I had the opportunity to meet with and interview George W. Bush last week at the 2017 NAHREP National Convention & Latin Music Festival in Dallas. As expected, he was relaxed, charming and engaging. I was also hoping for a discussion that would connect with our audience in a positive and less partisan manner and in that regard, Mr. Bush was a great choice. Former Presidents tend to be less partisan and sometimes feel freer to express unfiltered views. President Bush has always had an affinity for the Hispanic community especially given his extended family. He was eager to express his support for DACA and Hispanic homeownership, and impressed the crowd with a few Spanish phrases and colloquialisms. He was also willing to get serious about issues affecting the economy and national security. While Mr. Bush did not directly criticize the current Administration, and explained his reasons why, he did make it clear he believed Presidents need to understand that criticism is part of the job and that he was not a supporter of isolationism. He expressed some additional perspectives with me and 2017 NAHREP President, Leo Pareja privately, but it wouldn’t be cool to write them here. However, if you read Chapter One of Hillary Clinton’s book “What Happened” you’ll have a pretty good idea.
Inflation has impacted all of us. The price of almost everything has spiked faster and harder than at any time since the 80s. Few things can obliterate a modern economy more than out-of-control inflation.
For most people, there is little upside to writing about the January 6th hearings, but as you probably know by now, I don’t worry about those things. We all must stand for something. The hearings have almost everyone taking sides before a single witness is called. Democrats believe that the events of January 6th were a calculated effort to undermine our democracy by demolishing two of the most sacred tenants of our nation, free elections, and the peaceful transition of power.
Most people consider themselves either a conservative or a liberal. I think if we forget political parties, which flip their positions on things all of the time, and instead focus on the actual definition of what it means to be a conservative and what it means to be a liberal, we might be able to temper the emotional reactions some of us have with political discourse.