Alan Greenspan, who served as Federal Reserve chairman for 18 years and was the leading Republican economist for the past three decades, levels unusually harsh criticism at President Bush and the Republican Party in his new book, arguing that Bush abandoned the central conservative principle of fiscal restraint.
While condemning Democrats, too, for rampant federal spending, he offers Bill Clinton an exemption. The former president emerges as the political hero of "The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World," Greenspan's 531-page memoir, which is being published Monday.
Greenspan, who had an eight-year alliance with Clinton and Democratic Treasury secretaries in the 1990s, praises Clinton's mind and his tough anti-deficit policies, calling the former president's 1993 economic plan "an act of political courage."
But he expresses deep disappointment with Bush. "My biggest frustration remained the president's unwillingness to wield his veto against out-of-control spending," Greenspan writes. "Not exercising the veto power became a hallmark of the Bush presidency. . . . To my mind, Bush's collaborate-don't-confront approach was a major mistake."
Greenspan accuses the Republicans who presided over the party's majority in the House until last year of being too eager to tolerate excessive federal spending in exchange for political opportunity. The Republicans, he says, deserved to lose control of the Senate and House in last year's elections. "The Republicans in Congress lost their way," Greenspan writes. "They swapped principle for power. They ended up with neither."
Small govt. republicans are a dying minority of that party. Sad but true.QFT
Small govt. republicans are a dying minority of that party. Sad but true.
He is proof they are dead.Small govt. republicans are a dying minority of that party. Sad but true.
Join usspoiler (click to show/hide)(http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/ronpaul.jpg)[close]
is there some sort of ron paul meme that never quite caught on or something? if not, i don't fucking get it, foc.He is proof they are dead.Small govt. republicans are a dying minority of that party. Sad but true.
Join usspoiler (click to show/hide)(http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/ronpaul.jpg)[close]
:-\ my world is spinningRon Paul can cure that too. :P
He's our next president.He'll get as many votes as Al Gore.
Orly, http://www.fmnn.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=48507 (http://www.fmnn.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=48507)Two candidates no one knows of nor will ever remember debating? Woo boy.
i bet that would chap Rudy's ass.
Stranger things have happened in politics than Ron Paul getting the nomination. THe odds are against him, but he is the only candidate that isnt full of bullshit. And I really believe hes the only guy that wants to better the average american.Stranger things have NOT happened in primary politics in American Politics than a unknown house member getting nominated who does not have support of his own party.