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RNC candidate Ken Blackwell compares Bush to Hoover.

Today, during the “lighting round” of the RNC Chairman candidates’ debate, Grover Norquist asked candidates who their favorite Republican president is. None responded with President Bush. Naming his least favorite Republican president, Ken Blackwell said Herbert Hoover — and followed up with a comparison of Bush to Hoover:

NORQUIST: Ken?

BLACKWELL: Hoover, because he opened the door to big government activism, and I think that unfortunately, President Bush in the last few months, has opened up the door to Mr. Obama’s big government.

The audience applauded Blackwell’s response. Watch it:




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47 Responses to “RNC candidate Ken Blackwell compares Bush to Hoover.”

  1. deebaser Says:

    unbelievable. These jackwads let him get EVERYTHING on his agenda and are NOW pretending they don't know him?


  2. McWars Says:

    Can't wait for the RNC Director, Department of Trolling debate.


  3. rogerD Says:

    The Jesuits at Xavier University, where Mr Blackwell got his degree, weep.


  4. stateofthedivision Says:

    Shouldn't this guy be in jail for election manipulation? His party's man in the middle scheme distorted vote totals in favor of Republicans.


  5. stateofthedivision Says:

    Repugs are well known for eating their own for a vote.


  6. stateofthedivision Says:

    First of all, it's not Mr. Obama's big government.

    Barack didn't order Mary Peters to insure airlines before Christmas. George W. Bush did in his memo to the Secretary of Transporation. Explain that, Ken or Grover.


  7. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    Kenneth Blackwell's conduct as Ohio Sec of State during the 2004 elections was reprehensible. He did not work to ensure that Ohio's elections were "free and fair" (the job of most people who oversee elections in the state), but to make sure that George W. Bush won Ohio.


  8. margerine Says:

    I'm not sure how what Republicans want isn't big government. It's big government for everyone but them and their rich friends.


  9. Leftside Annie Says:

    What a moron.


  10. Zooey Says:

    Sorry, Blackwell. You are on record as "delivering" Ohio for George W. Bush.

    No do-overs.


  11. ElBruce Says:

    Funny thing: whichever side of the "government spending" argument you're on, Bush still comes off as Hoover II.

    Maybe with a bit of Harding thrown in for accuracy.


  12. Nevar Says:

    "President Bush in the last few months, has opened up the door, etc..."

    I doubt it Ken, George isn't real good at opening doors...

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4454738.stm


  13. slappy magoo Says:

    Even still, it sounded Blackwell caught himself just in time before he actually blamed Bush. In other words, it's not Bush's fault big government is (or, might be) back, but he did pave the way for Obama (BOO! HISS!) to do that.

    Just wait. Within a few months, the conventional wisdom will be that Bush opened the door to big government ON PURPOSE, to see if the next President would take the bait. And since we got a damned Dem, how could he NOT take the bait. NOW we'll see how awful Democrat (sic) presidents are, thanks to the shrewd cunning shrewdiness of George W. Bush, God Bless 'em. And now it's ALLLL OBAAAAAAAAMMMAAAA'S fault.


  14. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    Grover Norquist is one of the reasons the Republican Party does not represent the best interests of all Americans. He wants to destroy government, not simply reduce its size. (Remember, that size has to be "small enough to drown it in a bathtub".)

    No matter how many times the Republican Party says it, tax cuts do NOT stimulate the economy. The tax cuts favored by the Republicans (where the wealthiest get the most in refunds) to not get spent and spread around the economy. Instead, the wealthy just keep the extra money for themselves, or their children and grandchildren.

    The key fact most ignored by Republicans is that the wealthy can afford to pay more in taxes! Only the ones who are completely irresponsible with their money would find a tax increase burdensome.


  15. barfly Says:

    unfortunately, President Bush in the last few months, has opened up the door to Mr. Obama’s big government.

    They've been carping about Bush not being a real conservative for over a year, after they endorsed every big-ticket item on his agenda.

    The ship's sailed on that little scam, and voters see republicans as the big spenders they really are.

    Little conventional wisdom debates like this only serve to highlight how ignorant they are, to the true causes of their repudiation by voters.


  16. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    Within a few months, the conventional wisdom will be that Bush opened the door to big government ON PURPOSE, to see if the next President would take the bait.

    They can try to make that argument, but the problem is that George Bush "opened the door to big government" before he ran for re-election in 2004, when he fully intended (thanks to the illegal help of friends like Ken Blackwell) to go headfirst through that door.


  17. barfly Says:

    The audience applauded Blackwell’s response.

    From the farthest reaches of political Siberia, to keep themselves warm.


  18. Dr. Hussein Matt Says:

    O/T: Toyota, Honda lead declines in Dec. auto sales

    But, but, but, them darned evil librul unions are to blame!!!!


  19. Nevar Says:

    Seems like the Department of Homeland Security falls under the description of "big government"...


  20. SamWeller Says:

    What? the vacuum? In that case, he's right Bush has sucked dry the spirit and solvency of America.


  21. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    It's not the first time I've made this observation, neither am I the first to make it -- but ain't it funny how, whenever a Republican disgraces himself and his party with his performance in office, the wingnuts suddenly realize he's not a true conservative after all!

    Bush's policies didn't change from when they were enthusiastically supporting him (he's not all that big on change), all that happened was that the inevitable consequences of those policies came to fruition.


  22. PatrioticLiberalChristian Says:

    I'm tired of the "big government" vs. "little government" argument. It's next to meaningless.

    More importantly, do we have a government that is 1) honest, 2) responsive, 3) efficient, and 4) Constitutional?

    Under Bush? No, no, no, and no.

    And Blackwell was a big part of that.


  23. Nevar Says:

    George W. Bush has been a propped up stooge for his entire life.
    The Republicans have supported him while they gutted the Constitution and the economy, and they will kick the stool out from underneath him now that their house of cards has collapsed.


  24. gummitch Says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    It’s not the first time I’ve made this observation, neither am I the first to make it — but ain’t it funny how, whenever a Republican disgraces himself and his party with his performance in office, the wingnuts suddenly realize he’s not a true conservative after all!

    I seem to have lost the file I kept and can't reprint it here, but a couple of years ago, Digby wrote a great piece on this very observation.


  25. Leftside Annie Says:

    Well, now, dammit, Ralphie - don't you know that Bush is a LIBERAL???

    Sheesh. Where ya been, boy??


  26. Bozo The Neoclown Says:

    what blackwell meant to say (if he was concerned with honest) is much like in the hoover years, years of DIASTEROUS


  27. curious Says:

    Blackwell is wrong. Bush is not like Hoover. Hoover was merely incompetent. Bush is corrupt.

    As for the comment about Bush expanding government the last few months. Bush began expanding the government the first few months. Monetarily speaking Bush used up the Clinton surplus in just six months. All those millions gone. And he escalated from there.

    I never listen anything Republicans say. They have lost the little decency they ever had.


  28. stateofthedivision Says:

    The Bush Financial Rescue Plan is Obama's? FRP....

    And where was Repug Senator Bob Corker when GMAC's commercial bank application got approved and they got $6 billion in funds? Why wasn't he hammering Cerberus then?

    This is all political drama, front stage behavior to amuse the masses. Meanwhile, corporations and government officials rip off taxpayers back stage.


  29. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    Bush’s policies didn’t change from when they were enthusiastically supporting him (he’s not all that big on change), all that happened was that the inevitable consequences of those policies came to fruition.

    Good observation, ralph. The Republicans are still a long way from learning that a government run by conservative policies does not benefit its citizens as a whole, only the wealthiest among them. Keep in mind, also, that these are people who equate social worth with financial worth. If you are rich, you must be doing something "good". They don't think it's possible to have more money than you could ever spend in your lifetime, and this is why they fight so hard for those few dozen families in this country that have more wealth than many third world nations.


  30. Bozo The Neoclown Says:

    what blackwell meant to say (if he was concerned with honesty) is much like in the hoover years, years of DISASTEROUS rapeublican economy policy has once again resulted in democrats having to fix the mess. it's like a game of "hot potato" with these assclowns...the one in charge at the end of the mess (in this case dummya) takes the heat for the entire party.


  31. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    O/T - MSNBC Headline:

    "MN Board Certifies Democrat Al Franken Wins Senate Recount"

    You may now return to your regular blogging.


  32. mk3872 Says:

    OMG, the GOP is nothing but a puppet organization under the control of thugs like Norquist, Limbaugh and Evangelicals.

    Grover was asking the questions??? What a joker ...


  33. nofltwlt Says:

    Is it wrong to wish that "Blackwell the majic n..." will be prosecuted for his crimes against Americans in the 2000 and 2004 elections?


  34. Tired Of Fighting Says:

    Who?!!!

    Lets stop giving these idiots relevancy.

    RIP
    SGT Stephen R. Sherman
    C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
    KIA 3 Feb 2005
    Mosul, Iraq


  35. shoeless Says:

    RNC candidate Ken Blackwell compares Bush to Hoover.»

    That's not fair. Herbert Hoover isn't around to defend himself.


  36. ElBruce Says:

    It's funny how these people think their opinions are still relevant. Their method has been tried, and it has failed. Case closed, moving on...

    PatrioticLiberalChristian Says:

    I’m tired of the “big government” vs. “little government” argument. It’s next to meaningless.

    Absolutely. We need to move into a new politics where we are discussing the Return On Investment of spending plans, rather than just "more" or "less." Hopefully, the age of Faith-Based Economics is well and truly over.

    But to make sure that happens, we can't give up keeping the heat on the "economic conservatives" to get away with their lies. Just because we've won, doesn't mean we've won enough yet to ensure that America is safe from such monsters. These people need to be called on their crap, every time. As somebody or other once said, we should "make them famous" whenever they open their misbegotten yaps.


  37. wwew Says:

    my favorite thing is these idiots dont get that their f'n policies and ideology is what f'ed everythign up. bush was just enacting them all.


  38. christopher wiwi Says:

    The sad part of this is that there are truly no real conservatives left in this country, just moronic neocons and their wacko far right ideology and demagoguery when it suits them.


  39. Marie Says:

    So Bush was treated as if he were king of America for 8 years while he gave national treasure and resources to his corporate friends and donors, but now he is a paraiah? Not because his policies were illegal, unethical, immoral, deceitful and unconstutional - but because he opened the door to big government?
    Bush can be compared to Hoover - because, like Nero, he fiddled while the nation burned.


  40. slappy magoo Says:

    ralph the wonder llama Says:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    It’s not the first time I’ve made this observation, neither am I the first to make it — but ain’t it funny how, whenever a Republican disgraces himself and his party with his performance in office, the wingnuts suddenly realize he’s not a true conservative after all!
    ____________________

    I await the moment that someone at Fox news "accidentally" puts a (D) next to Bush's name. Then I'll know the latest batch of Kool-aid's been allllll drunked up.


  41. IgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:

    I find it amazing that Blackwell can have any credibility even within his own party. He needs to make like Katherine Harris and STFU and go hide some place.


  42. Yankeluh Says:

    I have never seen people dig big holes in the ground with their mouths before. These guys can just keep talking and the GOP will never get out of the hole they are digging.


  43. krystalviews Says:

    I wish I could convey to the repugnicans how much LOATHING there is for them in this country. Even in texas! Dallas county - where the war criminal will reside - voted for Obama. Obama won among his future neighbors! Never been political in my life. Now... I'm an anti-repugnican. If a cow runs against a repugnican.... I'll vote for the cow every time !


  44. TXProgressive Says:

    What alternate reality are those folks living on? Why in the world would they idolize Grover Norquist for goodness sakes.

    They still just don't get it.


  45. dbearton Says:

    These crooks belong in jail and not on TV. The RICO law was designed for this gang of complicit traitors and war criminals.


  46. dbearton Says:

    Like the Nazi Party, the leaders of the RepubliCon Party should be brought to justice for treason and war crimes.


  47. Max-1 Says:

    .

    Figures these clowns thought Ronnie RayGun was the best...
    Can't they think outside the past century?

    NOT ONE REPUBLICAN THOUGHT OF LINCOLN?

    They R a dis-grace!!!!!!!

    .



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