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Barbara Bush Reminds Sarah Palin It's My Party Too

1 year ago
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The country loved First Lady Barbara Bush with her coif of white hair, full figure, and sensible clothes. After Nancy Reagan and her size two designer dresses, Bush was down-home and nonthreatening. But anybody who knew the Bushes, or covered them when they were in the White House, understood that Mrs. Bush was far from a retiring matron, that she is strong-willed, opinionated and the member of the family most likely to carry a grudge. For those who remember her famous smack down of Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 -- "I can't say it but it rhymes with rich" -- shouldn't be surprised at how deftly she slipped in a major put-down of Sarah Palin during an interview with Larry King that aired on Monday evening.

"I sat next to her once. Thought she was beautiful," Barbara Bush said. "And she's very happy in Alaska, and I hope she'll stay there."

Ferraro earned Bush's enmity by tangling with her husband, then Vice President George H.W. Bush, who bragged after debating the first woman named to a major party ticket that he had "kicked a little ass," a remark that probably wasn't planned but that may have helped him overcome his patrician image. The sexism backlash was a minimal price to pay in '84. Palin, of course, is the second woman to grace her party's presidential ticket as a vice presidential contender, but that's in the past, and likely not what got Bush's ire up this time.

So what is it that brought out the former first lady's talons? It's worth noting that she is the matriarch of a family with two presidents in its direct lineage, only the second in history, and a third waiting in the wings. What seemed unthinkable a year ago after the George W. fiasco that the country could accept another Bush, the once and future Jeb is gaining traction thanks to Palin. The theory is that if the party needs a savior, someone to rescue it from Palin's star-studded takeover, someone who can appeal across the party from Establishmentarians like his parents to upstarts like tea party favorite Marco Rubio, who Jeb mentored, it's Jeb Bush.

Even Democrats fear a late entry from Bush, figuring that if voters can tell the difference between Bill and Hillary Clinton they can distinguish between George and Jeb Bush as two distinct political figures. In this context, Barbara Bush's remark can be read as an implicit threat -- stay in Alaska, or face the consequences with Jeb riding to the rescue. Barbara, with her pearls and Mona Lisa smile, didn't object when her husband ran a savage campaign in 1988 questioning his opponent's patriotism, or when her son, George W., unleashed a barrage of sleazy character attacks to destroy John McCain in South Carolina in 2000.

Then there is the bigger frame of longstanding tension between the George H.W. wing of the party and GOP conservatives. Barbara Bush, like her husband, is to the manor born and descended from a long line of Eastern Establishment Republicans. In 1980, when Ronald Reagan picked Bush as his vice president, Bush had to disavow his campaign criticism of Reagan's policies as "voodoo economics" and end any further support for Planned Parenthood. The compromises that Bush had to make to join the Reagan camp prompted commentary that he had put his manhood into a blind trust. Together with his patrician ways (he once asked for a "splash more" of coffee at a truck stop in New Hampshire) he was faced with what Newsweek called "the wimp factor" as he hit the campaign trail in 1988.

A decorated veteran and the youngest fighter pilot in World War Two, Bush was reduced to chowing down pork rinds on the campaign trail to prove he had the common touch. Identifying with what today could be called Palin America is not something that comes naturally to the elder Bushes, and in her remarks about Palin, Barbara Bush exposed the gulf between traditional, upscale, country club Republicans and the meat eating, moose hunting, red state America that Palin represents. We'll see more of that gulf played out in the positioning for 2012, but Bush's remarks about Palin remind us that the surface gentility she exudes shouldn't be mistaken for capitulation when it comes to standing up for her family, and her beliefs.

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8 Comments

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jhaharrisj

its amazing that anyone would care what Barbara Bush thinks, all you have to do it go back and research her family, good grief!

December 08 2010 at 10:56 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
tbrros

From 1notsurprised at Twitter: Republican "Establishment-Barbs" (i.e:Carl Rove,Dana Perino,George Wills,Peggy Noonan,.etc)are absolutes incensed,How dare non-club members even considering the Presidency. So they have joined in a battle of sabatage with their enemies, the Liberal Media to "destroy Sarah Palin".Poor Sarah who is cast by them in the role of David the Shepherd Boy against the Giant Warrior Goliath of Gath.The old addage:'The Enemy of My Enemy is my Friend". But bear in mind, that first this is about who is the 'Most Believable' to Independents like me.Partisans in the Republican & Democrat Clubs need not apply. Due to their prejudices & biases they don't really count in voting but Independents who are the 'swing votes' are microscpically watching the four Camps: 1) Camp Obama Far Left Progressive Democrat 2)Camp Hillary Far Left Progressive Democrat 3)Romney, Jeb Bush,..etc.,Progressive Moderates Establishment Republicans 4) Camp Palin Far Right Liberatarian Tea Party Republican. Personally, I'd love to see Hillary vs. Palin Presidency Fight instead of pay attention to a catty-Matriarch Blue Blood Establishment's "sour grapes" because the country doesn't want another Bush Era that wasted alot of money & ruined the American Economy (Note on Bush's Watch:Govt. Had No Fiscal Restraint,Spent More Money,Increased the Defecit & Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, Wall Street Financial RealEstate Collapse!). If I don't get the two most powerful women in politics to be the challengers. Then, I'll settle for the two Global World's only 'Political Rock Stars' Obama & Palin.

November 26 2010 at 6:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to tbrros's comment
phillyboy

What ya got to say to MOMMA GRIZZLY Little Miss Palin.

December 01 2010 at 11:22 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
slocke6304

As a grandmother, I would much rather have my granddaughters emulate the political & parenting skills of the Mrs. Bush. A "patrician" background does presuppose trying to pass on traditional "family values". If Mrs. Palin is truly interested in being elected and serving as our president she should spend her time studying the issues, rather than being so disrespectful of Mrs. Bushand attempting to sway the outcome of a spurious dancing contest for her daughter. The people of Alaska do not seem to be overly impressed by her judgemnt. Miller, whom she endorsed, was beaten by a write in candidate. They know her better than we in the lower 48 do.

November 25 2010 at 11:19 PM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
bthered

Sarah, your about to find out what a real Mama Grizzly is all about...If you even think about getting between Jeb and the White House.

November 25 2010 at 1:35 PM Report abuse +5 rate up rate down Reply
hazmatgirl561

Cat fight!! First off, Palin is no real hick, she is a "star" and a beauty queen so drop the act and Mrs. Bush could use a little lesson in humility.

November 23 2010 at 11:12 PM Report abuse -5 rate up rate down Reply
Sheila

We know the what problems George jr. had in the White House. We and I do mean most of us do understand what problems Sarah Palin has with government and politics. She has been handled by experts who do have the expertise to provide the much needed answers she needs to know before a debate or an interview. The problem is that they don't know what's going to be asked, and we have heard the same line about country and God over and over again. I have never heard and read so much data on one person without giving any information. She's like a parrot. I really don't think Palin really does know what's going on in the world. As for her one on one interviews, she's not well versed on any subject and in over two years, she still is not prepared to run for office...................

November 23 2010 at 9:02 PM Report abuse +9 rate up rate down Reply
sahamm

I bet she hopes Sara Palin stays in Alaska for her son Jeb's sake. Not gonna happen no matter how many prickly " barbs" she flings her way. Jeb will do better if his mom goes home and zips her lips.

November 23 2010 at 6:51 PM Report abuse -5 rate up rate down Reply
gettingsl

Go Sarah. I'm pretty sick of the establishment republican....blue bloods, blue haired, whatever. Real Americans, real conservatives don't fit in their multi generational,country club world. Once I liked the Bushes, and they have their redeeming qualities. But to see one story where Bill Clinton is deemed a likable guy by the Bushes and Sarah Palin just doesn't fit their mold, leaves me cold!

November 23 2010 at 6:17 PM Report abuse -7 rate up rate down Reply
manfaido

Mrs. Bush should wake up to what is really happening in this country under the Obama regime. And focus her attention on that.

November 23 2010 at 6:14 PM Report abuse -5 rate up rate down Reply

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