on the truth seem by all sane people about this Idiot. What frustrates me is how does the media like MSNBC even keep this show on - why Imus would be a better show. Scarborough masters in being stupid on each show and the media keeps him and people like another Idiot Tucker Carlson employed - it must be that the media has time slots that needs to fill and will take anyone regardless of qualification to act as a Journalist.
cbeenthere
This must be a result of the liberal media, right?
Federalist
Curious - what's your definition on an idiot? Someone that has a different opinion than you?
tleonard
Amen. Joe shows that you can be a true republican and conservative without coming across as an egotistical insufferable ass, which is something that the others haven't figured out.
Allegra
LOLOLOLOL. "Egotistical Insufferable Ass"....I thought that was Joe Scarborough's middle name.
Federalist
Nope - you've confused it with yours.
lostatski
No it's "closet extremist defense attorney for abortion doctor killer".
violaman
But Joe is a egotistical inunsfferable ass--ask some of the people who have appeared n his morning fiasco!. As Democrat I hope he will become the new face of the Republican Party--and thereby the final nail in their coffin
Opus007
You can watch the clip on youtube of Mika's father saying Joe's understanding of the Israel/Palenstine conflict was "stunningly superficial" and it was almost "embarrassing to discuss the topic with him" Google "stunningly superficial and Joe Scarborough" and the youtube clip will come up.
I wonder if the GOP is really a political party or just a social conservatives (gay bashers, bigots, racists and misogynists) seeking elected office. Let's face it -the Iraq war was a religious war in George W. Bush's mind. Rumsfield manipulated Bush by playing the religion card time and time again with Bush.
AlwaysOptimistic
Though I don't agree with Joe on most issues, I will say that it is refreshing to have a show where everyone is NOT screaming at one another. I find the hosts and guests to have "lively" discussions without resorting to the "mindless hostility" you see constantly on FOX. And I do agree, that though I disagree with Mr. Scarborough on the issues, I do see that his approach to expressing his views is at least a lot more tempered than the "hysterical" and "mean spirited" rantings of Palin, Cheney, Gingrich and Limbaugh. At least for me, Scarborough does represent what I see as the "loyal opposition".
spinozareader
AlwaysOptimistic
How sad it is that we live in a time where we find it "refreshing" that the show's guests aren't screaming at one another. Scarborough gets no points from me on that score because it's really represents the bare minimum of civility.
Federalist
You mean like "Hardball?"
nckayd
"...without resorting to the "mindless hostility" ????
Really? I usually watch until Joe gets so out of control that he starts screaming at Mika or a guest because they don't agree with him.Happens EVERYDAY without fail.
misteranthony
Swing and a miss, Mr Buckley. You usually write great articles, but this isn't one of them. This article is an insult to my intellegence. Joe Scarborough is no different than the usual intellectual lightweights in the Republican Party. He bashes President Obama every chance he gets, offers no new ideas, always talks about "getting back to Conservative Values", invokes Ronald Reagan every 10 minutes, and his BFF on Morning Joe is....Pat Buchanon.
What makes him so different from the rest of the Republican crowd?
If he is the "new face" of the Republican Party, then God help them. They need someone in the mold of Jack Kemp to save them. Joe Scarborough is more in the mold of Newt Gingrich(only a bit more polished for television) or the other 1990s Republican relics.
I'll give you a mulligan on this artice Mr Buckley.
estcruzer
Yes, God help them. Buckley is smart and well read, he doesn't seem to have a chip on his shoulder and his best pick is Scarborough. That does say something about the Republicans and their spokespeople. Unfortunately.
PacificNWMark
Scarborough's face is certainly more pleasant than those of the rest of the GOP cabal of Rush, Newt or Cheney, but most mornings he lacks the intellectual heft to counter his hand-picked Colmes, Mika Brzezinski.
At best, Scarborough comes across as a clean-cut, uninformed ideologue. Hardly the stature to build a movement around.
nycwerewolf
What about that murder of Lori Klausutis that Joe was tied to in 2001? Does that help the GOP?
Carole65
Klausutis death wasn't described as a murder, and the drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne didn't get in Kennedy's way.
Ruckus
Yes, but there were and are many very suspicious facts.
cbeenthere
I think Edward Kennedy has paid his dues. He was not elected president which he could very well have been, had he not been protected from the normal and just consequences of his actions; and was returned to the Senate where he grew up and has since served this country admirably; better than he could have done in prison. A lesson to be learned in this life for more than Ted Kennedy.
lostatski
Are you talking about Joe's defense of the abortion doctor murderer in Florida and how he won the Congressional seat from and incumbent republican?
biglover
Yes, but did you know that the coroner who said her death was from a heart attack was kicked out of town and had to move out of the state because of other botched up autopsies. The woman was young in fabulous shape and had a heart attack? I suppose it could happen but how did she get a blunt trauma to her head from a heart attack. Oh, supposedly she had a heart attack and fell and hit her head. Yeah right!!! Why suspiciously did Joe's first wife divorce him very shortly thereafter. The thug party paid off everyone to shut up about it.
xlntcat
Oh yes, Kopechne killed Kennedy's run for the WH. Scarborough knows this and I would be surprised to see him actually run for anything. That said, he has the lowest ratings on morning cable news for good reason. When he show up sober, he is a rude, uninformed bully. He may not consider himself racist but his upbringing comes through despite his denial. The sexism, he doesn't even try to hide. Since writing the book and beginning the sales tour, he has tried to tone down his closed minded ideology as it depletes the book's legitimacy. If you can't attract viewers, how successful are you going to be with voters?
biglover
A healthy 21 year old runner, falls down and gashes her head open in his office. Sounds pretty suspicious to me and why was the story squelched.
Zugzwang
I presume you also have some revelatory information about what actually happened on 9/11.
JustLeftOfRigh
it wouldn't matter, your mind is closed.
biglover
I agree. Interesting how that story was squelched and 6 months later Joe's wife had sued him for divorce. Her parents are literally scared to death to talk about it.
mentalgame
As an admirer of William Buckley I heard that you were adopted. Now, after reading your article on AM JOE I now realize you were left in a paper bag on Mr. Buckley's front door.
pmvrwc
Amen brother. What happened to Mr. Buckley's kid? Shame.
LivingInCT
That explains it! I've always wondered why Christopher exhibits a modicum of humanity. He doesn't have a single toxic Buckley gene. Good to know.
flyoverland
I would have never guessed you watched MSNBC.
If we have to choose someone from that show, I pick Mika. She may be a flaming liberal, but at least she is better looking than Obama.
spinozareader
If Mika can be described as "a flaming liberal," then that means the "middle" of the spectrum has shifted very far right of center over the last 30 years.
And, judging from this response, I guess it'd be fair to assume that, for you, the "message" isn't nearly as important to you as how good looking its messenger is.
spinozareader
i.e. "its messenger is" should've read "its messenger looks."
flyoverland
Given the banality of most of the messages coming from our media today, I ought to at least get to enjoy the messenger.
MariosRight
Mika is simply Joe's lapdog.
I'm still looking for the intelligent, independent journalist she was purported to be.
hithere3
i don't know that scarborough wants to get back into politics, per se.
i can say he runs the most intelligent weekday morning show -- not that his competition is particularly stiff.
as a liberal, i may not agree with him very often, but i appreciate his earnest, ideological approach to discussing issues -- and his openness to talking to people who disagree with him. he's a bit blustery, but he encourages mika brzezinski to make fun of him for it, and she does. mercilessly.
someone above likens her to alan colmes. that's ridiculous! the woman is fierce.
MariosRight
Mika is fierce?? What show have you been watching. She is an embarrassment to all female journalists. Joe rolls right over her and all she comes back with is mealy mouth little comments, mostly under her breath like she's afraid to talk out loud.
jwatson
Thank you! Well said. She could be so much more but needs to grow a spine.
xlntcat
Mika is a bimbo. She really likes Sarah Palin. She finally found someone more ignorant that she.
jwatson
You have GOT to be kidding! She is an embarrassment as daughter of such an intellect. She just sits their and smile and tries to edge a few words in, or kicking him under the table when he gets too far off message. She is totally week and is like his little sidekick. She should really assert herself or she will completely lose credibility.
Chuckv
I would be more impressed with Buckley's comments on the Federal deficit if he would note why Obama is increasing the deficit: We are in a severe recession and stimulus spending is necessary to get us out of it. Obama realizes and has said many times that the deficit is a critical problem, but right now is not the time to cut spending. Of course Buckley might believe that the great stimulus spending of WWII had nothing to do with the sudden end of the Great Depression and that stimulus spending will not affect this recession. If so, Buckley should explicitly say those events were nothing but a coincidence and not causally related. A failure to mention the rationale behind Obama's actions implies that Obama is like just fiscally irresponsible Republicans of the last eight years. This omission intellectually dishonest.
Bulldoglover100
Thank you. This needed to be pointed out. How Buckley thinks this fact can be avoided in a serious discussion is unbelievable.
KarlaRose
Exactly. I was scrolling through the responses looking for someone, ANYONE, to address this obvious omission in Buckley's argument. This is such a big hole in the typical GOP talking points. Thank you for summing it all up quite nicely.
apparently
I have mixed feelings about Scarborough but if he can be an antidote to Limbaugh, then more power to him.
Thank you.
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