Grover Norquist Hits Back At George H.W. Bush

[steve2470]

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/07/13/grover-norquists-tax-group-hits-back-at-george-hw-bush?google_editors_picks=true

Anti-tax warrior Grover Norquist was on a plane Friday when Parade magazine released its interview with George H.W. Bush, in which the former president denounces Norquist and his notorious Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

"The rigidity of those pledges is something I don't like," Bush told Parade of the promise, which has been made by 238 representatives and 41 senators who say they will never vote for a tax increase. "The circumstances change and you can't be wedded to some formula by Grover Norquist. It's -- who the hell is Grover Norquist, anyway?"

But Norquist's absence didn't stop his advocacy group, Americans For Tax Reform, from hitting back at Bush.

In a blog post on its website, the anti-tax group writes that President George H. W. Bush "regretted" raising taxes, and reminds readers that Bush signed the pledge when he ran for president. The post also quotes Bush in 1992 calling the compromise he made on tax increases "a mistake," and posts a photo of the former president looking contrite.

[JaneQPublic]

1. Circle forming for the fire squad. (nt)

[rufus dog]

2. It is so damn much more fun when it is happening to them.

[JaneQPublic]

7. So true!

[tblue]

3. I wanna know Who made Grover GOD???

Poppy Bush still sounds a little confused. I guess being a Repub means never wanting to pay for anything.

Not wanting to pay taxes = Wanting something for nothing

[Kennah]

5. As an agnostic, I don't mind if he's God

Probably a minor God.
Maybe a Godlet.
Or a Godling.
Perhaps a Godella.

Actually, just a false God.

[davidpdx]

9. I think he made himself God in his own sick little mind

[scarletwoman]

4. "...who the hell is Grover Norquist, anyway?" Indeed. (nt)

[amandabeech]

6. Poppy should have said this a long time ago. n/t

[freshwest]

10. I think he said it louder when he was in power and compromised with Democrats and raised taxes.

He raised them in order to reduce the huge deficit left by Ronald Reagan. It was widely reported that was the reason he lost the election to Clinton. But there was more to it. Here's what he's reported to have done and why he did. Without a Democratic majority, things would have been worse. But he was called more 'humane' than Reagan despite the real reason being the power of the Democrats to force his hand, lost during the Clinton years due to BFI propaganda about Hillary and the Death Panels then.

Early in his term, Bush faced the problem of what to do with leftover deficits spawned by the Reagan years. At $220 billion in 1990, the deficit had grown to three times its size since 1980.[12] Bush was dedicated to curbing the deficit, believing that America could not continue to be a leader in the world without doing so.[12] He began an effort to persuade the Democratic controlled Congress to act on the budget;[12] with Republicans believing that the best way was to cut government spending, and Democrats convinced that the only way would be to raise taxes, Bush faced problems when it came to consensus building.[12]

In the wake of a struggle with Congress, Bush was forced by the Democratic majority to raise tax revenues; as a result, many Republicans felt betrayed because Bush had promised "no new taxes" in his 1988 campaign.[12] Perceiving a means of revenge, Republican congressmen defeated Bush's proposal which would enact spending cuts and tax increases that would reduce the deficit by $500 billion over five years.[12] Scrambling, Bush accepted the Democrats' demands for higher taxes and more spending, which alienated him from Republicans and gave way to a sharp decrease in popularity.[13] Bush would later say that he wished he had never signed the bill.[12] Near the end of the 101st Congress, the president and congressional members reached a compromise on a budget package that increased the marginal tax rate and phased out exemptions for high-income taxpayers.[13] Despite demands for a reduction in the capital gains tax, Bush relented on this issue as well.[13] This agreement with the Democratic leadership in Congress proved to be a turning point in the Bush presidency; his popularity among Republicans never fully recovered.[13]
Bush's approval ratings (red) compared to his disapproval ratings (blue) for his four year presidency.

Coming at around the same time as the budget deal, America entered into a mild recession, lasting for six months.[12] Many government programs, such as welfare, increased.[12] As the unemployment rate edged upward in 1991, Bush signed a bill providing additional benefits for unemployed workers.[13] 1991 was marked by many corporate reorganizations, which laid off a substantial number of workers. Many now unemployed were Republicans and independents, who had believed that their jobs were secure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_HW_Bush#Domestic_policy

[amandabeech]

15. Yes, I'm aware of Poppy infuriating many Rs with his tax hike.

However, it would have been helpful if Poppy has attacked Norquist and his pledge after he had retired from office, essentially continuing his comments about "voo-doo" economics. There has been and continues to be damage done to our country in the name of Norquist's ideas.

[freshwest]

16. Oh, yes, I'm amazed and disgusted that anyone would listen to that creature. Or Rove, or..

[amandabeech]

17. I agree with you 100%. n/t

[AnotherMcIntosh]

8. Here is the promoter of the "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" signed by 95% of all Republican Congressmen

As of late 2011, 238 of 242 House Republicans and 41 out of 47 Senate Republicans had signed ATR's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge", in which the pledger promises to "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and to oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.
...
Norquist favors dramatically reducing the size of the government.[9] He has been noted for his widely quoted quip: "I'm not in favor of abolishing the government. I just want to shrink it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Norquist

[Chan790]

11. Likewise...

Grover Norquist is also too large to fit in a bathtub.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

12. Maybe girth wise. In some photos, he seems to be shorter than others. Some have said they

believe that he has a Napoleon complex.

It is amazing that he (and Rush Linbaugh) can intimidate Congressmen and Senators.

[gkhouston]

13. I think that says more about the Republicans than it does about him.

And if a few prominent Republicans publicly told Norquist to go piss up a rope, his influence would collapse.

[Tsiyu]

14. Ah, but his $$$$ get them re-elected

He pours cash into races all over the country.

When these weasels can't get campaign donations based on their service, they turn to GroverBaby for some green love.