Posted on 08/09/2005 3:06:48 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
Well, maybe. I don't exactly want to see several conservative candidates run and split the primary vote and let a moderate grab the nomination, but what we've got so far isn't as good as Jeb.
Sam Brownback -- honest, principled, upstanding conservative
George Allen -- likely nominee, I like him on most everything, but his tolerance of abortion until brainwave activity (40 days?) is obviously not ideal
Tim Pawlenty -- conservative with populist streak, I'm with him on the fundamental issues, has to get reelected first
Mark Sanford -- says he's not running, conservative but his libertarian streak results in some strange votes
So at this point I'm looking at a choice between two candidates, maybe three if Pawlenty runs. That's a fairly constrained choice. As for other candidates, possibly, but it takes mega$$$ to run a campaign, and if we're gonna get someone else we'd better start soon.
Jeb would be a great candidate. He would remove Florida from the competition. He'd win the south and he'd have a stronger appeal with catholics and latinos.
BUSH/RICE in '08
Ronald Reagan was much more than a movie star. He was a sports announcer, he toured the country giving speeches as a spokesman for GE, and he served in the Army. He was indeed a self-made man, not an elite.
http://www.reaganlibrary.com/reagan/biography/
The Upper Midwest and Great Lakes remain battleground areas, as well as the Southwest.
Kerry won Wisconsin (barely, and yes there was indeed fraud and criminal sabotage of GOP GOTV efforts), Minnesota, Michigan, and Pennsylvania by less than 4% each.
Please see my post 44, Sentis. As a matter of fact, I almost wrote that about Clinton as well.
I admire and respect the President, but the reality is that he got where he is today because of money and powerful connections. Neither Clinton or Reagan had those to help them when they started their careers.
I have nothing against rich people, either, just pointing out a fact.
I like Jeb okay, but I think the nation would be more comfortable with a President who doesn't get stared down by a county probate judge. Just my opinion.
Tell me, where does DU end, and Pat Buchanan begin?
no kinding! no more bush's or clinton's.
I, too, much prefer people who start at the bottom and lie, cheat, and sell their soul to the Devil to get to the top to someone who starts off at or near the top and doesn't have to do those things.
You see, it matters how a "self-made man" becomes that way.
Yes, it's admirable that a self-made man sold out this country to China for nuclear secrets. You'll understand if I don't stand up and applaud this service to all 280 million of us.
You're most welcome, troll. Us oldtimers aim to please.
LOL perfect analysis
Please no more Bushes.
I remember Clinton's wife doing alot more of that than Clinton and lets stop fooling ourselves about politicians and pretending that they don't all lie. You can have your hate of the man I am not a hater I can see good in almost everyone Clinton included. I can also see the bad and i would much rather have a self made man than another trust fund baby of any kind in the whitehouse.
Sticks and stones.
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