Left Leaning Posters: Say something nice about a right-leaning pol

Double challenge in this thread:

1. Can you actually do as the subject line suggests

2. How long can this thread go without descending into bashing of conservative politicians?

I'll kick off:

I think George W. Bush was sincere about the "compassionate conservative" line, and suspect that absent 9/11, his presidency would have featured much more attention to that idea. His initiative on AIDS in Africa, for instance, has saved many lives and I believe was motivated by sincere compassion.

I think that George W Bush loves his wife and has probably been faithful to her, at least in the years since he dealt with his substance abuse problems. Not much, perhaps, but sadly a distinguishing virtue in the age of modern politics.

I give Kasich a lot of credit for expanding Medicaid in Ohio.

I also give credit to GWB for the PEPFAR program (HIV in Africa). And I think his "No Child Left Behind" initiative, however deeply flawed, may have been sincerely intended.

what time period? how far back do you want me to go?

The last conservative politician I think did something substantial enough to congratulate him was Reagan, who entered into arms control talks with the Soviet Union against the wishes of many in his party.

In the past 25 years, meh.

Klinker said:
I think that George W Bush loves his wife and has probably been faithful to her, at least in the years since he dealt with his substance abuse problems. Not much, perhaps, but sadly a distinguishing virtue in the age of modern politics.

I would say the same about Paul Ryan (absent the substance abuse part).

TarheelsInNj said:

Klinker said:
I think that George W Bush loves his wife and has probably been faithful to her, at least in the years since he dealt with his substance abuse problems. Not much, perhaps, but sadly a distinguishing virtue in the age of modern politics.

I would say the same about Paul Ryan (absent the substance abuse part).

I think these posts are what's known as "damning with faint praise."

Speaking as s federal employee, GWB did pass legislation that allows comp time for mandatory travel. So if I spend 8 hours traveling on a Sunday, I get that time back with my family.

I want some of whatever Ben Carson is on.

I think GWB tried to do something about Social Security. Hindsight being 20/20, the economic crisis of 2007-2010 would have been disastrous for those SS recipients now approaching retirement but it would have given something to my generation who, under the current system, will most likely receive no return on our investment (aside from, in the short term, being spared some of the inconvenience of stepping over our starving elders huddled in the doorway of the Starbucks).

The system is broken and the vast majority of politicians seem to think that the best approach is to cover their heads with as much sand as possible.

I admire Ben Carson's serenity and demeanor.

I also admire GHWB's courage in critiquing his son's administration in print.

GL2 said:
I also admire GHWB's courage in critiquing his son's administration in print.

Ditto.

mumstheword said:
I want some of whatever Ben Carson is on.

Ditto.

I like what Chris Christie said recently about rethinking addiction.

https://www.facebook.com/HuffPostPolitics/videos/10153519228277911/?pnref=story

Can I interest you in a copy of our latest magazine?

mumstheword said:
I want some of whatever Ben Carson is on.

I thought Carson was a Branch Davidian.

sac said:
I like what Chris Christie said recently about rethinking addiction.
https://www.facebook.com/HuffPostPolitics/videos/10153519228277911/?pnref=story

I was going to say the same thing!

I think Ben Carson is a talented neurosurgeon. Performing a lobotomy on yourself is HARD!

I think this a thread where if you can't say something nice about someone don't say anything at all.

PVW said:
Double challenge in this thread:
1. Can you actually do as the subject line suggests
2. How long can this thread go without descending into bashing of conservative politicians?
I'll kick off:
I think George W. Bush was sincere about the "compassionate conservative" line, and suspect that absent 9/11, his presidency would have featured much more attention to that idea. His initiative on AIDS in Africa, for instance, has saved many lives and I believe was motivated by sincere compassion.

2. How long can this thread go without descending into bashing of conservative politicians?

3 posts and ml1has to go back 25 years and still comes up with 'meh'. I guess old habits are hard to break.

If you think "meh" is bashing I think you are too sensitive.

By my count, we made it a full 18 posts before someone observed that Carson is a lobotomite.

librarylady said:
I think this a thread where if you can't say something nice about someone don't say anything at all.

I appreciate what you and pvf are aiming at, but count the number who responded in a positive vein and the number who couldn't resist the snark and the sarcasm.

I repeat, old habits are hard to break.

BCC said:

librarylady said:
I think this a thread where if you can't say something nice about someone don't say anything at all.

I appreciate what you and pvf are aiming at, but count the number who responded in a positive vein and the number who couldn't resist the snark and the sarcasm.
I repeat, old habits are hard to break.

Seems to me that you are complaining about a human trait that is not strictly identified with one party or the other. Again, I think 18 posts is pretty good. I doubt you guys could do better.

BCC said:

librarylady said:
I think this a thread where if you can't say something nice about someone don't say anything at all.

I appreciate what you and pvf are aiming at, but count the number who responded in a positive vein and the number who couldn't resist the snark and the sarcasm.
I repeat, old habits are hard to break.

Or the people who roll in to judge.

If you think "meh" is bashing I think you are too sensitive.
By my count, we made it a full 18 posts before someone observed that Carson is a lobotomite.

We were asked to say something positive about someone on the Right. 'Meh' doesn't meet that standard.

Further,

Tarheels was the 4th one down. Read what #5 ml1 has to say about it. Then try 7, 12 and 14 before getting to 18.

Back to the topic at hand: I think W's heart was in the right place. He wasn't cynical, which is what is currently driving the Republican party. He really thought he was doing the right thing, I think in nearly all of the decisions he made. He was a politician, but didn't strike me as calculating as many of them.

HW was a realist. At the time, I was not a fan in the least. In hindsight, his appreciation for diplomacy is very much appreciated from our current era of flamesmanship.

Klinker said:

BCC said:

librarylady said:
I think this a thread where if you can't say something nice about someone don't say anything at all.

I appreciate what you and pvf are aiming at, but count the number who responded in a positive vein and the number who couldn't resist the snark and the sarcasm.
I repeat, old habits are hard to break.

Seems to me that you are complaining about a human trait that is not strictly identified with one party or the other. Again, I think 18 posts is pretty good. I doubt you guys could do better.

You can add the post just after yours and make it 19.

Klinker said:

BCC said:

librarylady said:
I think this a thread where if you can't say something nice about someone don't say anything at all.

I appreciate what you and pvf are aiming at, but count the number who responded in a positive vein and the number who couldn't resist the snark and the sarcasm.
I repeat, old habits are hard to break.

Seems to me that you are complaining about a human trait that is not strictly identified with one party or the other. Again, I think 18 posts is pretty good. I doubt you guys could do better.

I don't think you could find that many 'you guys' posting on MOL to find out.

Condeleezza Rice was the keynote speaker at an event that I attended this week. She is highly supportive of a better public education for everyone. Also, she is supportive of immigration reform.

Agree with regard to GWB and PEPFAR. And this is coming from someone who had to turn the radio off when GWB was speaking.

Also, iirc, with Barry Goldwater, you never had to wonder what he really meant, or where he stood. And (again iirc) he was against excluding gays from the military, **way** ahead of time on this.