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A Republican group that includes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Thursday will kick off its efforts to improve the party's outreach to Hispanic voters, many of whom have been critical of some GOP candidates' harsh rhetoric on illegal immigration. The new Hispanic Action Network is part of a growing number of Republican organizations reaching out to Hispanics in advance of next year's presidential election — and it has powerful support. The group is backed by former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, whose American Action Network funneled more than $30 million in campaign funds to Republicans in about 30 congressional races...

Jeb Bush in ’12: Third time may be charmCommentary: Never say never again By Darrell Delamaide WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Stranger things have happened. The notion that yet another Bush could run for the presidency only four short years after George W. Bush took his cowboy’s ride — and abysmal approval ratings — into the sunset may seem to be a stretch. But have you noticed? Jeb Bush, W.’s younger brother and a former two-term governor of Florida, is back. He’s giving interviews, making speeches, spearheading a Republican effort to woo Latino voters and clearly keeping his options open. “Never say...

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) denounced the Bush family as "blue bloods" in an interview posted Wednesday and remarked that a mentality like theirs helped to cause the economic downturn. Her comment came in response to a statement made by former first lady Barbara Bush during an interview with CNN's Larry King earlier this week. Asked for her take on Palin, Bush told King: "I think she's very happy in Alaska, and I hope she'll stay there." Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham followed up with Palin, asking if she thought Bush's comment had been planned ahead of time. Palin...

Sarah Palin may not have the biggest fan in former first lady Barbara Bush. "I sat next to her once. Thought she was beautiful," Barbara Bush said. "And she's very happy in Alaska, and I hope she'll stay there." Bush, along with her husband, former President George H.W. Bush, spoke to CNN's Larry King in an interview set to air Monday. (Video clip [of interview at source link.)

Supporters of Jeb Bush say Bush fatigue will not be a significant problem if the former Florida governor decides to make a presidential run. Many Republicans think Bush would be a frontrunner for the Oval Office if not for his brother’s lingering unpopularity. Jeb Bush said in July that he is not running in 2012, but supporters are looking down the road to 2016.

The New York Times this week published a story based on an interview with the former Florida governor. The main point of the story was that his brother, George W., subscribes to the code that former presidents don’t criticize their successors, so Jeb is the one rebutting the Obama administration’s blame for the economy, the deficit, the oil spill and other national calamities. But the story also speculates on the prospects for Jeb running for president, as soon as 2012, as “someone who can reposition the party nationally and make its more strident ideology palatable to the wider American electorate.”...

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is speaking out against the new hard-line immigration law in Arizona, becoming the first prominent national Republican to do so. "I think it creates unintended consequences," he said in a telephone interview with POLITICO Tuesday. "It's difficult for me to imagine how you're going to enforce this law. It places a significant burden on local law enforcement and you have civil liberties issues that are significant as well." The measure, signed into law last Friday, would require police to check the immigration status of any individuals they reasonably suspect are illegal immigrants and arrest them...

INDIANAPOLIS | Did Hoosiers get a first look last week at The Ticket? Mitch Daniels. Jeb Bush. 2012? Both Republicans frequently deny seeking higher office, but each man also told The Times the other would be a strong candidate for a presidential run. "If he wants it, sure," Bush said of Daniels' national prospects. "I honestly believe he is the best governor in the country in terms of the courage of his convictions, intelligence, strategic thinking," Bush said. At the same time, Daniels said he's disappointed Bush says he's ruled out a future in government. "I understand his answer, but...

WSVN just had a special report saying Mel Martinez was resigning...Crist could appoint himself to Senate.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Saturday that it's time for the Republican Party to give up its "nostalgia" for the heyday of the Reagan era and look forward, even if it means stealing the winning strategy deployed by Democrats in the 2008 election. "You can't beat something with nothing, and the other side has something. I don't like it, but they have it, and we have to be respectful and mindful of that," Mr. Bush said. The former president's brother, often mentioned as a potential candidate in 2012, said President Obama's message of hope and change during the 2008...

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Saturday that it's time for the Republican Party to give up its "nostalgia" for the heyday of the Reagan era and look forward, even if it means stealing the winning strategy deployed by Democrats in the 2008 election. "You can't beat something with nothing, and the other side has something. I don't like it, but they have it, and we have to be respectful and mindful of that," Mr. Bush said. The former president's brother, often mentioned as a potential candidate in 2012, said President Obama's message of hope and change during the 2008...

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will not run for the open Senate seat of Sen. Mel Martinez, he announced in a statement released moments ago. "After thoughtful consideration, I have decided not to run for the United States Senate in 2010," said Bush. "While the opportunity to serve my state and country during these turbulent and dynamic times is compelling, now is not the right time to return to elected office." Bush's decision robs Republicans of a top-tier recruit who would have immediately been favored to hold Martinez's seat. Without Bush in the race, Republicans are almost certain to play...

WASHINGTON -- Former President George H.W. Bush said on Sunday he'd like to see his second son, Jeb, become President of the United States some day. Interviewed on Fox News Sunday, Bush said his second son, a former Governor of Florida, had all the qualifications to serve in the White House. Jeb Bush, 55, has said he was considering running for a U.S. Senate seat representing Florida in 2010. The current incumbent, Republican Mel Martinez, has announced he is stepping down. "I'd like to see him run. I'd like to see him be president one day, or senator, whatever, yes...

A council has been accused of discriminating against homosexuals over plans to clear undergrowth from a notorious gay cruising spot. Bristol City Council wants to prune bushes and remove cover from an area known as the Downs to improve the landscape and encourage rare wildlife. But its own gay rights group has opposed the move, claiming that cutting back the bushes was "discriminating" to homosexual men who used the area for late night outdoor sex known as dogging. Work on the beauty spot has been temporarily delayed while talks with gay rights groups take place to try and break the...

>>Mitt Romney Considering Jeb Bush As Possible Running Mate (Bluffton, SC) -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has dropped the name of Jeb Bush as being among a list of possible running mates for his campaign. Florida's former governor has largely been out of the public spotlight since Charlie Crist was sworn into office. He hasn't publically commented on Romney's announcement.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says he is "not ruling in or out" running for president or vice president in 2008. "I don't know what the future holds for me," Bush told NewsMax as he leaves office this month after eight years as governor. "To be honest with you, the only job in public life that I've been interested in over the last 15 years has been to be governor. It's been my dream come true. I guess it's hard for people to appreciate, but I've never viewed it as a stepping stone to anything else." Bush said he would feel...

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has hired several of Jeb Bush’s top aides, leading to speculation that Romney may be courting the outgoing Florida governor for a possible Romney-Bush 2008 ticket for the White House. After Bush’s former chief of staff and top political adviser, Sally Bradshaw, joined Romney’s Commonwealth political action committee earlier this month, Romney flew to Florida to join Bush for campaign events and fund-raisers - and to gauge Bush’s interest in being a running mate, sources told the Boston Herald. Soon after, Bush’s chief finance director, Ann Woods Herberger, also joined Romney’s political action committee. Bush has...

I have NEVER been a fan of Jesse Jackson. But when he can get the biased liberal anti-Terri media - to report the words, Terri's starvation is "immoral" and an "injustice," -- as he did today -- then I have to thank him. I just called his office in the Chicago area; told them I have not been a supporter of his, but I thank him for standing up for Terri. RainbowPush: ph: 773-373-3366 info@rainbowpush.org

Tim Russert just said on the panel discussion to Robert Novak, Bill Safire and David Broder that Jesse Jackson had given him a statement calling Lott a 'Confederate' for his remarks supporting Strom Thurmond and requesting his resignation from the Senate as Incoming Majority Leader.No details were given about possible protests by Jacksons Rainbow coalition on the controversy