How Jeb Bush can avoid being the Jon Huntsman of 2016

The Week ^ | October 27, 2014 | Matt K. Lewis

[C19fan]

It seems increasingly likely that Jeb Bush will run for president. (Even his son is talking up the prospects.) What remains to be seen is whether Jeb Bush can actually win.

A lot of GOP establishment types are excited about a Bush candidacy. But don't expect the grassroots to eagerly embrace a former Florida governor who has made a habit of moderately breaking from conservative orthodoxy on big issues like immigration, or who recently (mildly) singled out Fox News for criticism. As the editor of the Washington Free Beacon said:

[MeganC]

I’m not voting for Jeb Bush.

[Dante3]

If Jeb wins GOP nomination - stranger things have happened such as McCain, a sure loser, in 2008 - he is unlikely to win the election. Among others:
*The Bush name - we already had two of them who did not do a good job and the idea of a family dynasty would not prove popular.
*He is too wimpy and whiny, crying over illegal aliens yet showing no mercy for Terri Schiavo.
*His stand on illegal aliens is extreme left wing.
*He lacks charisma and leadership qualities.

[lurk]

Jeb and Jon. Identical twins born of different mothers.

[ScottinVA]

That amnesty pimp will never get my vote.

[longtermmemmory]

Politics is compromise.

Right now the conservative caucus is powerless in the senate. Within a majority, they are needed to keep the majority in power and in check.

[ScottinVA]

How Jeb Bush can avoid being the Jon Huntsman of 2016

Here's how: Don't run.

[JimRed]

As Jesse Jackson said so long ago, “Stay out da Bushes!”

[Theodore R.]

It was so easy to skip George P. when I went to early voting Monday; it was a little harder to skip Cornball, but I did. Otherwise, I voted all “R” and for no Democrats Libertarians, or Greenies.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Jeb is to the left of Romney. He is also running radio ads in spanish here in AZ, for an AMNESTY RINO Republican. Jeb is an enemy!

[arthurus]

Jeb was a good governor. So was his brother. Jeb would be the sort of president that his brother was. Or that Mitt would be.
One of them is probably unavoidable as the Nominee. Neither would win the election. Neither wants to be President. They crave the honor of being the Republican Nominee but the Presidency is a drag.

[DPMD]

“...moderately breaking from conservative orthodoxy.” ???

Advocating a tax increase of $1 for every $10 in cuts is moderate? And, remember how “cuts” are defined in DC. But, of course, a “tax increase” is defined far differently.

[MeganC]

I live in Wyoming so it’s pretty easy to vote (R) all the way down the ticket. And we get our choice between the hard right conservatives and the Tea Party conservatives. Lucky us!!!