Posted on 06/17/2014 2:44:44 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Even before Eric Cantor’s seismic loss to a political novice backed by the tea party last week, many Republican elders had concluded that Jeb Bush, who really wants to become the third President Bush, won’t run in 2016.
The emerging consensus explains why some of these party mandarins have launched a new political boomlet touting the ex-Florida governor: Jeb for Veep.
At first the notion seems a little weird. While a reliable ideological conservative, Bush is a dreaded mainstream Republican. Worse yet for many on the Right, he’s a fervent booster of comprehensive immigration reform. That provokes apoplexy among many tea-party faithful and other GOP conservatives.
With Cantor’s defeat blamed in part on his apparent willingness to entertain a middle ground on immigration, Bush as second banana on a ticket headed by a more conservative Republican would seem to be a nonstarter.
Not so fast, some GOP heavy-hitters maintain.
“Jeb would be perfectly acceptable to the base if the Presidential nominee is a proven conservative,” said a prominent Republican consultant. “If it’s [New Jersey Gov. Chris] Christie or some moderate, Jeb would be a no go. On the other hand, if a right-wing nominee wanted to make a bow towards the middle and add some Hispanic vote appeal, Jeb would be a good choice.”
Legendary political operative Stu Spencer was even more emphatic about Jeb’s value to a party anxious to attract independents and swing Democrats in 2016.
“Jeb could be a safe choice for anybody,” said Spencer, who worked for three Republican presidents. “He has name ID, a Spanish background, [is] a former governor, and he’s conservative.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...
The last time we let a Bush be Veep, a friend of the Bush family tried to assassinate the president. If President Cruz wants to be safe he needs Col. West as a running mate.
Jeb Bush would be perfect as a Walmart greeter.
And that’s it.
Apologies to Walmart greeters everywhere.
how about seep?
or deep?
or dweep?
or no more peep?
This whole Clinton part duex and Bush part tres is really starting to bother me.
There’s 300 million people in this country FIND SOMEBODY ELSE.
I thought it had been emphatically stated and already accepted.. "NO MORE BUSH"
“While a reliable ideological conservative,”?
Really?
Jeb Bush, a conservative?
Horse crap.
Jeb’s a shoe in for VP....of Mexico.
No, just old. That’s why the writer calls them “party elders.”
Stu Spencer’s been in politics since at least 1961, maybe longer. A lot has changed since his day.
&&&
Well, I am old, too. I am not as old as the fellow you mention, but I am a Boomer.
Maybe the big difference is that, for far too long, he has lived in the insider bubble of politicians and pundits, a bubble which seems to bring about serious political and social myopia a la Brit Hume.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.