Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

George and Barbara Not Enough to Save Jeb's Campaign
Townhall.com ^ | February 6, 2016 | Jeff Crouere

Posted on 02/06/2016 9:34:31 AM PST by Kaslin

The results from Iowa were certainly interesting. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are virtually tied, giving both campaigns some momentum going into New Hampshire. Whereas, the laughable, struggling Martin O'Malley finally decided to end his ridiculous campaign after getting less than 1% of the vote in Iowa.

Also, on the Republican side, ending campaigns were Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who hoped to recapture the magic of 2008 and pull off a miracle upset in Iowa. It did not happen for Huckabee, Santorum or Paul and at least they had the good sense to quit. The same can't be said for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who finished a pathetic sixth place among Republican voters, yet vowed to continue the fight in New Hampshire and beyond.

Bush's anemic level of support was the best result of the Iowa election. It places his campaign on life support going to New Hampshire and makes his nomination very unlikely. Of course, this is all bad news for the Democrats who were looking to coast to victory in November if the Republicans nominated another Bush.

With the top three Republican candidates in Iowa being Cruz, Trump and Rubio, voters sent an unmistakable message to the GOP establishment that it is time for new leadership. It is also the only possible way for Republicans to have a chance of recapturing the White House in November.

How times have changed! Last year, Bush was the overwhelming favorite to win the nomination. He is part of the Bush dynasty as his father and brother served as president, so he had a tremendous built-in advantage. He enjoyed easy access to the wealthy, establishment donors who control the Republican Party. These power brokers flooded his campaign with massive donations, allowing Bush to establish the early lead in the polls and in the important category of fundraising.

It soon evaporated as Bush tangled with Donald Trump in the debates and was labeled both stiff and "low energy." Throughout his campaign, Bush has failed to connect with Republican voters looking for action on the important issues of the economy, illegal immigration and the fight against ISIS.

The end result was his uninspiring performance in Iowa, where he finished in sixth place with only 2.8% of the vote. In fact, Bush wasted almost $15 million in Iowa to garner just 5,165 votes, spending as astronomical $2,884 per Iowa vote.

His horrible showing reflects the desire of Republican voters to move past the Bush family and find new leadership in the party. Voters must realize that Jeb Bush is a creature of the much despised Republican establishment and, if elected, would not do anything to deal with the real crisis facing our nation today.

Despite the Iowa setback, the Bush campaign is making a final push in New Hampshire, and, especially, in South Carolina. Barbara Bush, Jeb's mother, who previously was not thrilled about another one of her sons running for president, campaigned for Jeb in New Hampshire this week. She said Jeb was the "nicest, wisest, most caring, loyal, disciplined" candidate in the race. Of course, she acted like any supportive mother and praised her son, but it remains to be seen whether these words of affection will translate into votes for Jeb.

In South Carolina Right to Rise, a Super PAC supporting Jeb, started airing commercials featuring his brother, former President George W. Bush. The commercial concludes with George W. Bush saying, "Experience and judgment count in the Oval Office. Jeb Bush is a leader who will keep our country safe."

With both his mother and brother now fully on board and engaged, Jeb Bush is literally putting all of this political cards on the table. This is his final shot to make a move in the race. While the national polls continue to show Bush in the middle of the pack, the in-fighting among the top three candidates, Trump, Cruz and Rubio, may provide an opportunity for Bush to gain ground in the days ahead.

The dilemma of his candidacy is that he is not the type of conservative, reform oriented, leader the GOP or the country needs after eight years of Obama. It is time for a political revolution with courageous leadership, but Jeb Bush is too much of an establishment politician. For example, this week, Bush praised the president's visit to the Baltimore mosque, claiming that it was "more than appropriate." Of course, the difficulty with the visit is that the former imam of the mosque was a member of an Islamic organization tied to terrorism. He also worked for a relief organization that had radical associations. Other presidential candidates blasted Obama's visit, but Bush refused to utter a negative word.

This response is in keeping with Bush's political correctness and his moderate political philosophy, regardless of his claims to be a conservative. In these troubled times, what America needs is a strong conservative who will courageously move our country in a new direction. Electing Bush will basically mean more of the same and that, in a nutshell, is the problem with his candidacy.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016election; barbarabush; bushdynasty; bushroyalfamily; georgewbush; jebbush; nomorebushes
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last
To: Kaslin

As I posted before, in another thread, at a trial the pleas of a mother and brother is worth nothing but a bucket warm spit to the jury.

This attempt is desperation personified and really sad for the once respected Bush family.


21 posted on 02/06/2016 10:15:13 AM PST by RetSignman (Obama is the walking, talking middle finger in the face of America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Godebert

Maybe Barbara should speak Spanish. The GOP just needs to get a few more Hispanic votes.


22 posted on 02/06/2016 10:18:53 AM PST by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: xzins

>> The only explanation for his continued presence is that he really does feel entitled.

I think there’s also a (misguided) sense that he’s somehow acting Churchillian: “Never, never, never, never give up”. Etc.

Which of course is easy for Jebbie to do; it costs him essentially nothing. Others are footing the whole bill. He won’t even have to dig into the family fortune.

He’s every bit as out of touch with real life in America as was his old man.


23 posted on 02/06/2016 10:19:47 AM PST by Nervous Tick (There is no "allah" but satan, and mohammed was his demon-possessed tool.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Yaelle

Translation:

Get me some votes, you old bag!"

Let go of me! Let go! You're ruining it for my grandson! You're even stupider than George!

24 posted on 02/06/2016 10:22:43 AM PST by Fightin Whitey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Kid Shelleen

Barbara and Jeb are having a love-fest with CNN. He’s definitely the liberal media’s second choice for president after Hillary.


25 posted on 02/06/2016 10:27:01 AM PST by Godebert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Bet when Jed was a kid he didn’t have the brains to come in out of the rain.


26 posted on 02/06/2016 10:33:05 AM PST by Vaduz (women and children to be impacted the most.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

It will not surprise me if he gets the nomination. Campaign ads running in SC with generals endorsing him as CIC. I will not vote for him.


27 posted on 02/06/2016 10:43:31 AM PST by ilovesarah2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick

I feel bad for Barbara. She was a class act as first lady.


I don’t. She’s a fraud.

She pretended to be pro-life for years when G.H.W. Bush was running for office. But the truth is that she was pro-choice all along.

I don’t feel sorry for Barbara or any of the Bushes. I feel sorry for the nation because of them.


28 posted on 02/06/2016 10:51:36 AM PST by boycott (--)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

My fear as well: Mississippi redux in SC.


29 posted on 02/06/2016 10:52:06 AM PST by bassmaner (Hey commies: I am a' white male, and I am guilty of NOTHING! Sell your 'white guilt' elsewhere.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: ilovesarah2012

I worry that there is some sort of trick otherwise why would he stay in the race when it is obvious that the electorate does not want him. The only other alternative being the man and his advisers are truly delusional.


30 posted on 02/06/2016 10:53:20 AM PST by AEMILIUS PAULUS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
I can't remember a time when Jeb was expected to win the nomination. Maybe in the minds of a few pundits.

If Jeb drops out, they'll have to pass over Neil because of his involvement with Silverado, so that leaves Marvin and Dorothy. Or George P. Bush, for a later election.

31 posted on 02/06/2016 10:53:34 AM PST by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick

I dont. She is a pro abortion liberal


32 posted on 02/06/2016 10:58:55 AM PST by Mom MD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Mom MD

>> [Barbara Bush] is a pro abortion liberal

I did not realize that.


33 posted on 02/06/2016 11:12:32 AM PST by Nervous Tick (There is no "allah" but satan, and mohammed was his demon-possessed tool.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick

She sure was, and I liked her better than her husband


34 posted on 02/06/2016 2:30:51 PM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him. He got them and now we have to pay the consequences)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Vaduz

Oh come on. What do you know? *rme*


35 posted on 02/06/2016 2:34:19 PM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him. He got them and now we have to pay the consequences)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Mom MD

Prove it.


36 posted on 02/06/2016 2:36:46 PM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him. He got them and now we have to pay the consequences)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Google it. I was able to find several references both out of Barbara’s mouth stating abortion had no place in the party platform as well as friends of hers acknowledging her pro-abortion ideology.


37 posted on 02/06/2016 2:44:57 PM PST by Mom MD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick

She was a pro-abortion witch and so was her first lady daughter-in-law.


38 posted on 02/06/2016 3:18:23 PM PST by bimboeruption (Nothing imtimidates evil more than when the redeemed become fearless.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: skeeter
A sad end to the Bush era.

It ended 30 years too late.

39 posted on 02/06/2016 3:19:20 PM PST by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Not enough? That implies they helped at all.


40 posted on 02/06/2016 10:34:15 PM PST by Impy (They pull a knife, you pull a gun. That's the CHICAGO WAY, and that's how you beat the rats!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson