Bush 44? [Jeb Bush for President]

Opinion Journal ^ | Aug 9, 2005 | BRENDAN MINITER

[The Raven]

He denies he's even interested, and a long list of political analysts have already written him off with the belief that the appearance of political nepotism would be too unseemly for voters to put the brother of the current president in the Oval Office. But in politics timing is everything, and as the clock advances towards 2008, things are starting to fall into place to give Jeb Bush the momentum he needs to win the White House. And this isn't contingent on Hillary Clinton emerging as the Democrats' nominee--though if she does, the path will be all the smoother for another Bush.

Let's first dispense with the idea that Jeb's biggest liability would be his last name. Since when does name recognition hurt in politics? It's true that many of this brother's political adversaries would simply cross out "George" in their campaign literature and ink in "Jeb" above it. MoveOn.org and other Democratic interest groups would find plenty of willing donors. George Soros would likely make another multimillion-dollar pledge to drive the Bushes from Washington. But then again, they did all that last time, and we aren't discussing who will challenge President Kerry.

[devane617]

Heck NO! I lived in Florida for the past two years and recently moved back to Texas. You think we have immigration problems now? Elect Jeb, and you ain't seen nothing yet. However, I think it is a moot point -- Jeb will never run.

[JohnnyZ]

You can only go so far trying for the squishy middle.

I never suggested doing so. (To see my preferred candidates, you could try reading this thread you are on: Post #41) I suggested to you that a candidate from a battleground state (FL, Great Lakes, Upper Midwest, Southwest) is preferable to one from "the Sun Belt" generally. Unless you think everyone from a battleground state -- including those in the Sun Belt -- are moderates and everyone from the Sun Belt is a conservative?

A candidate from a battleground state is more likely to be able to both motivate the base and appeal to swing voters, ie indies and conservative Dems, since they would have had to do so out of necessity to be elected.

[iconoclast]

Nobody'll say it better Johnny.

If I get fooled and pull the lever for another Bush, may God strike me dead on the spot.

[KevinDavis]

Jeb has said no.....

[KevinDavis]

Acutally have the same family name as Presidents is not new.. First it was the Adams (John and John Q Adams)... Then it was the Harrison family (William Henry Harrison who only was President for a month and his grandson Benjamin Harrison). Of Course the Roosevelts and of course the Bush Family... It is nothing new...

[chris1]

Vote for whoever you like. I think, however, that the system seems rigged when you have the same people over and over and over.

[Sentis]

Hmm his response to my post about Reagan being a selfmade man is to say Clinton was a self made man... seems like a comparison and a shot at Reagan to me... How about the rest of you?

[Sentis]

Nice graphics. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. You can attack me all you want but if Jeb runs the republicans lose. We don't need anymore Bushes near the white house we can't afford it.


Also comparing Reagan to Clinton won't win you friends chum.

[Republican Wildcat]

Hmm his response to my post about Reagan being a selfmade man is to say Clinton was a self made man... seems like a comparison and a shot at Reagan to me...

You are clueless if you really believe that, and a liar if you don't.

[Republican Wildcat]

Nice graphics. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. You can attack me all you want but if Jeb runs the republicans lose. We don't need anymore Bushes near the white house we can't afford it.

That isn't what this conflict is about - it is about you not being able to read and/or your lack of honesty in characterizing another person's posts. In either case, you are the one that started mischaracterizing his posts and then when he responds to defend himself against those false attacks, you cry "stop attacking me!" It is completely ridiculous.

Also comparing Reagan to Clinton won't win you friends chum.

Never happened.

[JohnnyZ]

seems like a comparison and a shot at Reagan to me...

Denial -- it's more than a river in Egypt.

It's also a river in Sudan, Uganda....

[Black Tooth]

Please, for those of us with slower systems, stop the unnecessary graphics.

[Shortstop7]

Oh, Chris....you and Shawndell still going at it? I love the Good Cop, Bad Cop thing. Don't worry, Jeb will not run. He has said he won't and I don't think there is any way he could win.

[danamco]

Let's first dispense with the idea that Jeb's biggest liability would be his last name. Since when does name recognition hurt in politics?



That didn't count for Robert Kennedy when he ran after his brother JFK. And the "fog horn" teddy is still "blowing" until this day!??!

[bobjam]

53 to 47 is not a landslide. Given that he was the Commander-in-Chief while we were at total war (and clearly winning) makes his 6 point win in 1944 a less than enthusiastic endorsement of his administration by the voters.

[Non-Sequitur]

Given that he was the Commander-in-Chief while we were at total war (and clearly winning) makes his 6 point win in 1944 a less than enthusiastic endorsement of his administration by the voters.

Bummer. So what does that say about Bush's 2.46% reelection win?

[Shawndell Green]

"I think, however, that the system seems rigged when you have the same people over and over and over."

Well, you can think whatever you think, even though what you think is not supported by any evidence. For example, Bush the Elder, won his first presidential election but lost his second. Obviously no fix was in. Bush the Younger lost his first attempt to win a seat in the House, but won two elections for Governor of Texas. Obviously, there was no fix in his runs for Governor of Texas, since during his first run, he defeated an incumbent Democrat governor. Jeb lost his first attempt to become Governor of Florida to an incumbent Democrat Governor.

Obviously, anyone who has paid any attention to the careers of the Bush family can see that they have won and lost elections due to their own strengths and weaknesses, not because some shadowy power brokers arbitrarily decide to fix or not fix elections, but some fools just love to believe in conspiracy theories.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Thanks, that pretty much sums up my opinion as well.

[reelfoot]

"Bush 44? [Jeb Bush for President]"

Please, no.

We have to have a conservative in the WH next time, someone who is for smaller government and against the immigrant invasion of our country.

[chris1]

I was not talking about who wins, but who runs and is put up for elective office.

My point was that there are so many institutional hurdles for any non-poltical hack to get to the point where he or she can run for one of the two major parties that it often results in the same old people over and over. Doles, Clintons, Bushes, Kennedy's, Cuomo's, etc etc.

These people are so out of touch with reality its almost laughable were it not so obvious and real.