Buchanan talks politics at GPAC

Former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan dove deep into his political experience March 20 as part of UNCP’s Distinguished Speaker Series in GPAC.            

From immigration to the upcoming presidential race, Buchanan told attendees the problems he thought our country faced in the upcoming future.

Presidential candidates

He listed who he thought were the front runners in the 2008 presidential race so far, listing his top three in both political parties. 
           
Sen. John McCain, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani made this list for the Republican Party. 

Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards made the list for the Democratic Party.            
           
He also listed other candidates that have a potential impact on the race including Newt Gingrich and former Sen. Fred Thompson.

Buchanan, who acted as senior adviser for President Richard Nixon, President Gerald Ford and President Ronald Reagan, also gave insight into the state of the current presidency.           

President Bush            
           
With the war in Iraq in its fifth year and no clear victory in sight, according to Buchanan, President George W. Bush has the lowest approval in his presidential career. 

He said he thought that President Bush is constantly being viewed as incompetent.            

“Our culture has become a culture of mockery,” said Buchanan. “Everybody makes fun of everything.”

Buchanan said that President Bush started to seem disinterested and out of touch soon after hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005.            
           
He said he does think that Bush has done some good things for America.  According to Buchanan,   President Bush has made good appointments to the Supreme Court during his presidency.

The appointments of John Roberts and Samuel Alito to replace Sandra Day O’Conner and Chief Justice William Rehnquist met Buchanan’s approval.           

Immigration                        
           
Buchanan said immigration has become a major problem in the United States.  He estimated somewhere around 12 million illegal immigrants are currently living in the U.S.

“What we have isn’t immigration,” said Buchanan, “it is more of an invasion.”            

Buchanan said that America has failed to secure its borders and is in need of a security fence.

Buchanan fielded questions and comments from the crowd covering subjects such as terrorism and the economy.            

He also treated the crowd to various stories about his experiences with both President Nixon and President Reagan.