News & Politics

Simpson Remembers Bush’s Selflessness

December 5, 2018 by GregC

Listen to “Simpson Remembers Bush’s Selflessness” on Spreaker.

Former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson offered a tribute Wednesday at the Washington funeral of former President George Bush. Simpson recounted how Bush – riding immense popularity following the Gulf War – reached out and publicly supported Simpson at one of his lowest points.

“At this time, his popularity rating was 93 percent. Mine was 0.93 percent,” said Simpson, in recounting Bush’s invitation to spend the weekend at Camp David and walking to the helicopter in front of the media.

“I said, ‘George, I am not unmindful as to what you are doing. You are propping up your old wounded duck pal. While you’re at the top of your game, you reach out to me while I’m tangled in rich controversy and taking my lumps,'” said Simpson.

Listen here for the entire short story and to hear how Bush replied to Simpson that day.

Patrick Passes on 2020, Weekly Standard in Peril, Avenatti’s Exit

December 5, 2018 by GregC

Listen to “Patrick Passes on 2020, Weekly Standard in Peril, Avenatti’s Exit” on Spreaker.

Daniel Foster of National Review Online and Greg Corombos of Radio America welcome the news that former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will not run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. They also react to the new that the longtime conservative magazine “The Weekly Standard” may soon be shutting down. And they’re deeply disappointed that Michael Avenatti won’t be around to cause chaos in the 2020 Democratic primary season, although making sure Avenatti has zero chance of becoming president is probably a good thing.

Ex-Commerce Secretary Takes Us Inside Bush Economy

December 4, 2018 by GregC

Listen to “Ex-Commerce Secretary Takes Us Inside Bush Economy” on Spreaker.

Barbara H. Franklin is mourning the loss of a close friend, but George Bush was not only her friend. He was President of the United States and Franklin’s boss when she served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

“I feel a sense of personal loss as well as the loss of a great president and a good man,” said Franklin, who first met Bush in the early 1970’s when he was U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and she served in the Nixon administration.

She felt an instant connection to George and Barbara Bush.

“I was very struck by his quality of character and his attributes. He also was fun and funny and high energy and I was just very admiring of him. Then I met Barbara Bush and I thought she was perfectly wonderful too. We became friends,” said Franklin.

“I feel very privileged and honored to have known both of them for as long as I have,” said Franklin.

And what kind of boss was Bush?

“He could be tough-minded but he was forever gracious and the combination of being tough-minded and courageous when he needed to be, as well as gracious all the time, was a wonderful example for anyone,” said Franklin.

She remembers a phone conversation with President Bush late in 1992. Bush had just lost the election but wanted Franklin to thaw ties with China, since high-level government contact had been severed since the brutal Chinese crackdown in pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

“I must say that went through my mind at the time was, ‘Well, why China, why me, and why now?’ I didn’t verbalize that to him, though, and then he explained that he wanted this relationship restored on a better footing before he left office so that the new administration could continue to engage in a good, bilateral way,” said Franklin.

Bush lost the election in part because of his failure to keep his “no new taxes” pledge and because the economy hit a recession in 1991. Franklin points out that the GDP was back to a robust growth of three to four percent in late 1992, but many Americans could not feel the improvement yet and it cost Bush at the polls.

Listen to the full podcast to hear Franklin’s explanation of Bush’s top economic priorities, why he raised taxes after promising not to, why he was so successful in managing the end of the Cold War, and what she savored most from her friendship with the Bushes in the 25 years since the end of his administration

Reagan Attorney General Ed Meese: Bush Was Ideal Vice President

December 4, 2018 by GregC

Listen to “Ed Meese: Bush Was Ideal Vice President for Reagan” on Spreaker.

Ronald Reagan and George Bush waged a fierce battle for the 1980 Republican presidential nomination, but that summer they forged a personal and political alliance that greatly assisted Reagan and eventually led to Bush winning the White House eight years later.

“No president ever had a better vice president, a more loyal vice president, a more hand-working vice president than George Bush,” said former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III, who served as counselor to Reagan in California and Washington before being confirmed to lead the Justice Department in the second Reagan term.

Reagan and Bush battled for the nomination for months before Reagan eventually clinched the delegates needed to win the nomination. Some in the GOP pushed for former President Gerald Ford to be Reagan’s running mate but the negotiations fell through. Reagan then turned to Bush, with one condition.

“Before [Reagan] asked him to serve and announced him as his requested vice presidential candidate, it was made clear by George Bush that he was willing and able to support Ronald Reagan in all his policies and positions that he had taken during the campaign,” said Meese.

That was an adjustment on some issues, including economic policy. During the campaign, Bush had derided Reagan’s supply-side agenda as “voodoo economics.” But Bush came around on that too.

“I had later explained to people that in Detroit at the convention that Mr. Bush had an exorcism,” laughed Meese.

After Reagan and Bush defeated President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale in the general election, Reagan and Bush put their team together. Meese became a counselor to the president as part of the famed “troika” that also included longtime Reagan aide Michael Deaver and Bush confidante James Baker III, who served as Reagan’s chief of staff in the first term.

Meese says Baker and the other former Bush personnel became loyal foot soldiers in the Reagan Revolution.

Crisis struck the Reagan administration in March 1981, when the president was shot and nearly killed by John Hinckley, Jr. As Reagan underwent surgery, Secretary of State Alexander Haig declared himself to be in charge until Bush returned from a trip to Texas.

Meese says Bush’s handling of that moment spoke volumes about his character, including his refusal to fly to the White House in Marine One.

“He said, ‘No, have them land at my official residence up at the Naval Observatory and I’ll come in by car.’ He wanted to be sure that nobody thought he was usurping or trying to take over the position of the president,” said Meese.

He says Bush also showed deference by not engaging in verbal disputes with cabinet officials during meetings but would share his concerns privately with the president.

Bush also assisted Reagan in developing relationships abroad, as the vice president represented the U.S. at many different funerals for leaders around the world. It happened so frequently, that Meese says Bush staffer had a motto of “You die, we fly.”

He also took the lead in more concrete policy areas like combating the influx of drugs into Miami and across our southern border. He also led the administration’s regulatory reform efforts.

Listen to the full podcast for more on those issues and to hear Meese explain why Reagan was confident Bush would be a good running mate and political partner even after a tough primary fight, how they collaborated in fighting the Cold War and more. He also shares his thoughts on Bush’s emotional tribute at Reagan’s funeral.

French Tax Revolt, Really Lame Duck Congress, Slate vs. Sully

December 4, 2018 by GregC

Listen to “French Tax Revolt, Really Lame Duck Congress, Slate vs. Sully” on Spreaker.

Daniel Foster of National Review Online and Greg Corombos of Radio America cheer the French people for forcing their government to suspend implementation of new fuel taxes, although their tactics leave a lot to be desired. They also shake their heads as Congress punts any tough spending decisions to Dec. 21 and appears unwilling to do much of anything to rein in spending. And the liberal site Slate draws an avalanche of condemnation for trashing the late Pres. Bush’s service dog, suggesting there should be no sentimental reaction to the dog since Bush only had him since June.

A Record of Decency, Honor and Achievement

December 3, 2018 by GregC

Listen to “A Record of Decency, Honor and Achievement” on Spreaker.

A former top speechwriter of President George H.W. Bush is remembering his former boss as a leader of tremendous honor and achievement over Bush’s four years in the White House, and he’s also shedding light on some of the most memorable moments associated with Mr. Bush.

Curt Smith is author of “George H.W. Bush: Character at the Core.” He says Bush embodied many of the qualities that have been cherished for generations in the United States.

“It’s an astonishing record of longevity and of decency, of honor, of rectitude, of achievement, of patriotism, of all of the attributes that we would like to think of a quintessentially American. That is what I think of when I think of him,” said Smith.

Bush served as a Naval aviator in World War II and survived both a crash and being shot down. After success in the Texas oil industry, Bush served two terms in Congress, and then as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, chairman of the Republican National Committee, liaison to China and director of the CIA.

After losing the 1980 Republican presidential nomination to Ronald Reagan, Bush accepted Reagan’s invitation to be his running mate. They carried 44 states in an Electoral College rout of President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale in the general election. Four years later, they were re-elected while winning 49 states.

In 1988, Bush defeated Michael Dukakis to win the White House. Bush carried 40 states and amassed 426 electoral votes.

It was during that transition that Bush met and hired Smith as a speechwriter. They quickly bonded over their shared love for baseball.

“He looked at me that January day in 1989 and said, ‘You know, Curt, I’d rather quote Yogi Berra than Thomas Jefferson,'” recounted Smith.

Smith says the most memorable days of the Bush presidency for him were writing the speeches calling for the removal of Saddam Hussein and his Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

Another moment that sticks with Smith is Bush at Pearl Harbor to commemorate 50 years since the Japanese attack that triggered America’s entry into World War II. Smith says it seemed Bush’s mind instantly went back to his teenage years when the attack happened and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

“So even though he was 67, inside, emotionally, he’s 17. It was an exceedingly difficult speech for him to give. At the end, he said, ‘God bless the United States of America’ and then almost whispered the words “the most wondrous land on earth.” He was enormously moved and it enormously moved his audience,” said Smith.

The worst days by far were in the aftermath of Bush losing the 1992 election to Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, due in part to the emergence of H. Ross Perot as an independent candidate.

But Smith says it’s clear why Bush lost.

“Who did us in? We did.We didn’t govern in a conservative enough manner to pacify the people who had voted for us, the conservative wing of the Republican Party and of middle America. That’s how Bush had won 40 states in 1988 over Michael Dukakis. It was as close as America could come to a third Reagan term,” said Smith.

“He lost to a better candidate in Bill Clinton, but I think Clinton was an inferior president to Bush, particularly in foreign policy, particularly in matters of honor and rectitude. I think the record is very clear on that,” said Smith.

Listen to the full podcast to hear more from Smith about working with Bush in the heat of the Gulf War, what went wrong in 1992, and the real reason that Bush took up skydiving as a senior citizen.

Remembering Pres. Bush: The Hits, the Misses, the Media

December 3, 2018 by GregC

Listen to “Remembering Pres. Bush: The Hits, the Misses, the Media” on Spreaker.

Daniel Foster of National Review Online and Greg Corombos of Radio America reflect on the life and political legacy of President George H.W. Bush, who died on Friday. They applaud Bush’s service in World War II and many stops in his career of public service and also remember his leadership and the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union crumbled, his successes in the Gulf War, and his support for embattled Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. They also wince at some low points, namely the selection of David Souter to the Supreme Court and breaking his pledge never to raise taxes. And they point out that while the media is largely extolling Bush for his leadership and decency today, their despicable coverage of Bush during his political career painted a much different picture.

Remembering President George H.W. Bush

December 1, 2018 by GregC

Late Friday night, the world learned that former President George Herbert Walker Bush died at age 94. For those aware of his many health issues in recent years – and his heartache over losing his wife, Barbara, seven months ago – the news came with sadness but little surprise.

Tributes are pouring in from all living presidents, current and former world leaders, and countless people touched either personally or professionally by their time with Mr. Bush.

I extend my deepest condolences to the Bush family on their tremendous loss, and for their pain of losing two parents in the span of just a few months. I pray the Lord will strengthen them and comfort them in the days ahead and that our nation extends to them the respect they’re due.

As is inevitable with the death of any president, the assessing of their legacy starts almost immediately. Bush has a long legacy of service and accomplishments – much of it thoroughly admirable and some of it disappointing from the perspective of those expecting him to lead as a conservative.

Before I offer my assessment of that legacy, let me caution you to take what you’re hearing today from the mainstream media about Mr. Bush with a mountain of salt.

Today, they’re lauding him for his commitment to public service, his devotion to freedom, the relationships he built on both sides of the aisle, and his fundamental decency towards fierce rivals once campaigns were over.

But all of that was true when Bush was standing in the center of the political stage, and the media reviled him anyway. They mocked him for coming from a wealthy family, even though Bush left the comforts of New England to strike out on his own in Texas.

They pushed the “wimp” label on a man who volunteered to serve his country as a combat aviator in the U.S. Navy during World War II and survived being shot down in the Pacific.

They said Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm was all about Bush helping his buddies in the fossil fuels industry. Remember the press highlighting the “No Blood for Oil” protests and saying Bush was getting us bogged down in another Vietnam? I do.

In 1992, the man now lauded as one of finest men of the 20th century was called old, out of touch, and responsible for a supposedly floundering economy by a media that couldn’t care less about fundamental decency and honorable service when Bush matched up against Bill Clinton.

That’s a short list. And it’s nothing new. The press despised Ronald Reagan too. But when the Gipper died in 2004, the media heaped praise on him as well, mainly as a way of criticizing President George W. Bush.

Hopefully, some have had time to re-evaluate Bush in an honest manner, but many simply see this news as a way of attacking President Trump for his far different approach to the presidency and his adversaries.

So what is the Bush legacy? Service above self. Faith, family, and country above all else. And while many conservatives wish there were more wins during his four years in office, there is plenty to celebrate from Bush’s life.

I have the honor of conducting oral history interviews with our wonderful veterans. The vast majority are among the most selfless people you will ever meet. I still meet World War II veterans who get emotional in describing how imperative it was for them to join the fight to save their country and the free world. That same conviction explains why Bush ditched his “patrician” roots and risked his life half a world away.

He then stuck his neck out in the Texas oil business and struck it rich. He could have just been a nicer version of J.R. Ewing and watched profits roll in and led industry advancement for the decades to come. Instead he followed his family’s biblical belief that to whom much is given, much is required.

By the time he first ran for president in 1980, he had been a congressman, nominated twice for U.S. Senate, United Nations ambassador, Republican National Committee Chairman, liaison to China, and director of the CIA. By the time he won the presidency in 1988, he had eight years of being vice president under his belt as well. That experience blows away any candidate in modern history, including the one two years ago who was supposedly the most qualified nominee in history.

But calling Bush a conservative was a stretch. In 1980, he derided Reagan’s economic agenda as “voodoo economics” and considered himself pro-choice, a position he would change when joining Reagan on the ticket that year. He also had a much more measured strategy for dealing with Soviet aggression.

Eight years by Reagan’s side added some boldness to Bush’s already seasoned foreign policy. His firmness and humility charted the best possible course as the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and the Soviet Union imploded two years later.

As aides have reminded us in recent hours, his resolute commitment to expelling Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in 1990-1991 was not just about oil, but about making sure the world did not face another menace like the one he helped to defeat in World War II.

Domestically, there were more disappointments for conservatives. In 1988, Bush sparked a major comeback against Democrat Michael Dukakis by insisting he would never raise taxes, no matter how much Democratic congressional majorities insisted upon it.

He broke his “Read My Lips” pledge in 1990, when Democrats convinced him spending cuts would total more than the tax hikes in an effort to rein in deficits. Reagan made a similar deal eight years earlier to raise taxes in exchange for promised spending cuts. Both times the Democratic majorities never followed through. Naturally, the media are treating this as one of his greatest accomplishments.

Another major legacy for Bush is found in his two selections for the U.S. Supreme Court. Entering office in the wake of the ugly Robert Bork confirmation fight and eventual confirmation of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, Bush was determined not to have a nominee with such a detailed track record when liberal Justice William Brennan retired in 1990.

As a result, he let his New Hampshire friends – Chief of Staff John Sununu and Sen. Warren Rudman – talk him into nominating Judge David Souter, whom Bush seemed to know next to nothing about. Souter got confirmed but ended up being a reliable liberal vote. It was an opportunity needlessly wasted.

To Bush’s credit, he didn’t make the same mistake twice. When Justice Thurgood Marshall hung up his robes in 1991, Bush nominated Judge Clarence Thomas.

After the original confirmation hearings were finished, Thomas was accused of sexual harassment by a former federal colleague named Anita Hill. With Democrats controlling the Senate, the Thomas nomination was hanging by a thread.

A true wimp would have pulled the Thomas nomination and started over. Bush didn’t do that. He believed in Thomas and stuck behind him. Thomas has been a conservative rock on the court and is now the longest-serving justice.

Bush was also legendary as a family man, and multiple generations of that family clearly adored him.

He was also kind to those who could do little to nothing for him politically. He was revered by the White House staff and genuinely loved people, the latter of which I saw first hand.

In 1986, then-Vice President Bush came to my small city of Iron Mountain, Michigan, to stump for GOP Rep. Bob Davis. The plan was for Bush to land at the airport, greet local officials, and immediately get into his motorcade. When he saw a few hundred people cheering his arrival, he made a beeline for the fence, even though none of us had been screened by Secret Service. He shook every hand he could reach and made a face-to-face connection with virtually all of us.

Sure he was trying to help Republicans win votes, but his comment to the local paper was that the people seemed so friendly that he couldn’t just leave without coming over to say hello to us. He even spent a moment with me, though I wasn’t old enough to vote.

George Herbert Walker Bush leaves a deep and lasting legacy, much of it good. He was not as conservative as he could have been and there are lasting consequences for that. But his steady leadership in guiding America and the world through the fall of the Soviet Union the eviction of Saddam Hussein from Kuwait deserves great praise.

And his life is an American story. He did not have the rags to riches ascension to the White House like Reagan or Clinton, but Bush understood how special America is, served her gladly, pursued opportunities provided here to build his own success, and through his own actions and own humility showed us a sterling example of devotion to God, family, and this great nation.

May God bless the nation George Bush loved and led.

U.S. Geological Survey Details Alaska Quake

November 30, 2018 by GregC

Listen to “U.S. Geological Survey Details Alaska Quake” on Spreaker.

On Friday, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Anchorage, Alaska, buckling roads and causing considerable damage to homes and businesses, but thus far there are no reports of deaths or serious injuries.

Alaska is the most seismically active U.S. state, according to U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist John Bellini. He says 4.0 magnitude earthquakes are a daily occurrence in the state and 5.0 magnitude quakes happen roughly once a week. But events this powerful near a population center are far less common.

The earthquake’s epicenter was just 8.5 miles from downtown Anchorage. As of 5 p.m. ET Friday, the USGS had noted 50 aftershocks of magnitude 2.5 or greater. The most intense aftershock registered at 5.7.

Listen to the full podcast as Bellini goes into much more detail about this earthquake, earthquakes in Alaska and around the Pacific’s “ring of fire,” and what important lessons can be learned from the data gathered from Friday.

2020 Dem Infighting Begins, Trump & Cohen, The Girl Named Abcde

November 30, 2018 by GregC

Listen to “2020 Dem Infighting Begins, Trump & Cohen, The Girl Named Abcde” on Spreaker.

Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America start popping the popcorn as Democrats start squabbling with each other over 2020. Rahm Emanuel calls Beto O’Rourke a “loser” and many Democrats are very frosty with New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for leading the charge against Minnesota Sen. Al Franken last year. They also shake their heads in the wake of Michael Cohen’s guilty plea as the president who says he only selects the best people winds up calling Cohen weak and not very smart. And they react to the story of a Southwest Airlines employee mocking a girl named Abcde but also point out the girl’s mom is setting her daughter up for a lifetime of teasing and frustration. They also share some of their favorite stories about unusual names.