Posted on 01/01/2005 12:58:59 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
TALLAHASSEE — Political experts say President Bush's decision to send his brother to grief-stricken Asia is a savvy move to stem criticism of the United States' initial response to one of the world's worst natural disasters.
It also may set the stage for Gov. Jeb Bush's own run at the White House in 2008, despite his insistence he is headed back to the business world in Miami. The governor's staff says he is perfectly suited for the mission after overseeing disaster relief in Florida following four hurricanes.
It's not that he brings a special expertise about emergency management," Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia, said Friday. "It's that he's the president's brother, and symbols are important. This is partly a public-relations operation. The president got off on the wrong foot here and got a lot of criticism."
The United States initially pledged $15 million in aid, boosting that to $35 million and then on Friday to $350 million. U.S. patrol and cargo aircraft have been sent to Thailand, and an aircraft carrier and other ships have been ordered to the region to aid in disaster recovery, the president said Friday.
Gov. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell will lead a delegation to the region to meet with leaders and determine what assistance the United States can provide, a State Department official said.
The team will depart Sunday from Andrews Air Force Base near Washington. Gov. Bush plans to return Thursday, but Powell will stay for an international summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.
President Bush tapped his brother because of "his extensive experience in the state of Florida with relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts following natural disasters," the White House said in a statement.
"He's also the president's brother — I think it signifies the high level of importance that the president puts on this delegation," White House spokesman Trent Duffy said.
This is the first time President Bush has called on his brother to represent the country on such a high-profile mission. The appointment came after the president was criticized by international officials for his slow response to the earthquake and tsunami.
Gov. Bush received high praise for his handling of the four hurricanes that ravaged Florida during a six-week period in August and September. In 1988, when the Bush brothers' father was president-elect, Jeb Bush led an aid mission to Armenia following an earthquake.
"The governor has... a lot of experience dealing with recovery, first-responding efforts, rebuilding," said Alia Faraj, a spokeswoman for Gov. Bush.
The governor's relationship with the president will benefit the affected countries, the University of Virginia's Sabato said, because "what he sees and hears is going to go straight to the Oval Office."
Despite his contention that he is not interested in a presidential bid, the governor's trip elevates his stature.
"It's going to cause tongues to wag again about a Jeb Bush candidacy for presidency in 2008 despite his frequent denials of it," Sabato said. "No doubt the other candidates for president are probably jealous."
Lance deHaven-Smith, a Florida State University political scientist, went further.
"I take it to be a clear indication that he's interested in higher office," he said. "When you watch his denials about not running for president, he says, 'I like the job I'm doing.' You never him say, 'I'll never run for president.' It's a masterful appointment to send him overseas."
I second Governor Jeb's Presidential nomination.
Ops4 God Bless America!
We should be looking to groom someone new, young,etc like the equivalent to Obama of the Democrats.
Never say never, Jeb has proven himself to Floridians as a great caring Gov. betweeen Texas and Florida he could have a good start, the term dynasty went out with the T.V. Show, and the Dallas Cowboys when the NFL had less parody, no one relates to it.
Issues have become the focus and the candidate they have seen in action closest to the goals of the majority can win.
Ops4 God BLess America!
I almost forgot, also The Chicago Bulls were a dynasty ala Michael Jordan. I could not help but add this, Yes I am a Bulls fan.
Ops4 God BLess America!
oh god, no, not that!
4 year of the elder bush (i voted for him)
8 years of bill (i voted against him)
8 years of w (i voted for him)
and wha'?
8 years of hillary, or
8 years of jeb?
i can't take it. i thought i lived in the united states of america that rebelled against those aristocratic bitches in england.
and now, wha' do we have? a new aristocracy of hollywood and the clintons and the bushes.
I continue to be enraged by the media's continued slam at Bush for supposedly 'getting off on the wrong foot' in that he didn't hold a press conference right away. The media is beyond contempt. The GOP seems to raise a lot of cash. Seems as if they ought to raise cash to start an alternative news channel because the media needs to be challenged with their lack of honesty and the clear liberal agenda.
yep, and they don't hold goofy annan's feet to the fire.
Especially compared to Bill Clinton sending his brother to grief-stricken North Korea.
The Bush family expected Jeb to be president before George might be. They call Jeb "the smart one" in the family. Don't take that as a slam on George W. That's just what they called Jeb.
Well, I don't know the family, but I have seen Governor Bush's political handiwork and I was impressed.
Bush family expected Jeb to beat Laughton Chiles and Dubya to lose to Ann Richards.
That wasn't my quote, it belonged to fish hawk. I simply agreed with him/her, that American's will not stand for a Dynasty, whether or not Gov. Bush would be a great candidate.
Interesting article about Teresa LaPore in today's PB Post.
Good they didn't send Hilary, if she had gone wading it would have caused another tsunami.
Bush/Rice has potential.
Sabato failed to note that because of Pres. Bush's initial weak and stingy response (which could very well be a strategy), other rich nations are now jockeying for position and trying to outpledge the US.
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