Bush 44? [Jeb Bush for President]

Opinion Journal ^ | Aug 9, 2005 | BRENDAN MINITER

[The Raven]

He denies he's even interested, and a long list of political analysts have already written him off with the belief that the appearance of political nepotism would be too unseemly for voters to put the brother of the current president in the Oval Office. But in politics timing is everything, and as the clock advances towards 2008, things are starting to fall into place to give Jeb Bush the momentum he needs to win the White House. And this isn't contingent on Hillary Clinton emerging as the Democrats' nominee--though if she does, the path will be all the smoother for another Bush.

Let's first dispense with the idea that Jeb's biggest liability would be his last name. Since when does name recognition hurt in politics? It's true that many of this brother's political adversaries would simply cross out "George" in their campaign literature and ink in "Jeb" above it. MoveOn.org and other Democratic interest groups would find plenty of willing donors. George Soros would likely make another multimillion-dollar pledge to drive the Bushes from Washington. But then again, they did all that last time, and we aren't discussing who will challenge President Kerry.

[chris1]

If the RATS would have put up someone half-way normal and decent, GWB would have gotten destroyed handily. The RATS are their own worst enemy and lose because they put up circus clowns, not because the GOP puts up good candidates.

Many of us held our nose in this election and are already smelling the BS and garbage.

[JohnnyZ]

There is no such thing as an unnecessary graphic.

[Black Tooth]

Please, no. We have to have a conservative in the WH next time, someone who is for smaller government and against the immigrant invasion of our country.

It's so overdue.

[jmc813]

The amount of FReepers who want a return to monarchy is sickening.

[My GOP]

A monarchy is the power to rule passed along through hereditary with no free elections. Both President Bushes came to power by winning free elections. If Jeb does run for president one day(which I think he will just not 2008 although I can see him as the VP candidate in 08) and wins he will be president because he earned it in a free election. He shouldn't be disqualified just because his last name is Bush. He's well qualified, has been a very successful Governor of the 4th largest state in the U.S., and is more conservative than his father and brother. Let's judge the individual that's running. We elect a president and not a presidential family every 4 years.

[alarm rider]

Agreed.

Jeb did not show alot of courage, nor smarts with the Greer thing. He was a total wuss, even in the facade PR sense. Nope, cannot support him after that.

[bobjam]

Let's not kid oursleves- Bush's margin of victory wasn't big. We still have a lot of work to do.

As for FDR, the Democratic myth that he was a widly popular President is mere fantasy. He won in a landslide over Hoover because of his optimistic outlook vs Hoover's noticeable lack of ideas. In 1936 the GOP ran what may have been their most inept candidate in party history and the voters overwhelmingly decided to continue with FDR. By 1940, things were different. In 8 years FDR had tripled taxes and accomplished absolutely nothing for private sector employment. Economically, the nation in 1940 was pretty much where it was in 1932, but with a much larger debt. FDR won in 1940 only after a late October pledge to "not send our boys into a foreign war". In 1944, few had realistic expectations that FDR would survive another term. The "let's not change horses mid-stream" theory carried the day for FDR, but the election was really between Truman and Dewey.

[votelife]

Jeb is our best candidate, and hopefully Jeb understands it.

[SamAdams76]

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Oh my!

Everyone clap!