americans united for change and progressive media center the bush legacy project: re-defining the...

Americans United Americans United for Changefor Change

and Progressive and Progressive Media CenterMedia Center

The Bush Legacy ProjectThe Bush Legacy Project::Re-defining the Political Re-defining the Political Debate and Driving a Debate and Driving a Stake in the Heart Of Stake in the Heart Of Conservatism Conservatism

The Bush The Bush Legacy Legacy ProjectProject

The Bush The Bush Legacy ProjectLegacy Project

From 1933 to the Mid 1970’s: From 1933 to the Mid 1970’s: Progressives were on OffenseProgressives were on Offense

From the Mid 1970’s until recently: From the Mid 1970’s until recently: Progressives on DefenseProgressives on Defense

2008 Presents us an Opportunity to:2008 Presents us an Opportunity to:

• Redefine the Political DebateRedefine the Political Debate• Move the Center in Our Direction Move the Center in Our Direction • Mortally Wound Conservative Mortally Wound Conservative

IdeologyIdeology


Why is this Opportunity Why is this Opportunity Different?Different?

• Bush’s Historically/Persistently Low Job Bush’s Historically/Persistently Low Job ApprovalApproval

• Conservatives have failed to coalesce Conservatives have failed to coalesce around a prez candidatearound a prez candidate

• Unrest in Conservative Ranks/Think Unrest in Conservative Ranks/Think Tanks/InstitutionsTanks/Institutions

• Fraying of Republican Coalition Fraying of Republican Coalition • Re-examination of What it Means to be a Re-examination of What it Means to be a

Conservative (i.e., “pro-government Conservative (i.e., “pro-government conservatives,” Huckabee populism)conservatives,” Huckabee populism)


The Bush The Bush Legacy projectLegacy project

• In 1987, during Iran-Contra, Reagan’s Job In 1987, during Iran-Contra, Reagan’s Job Approval Fell to 42 percentApproval Fell to 42 percent

• Was 51 Percent by election day in 1988 when Was 51 Percent by election day in 1988 when GHWB Beat Dukakis HandilyGHWB Beat Dukakis Handily

• Was 63 Percent When He Left Office – Was 63 Percent When He Left Office – Allowing Conservatives to Define His Allowing Conservatives to Define His Presidency as An Example of Successful Presidency as An Example of Successful Conservative GovernanceConservative Governance

Lessons from the Lessons from the Reagan LegacyReagan Legacy


• The papering over of trickle down The papering over of trickle down economics and disastrous budget economics and disastrous budget policiespolicies

• The Reagan/Conservative The Reagan/Conservative Governance Myth that Gave us Governance Myth that Gave us Newt Gingrich, Tom DeLay, the Newt Gingrich, Tom DeLay, the Republican Congress and the Republican Congress and the Contract with America (which put Contract with America (which put us on the defensive even while we us on the defensive even while we had the WH in the 1990’s)had the WH in the 1990’s)

Consequences of the Consequences of the Reagan Rebound:Reagan Rebound:


Legitimacy for GWB’s era of trickle down Legitimacy for GWB’s era of trickle down economics, budget deficits, degrading of economics, budget deficits, degrading of government institutions (leading to government institutions (leading to cronyism and incompetence -- cronyism and incompetence -- FEMA/Katrina) and neo-conservative FEMA/Katrina) and neo-conservative foreign policy foreign policy

Consequences of the Reagan Consequences of the Reagan Rebound (Cont.,)Rebound (Cont.,)


• What Would the World Look Like if What Would the World Look Like if Reagan had ended his Presidency Reagan had ended his Presidency with a Job Approval rating in the with a Job Approval rating in the low to mid 40’s as opposed to the low to mid 40’s as opposed to the mid 60’s? Inquiring Minds…mid 60’s? Inquiring Minds…

Instead, Remember These Instead, Remember These Headlines?:Headlines?:

Reaganism Makes a Great Theme For Reaganism Makes a Great Theme For Election Season – A Winner for GOP Election Season – A Winner for GOP Sun-Sun-Sentinel, October 17, 1994Sentinel, October 17, 1994

Reaganism Resurfaces Among GOPReaganism Resurfaces Among GOP Buffalo Buffalo News, October 5, 1994News, October 5, 1994

I’m Reagan’s True Heir, Says Bush I’m Reagan’s True Heir, Says Bush Daily Daily News February 26, 2000News February 26, 2000

Bush, McCain Tout Credentials as Rightful Bush, McCain Tout Credentials as Rightful Reagan HeirReagan Heir Knight Knight Ridder Washington Bureau, March 6, 2000Ridder Washington Bureau, March 6, 2000

The Bush Legacy Project


• Keep Bush’s approval rating low by Keep Bush’s approval rating low by reminding Americans why they have lost reminding Americans why they have lost faith in Bush/agenda.faith in Bush/agenda.

• Tie Bush/agenda to the Tie Bush/agenda to the conservative/Republican brand and its conservative/Republican brand and its followers.followers.

• Highlight how Bush’s Conservative economic, Highlight how Bush’s Conservative economic, social and foreign policy agenda has failed social and foreign policy agenda has failed and shift the center of the political debate and shift the center of the political debate away from the Conservative frame to the away from the Conservative frame to the Progressive. Progressive.

Goal: No “REAGAN” Goal: No “REAGAN” REBOUND FOR BUSH!!REBOUND FOR BUSH!!


• Conservatives/Candidates Cast Failures of Bush Conservatives/Candidates Cast Failures of Bush Presidency as the Failure of a Man, Not an Presidency as the Failure of a Man, Not an IdeologyIdeology

• Miss Opportunity to Define Differences Between Miss Opportunity to Define Differences Between Us and ThemUs and Them

Implications of Implications of NotNot Mounting Mounting a Campaign to Define the a Campaign to Define the Bush Legacy:Bush Legacy:

Implications of Implications of NotNot Mounting a Mounting a Campaign to Define the Bush Campaign to Define the Bush

Legacy:Legacy:

• Makes Bush Less of a Drag on Makes Bush Less of a Drag on Candidates, at Best, at worst, allows Candidates, at Best, at worst, allows Rebound that Helps Candidates in Swing Rebound that Helps Candidates in Swing Areas and Helps Bush Raise $$ (2002)Areas and Helps Bush Raise $$ (2002)

• Allows Conservative Philosophy to Live Allows Conservative Philosophy to Live to Fight Another Dayto Fight Another Day



• Paid Advertising (SOTU, Super Bowl, Paid Advertising (SOTU, Super Bowl, Relevant Anniversaries)Relevant Anniversaries)

• Field-Press Operations in Key States Field-Press Operations in Key States (Tying His Allies to Bush Legacy and to (Tying His Allies to Bush Legacy and to current fights in Congress)current fights in Congress)

• Coordinated Rapid Response Across Coordinated Rapid Response Across Groups/IssuesGroups/Issues

Major Elements of the Major Elements of the Campaign Under Campaign Under Discussion:Discussion:


• Online Activity (sites/blogs devoted to Online Activity (sites/blogs devoted to Bush Legacy)Bush Legacy)

• Bush Legacy Bus (Rolling Museum to Bush Bush Legacy Bus (Rolling Museum to Bush Legacy with Stops in Key States, Political Legacy with Stops in Key States, Political Conventions, etc.)Conventions, etc.)

• A Bush Legacy Museum and/or Statue in A Bush Legacy Museum and/or Statue in Waco, TXWaco, TX

• Issue Forums, Historians ForumIssue Forums, Historians Forum• Bus ads, Billboards, Concerts, ContestsBus ads, Billboards, Concerts, Contests

Major Elements of the Major Elements of the Campaign Under Discussion Campaign Under Discussion (cont’d):(cont’d):


• Regular Bush Rapid Response/Strategy Regular Bush Rapid Response/Strategy CallsCalls

• Group/Issue LeadsGroup/Issue Leads• Message DevelopmentMessage Development• Policy Research (Then/Now)Policy Research (Then/Now)• Calendared Activity w/group-issue leadsCalendared Activity w/group-issue leads• Development of Collateral Development of Collateral

Material/Iconic Symbols, SignsMaterial/Iconic Symbols, Signs

Implementation:Implementation:


A Bush Boost? GOP Banks on ItA Bush Boost? GOP Banks on It He's a poll cellar-dweller whom even GOP presidential He's a poll cellar-dweller whom even GOP presidential

candidates sneer at, but candidates sneer at, but George W. BushGeorge W. Bush and some and some congressional backers see happy days for the prez this congressional backers see happy days for the prez this year. His fans have dubbed it his "legacy year," when year. His fans have dubbed it his "legacy year," when they hope to lock in his achievements on the domestic they hope to lock in his achievements on the domestic front. Among the items Bush's GOP congressional allies front. Among the items Bush's GOP congressional allies

want to work on this month: continuing his tax cuts and want to work on this month: continuing his tax cuts and extending the controversial No Child Left Behind Act. As extending the controversial No Child Left Behind Act. As for the war, they say, the news has been good, and for the war, they say, the news has been good, and Bushies believe that their guy will eventually get credit Bushies believe that their guy will eventually get credit for opening the war on terrorism. But more immediately, for opening the war on terrorism. But more immediately, they are predicting a remarkable poll shift to about 45 they are predicting a remarkable poll shift to about 45

percent favorable by the time he leaves office next year. percent favorable by the time he leaves office next year. ((US News and World Report, January 10, 2008US News and World Report, January 10, 2008))

The Gauntlet Has The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown:Been Thrown:


LET’S ACCEPT LET’S ACCEPT THE CHALLENGETHE CHALLENGE

And Define the Bush Legacy for What it is…

The Bush Legacy

americans united for change and progressive media center the bush legacy project: re-defining the...

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