The Return of Compassionate Conservatism
Posted at 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 14
“Like any party in defeat the GOP now must rebrand, and in rebranding, the party has decided to look backward to George W. Bush,” says Matthew Yglesias.
“This is an approach with a proud pedigree in Republican politics. Some call it supply-side economics. Some call it compassionate conservatism. Either way, the point is the same: Republicans don’t think poor people are moochers and looters unfairly soaking the rich. Rather, the best way to help the poor is to cut taxes on the rich.”
“Bushonomics opened the door to a particular kind of bipartisan compromise—social spending programs would be expanded or better funded in exchange for conservative-friendly structural reforms.”
