Jeb Bush Is Dismissing the GOP Base at His Own Peril

National Journal ^ | December 16, 2014 | Josh Kraushaar

[C19fan]

Six months after President Obama's 2008 landslide victory swept Democrats into power across the country, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, and Eric Cantor sat down at a suburban Washington pizzeria to talk policy. They spent that May weekend arguing that the GOP's best path back into power was to improve the party's battered image by advocating reforms for education, immigration, and the economy. Cantor saw the session as a rebranding exercise, offering mostly platitudes about having a conversation with the American people. Romney used the event as early preparation for his second presidential campaign, mostly sticking to talking points. But Jeb Bush came prepared with a slew of creative proposals to test out at the town hall, like charging lower tuition to students pursuing high-end degrees in engineering and science.

After the event ended, several reporters (myself included) chased after Bush to ask him the inevitable questions about his interest in running for president. He was visibly annoyed, lamenting that Washington reporters only ask about the political horse race and have no interest in policy.

[C19fan]

The article describes the Dauphin Bush as a "conservative technocrat" who seeks to reform the gov't not cut it down. That is the whole problem with the likes of the Bushes and Willard. One thing that impressed me about Perry when he tried to run for POTUS in 2012 was he would ask the deeper question question whether the Federal Government should even be in the business of deciding or influencing certain policies. He took what Madison described in the Federalist Papers as the circumscribed powers of Congress and Perry takes the 10th Amendment seriously. The like of Dauphin Bush and Willard do not even think of asking that question. They concede that point to the Left and just argue they would a better job managing the gov't overreach.

[publius911]

Jeb Bush Is Dismissing the GOP Base at His Own Peril

Who cares?

What do we want?
NO DYNASTIES!

When do we want it?
NOW!

[Texas Eagle]

Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, and Eric Cantor sat down at a suburban Washington pizzeria to talk policy.

Yo, Jeb, Mitt, Eric.

Why don't you sit down and have coffee and pick the brains of Joni Ernst, Mia Love, Tim Scott and, dare I suggest it? Dave Brat. Ouch. That's going to leave a mark.

You gotta aks yourselves; how is it that Republicans are gaining Statehouses and Governerships all across the land but you can't win The White House.

[Minsc]

It worked great for Romney, what could possibly go wrong? :^|

[caligatrux]

There's no difference between the Dems and the Repubs anymore at the national level. They both want all the same things... national healthcare, amnesty, more government, etc. They pretend to oppose each other but they are really just fighting about which side's donors get to benefit more from all the pork they are dishing out.

[Chgogal]

Jeb, run as a conservative democrat. At least you will be honest then.

[C19fan]

The loser club right there. What Cantor was unwilling to splurge on a steak dinner at Charlie Palmer’s Steak at the base on Capitol Hill like he did for his losing electoral campaign?

[cripplecreek]

You gotta aks yourselves; how is it that Republicans are gaining Statehouses and Governerships all across the land but you can't win The White House.

Funny how that works isn't it.

[Texas Eagle]

Heh, heh. He spent more campaign cash on that dinner than Dave Brat spent on his entire campaign.

Give or take.

[caligatrux]

It worked great for Romney, what could possibly go wrong? :^|

Ha, you say that as if the only reason Romney lost was because the base didn't bother to turn out on election day to vote for him... oh, wait a minute...

[skeeter]

The national GOP continues to make herculean efforts to avoid addressing what Americans really want - less governmental interference in their lives. They don't even dare breath the phrase 'tax cut' anymore.

They will be forever losers as long as they continue to play in the democrat's big government sandbox.

[boycott]

The presidency is jeb’s birthright — or so he believes.

I’ve held my nose voting for the last few republican nominees — not anymore. W was far more accomplished than Jeb ever was and I wouldn’t vote for W again if I could.

Jeb sounds like a spoiled brat to me. He was disappointed when W ran for president because he thought he was supposed to be the Bush that was supposed to get to run.

W has more degrees from more prominate institutions. W achieved more success in business. W served in our armed forces. W has achieved more politically. Why Jeb? Because his last name is Bush and he married a Latinos?

No way I would vote for Jeb. He has never done anything to deserve my vote. If the repubs go that route, I will vote 3rd party or not at all.

[Dr. Sivana]

Six months after President Obama's 2008 landslide victory swept Democrats into power across the country, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, and Eric Cantor sat down at a suburban Washington pizzeria to talk policy.

Wow, is that the one that's second from the end on Lonely Street, and delivers to the place next door?

[subterfuge]

No, its at the country’s peril.

[Night Hides Not]

The Straw that broke the camel’s back came from Mississippi. I’m sure my representative Kenny Marchant will rubber stamp Boehner for Speaker.

[Paladin2]

Toast, he is.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Why? The underlying assumption is that he would want to win. There’s no particular preference for winning or losing. So what if he loses? The country gets butchered either way.

[MrB]

The GOPe would rather lose to a democRat
than win with a conservative.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

JB actually has an excellent shot at winning the nomination, if he is the only major GOPe candidate running and conservatives are running off in dozen or so different directions which is often the case in GOP presidential primaries.

[paladinan]

Six months after President Obama's 2008 landslide victory swept Democrats into power across the country, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, and Eric Cantor sat down at a suburban Washington pizzeria to talk policy.

Note to the National Journal: unless this sentence (above) is the start of an actual, intended, humor-based joke (e.g. "Three RINOs walk into a bar..."), then I think I'm going to scream.