Republicans Distance Selves From George W. Bush

Republicans are turning their back on almost every important accomplishment of the Bush administration. According to a Politico report, Republicans now criticize the bailout programs Bush pushed for banks and big auto, look on the No Child Left Behind Law with suspicion, and are slow to defend the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Fiscal conservative Republicans today also likely turn from other Bush era accomplishments -- creating the USA Freedom Corps, expanding funding for faith-based initiatives, and launching the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

“I think what you’re seeing is the Republican Party going back to its conservative roots and, yes, going back to its core principles and I think that’s a good thing,” said Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, adding: “I would argue that we did lose our way for a while.”

“What this has taught us - Bush 41 and Bush 43 both taught us - is that this is the Reagan Republican Party,” said Americans for Tax Reform head Grover Norquist. “Those bits where Bush deviated from Reagan’s direction either didn’t work or have gone in the memory hole.”