'I have no future' -- Jeb Bush tells reporters

Reuters ^ | December 20, 2006

[West Coast Conservative]

The shadow of President Bush seemed to loom large over his younger brother on Wednesday, as the outgoing Florida governor ruled out any plans to return to elected office.

"No tengo futuro (I have no future)," Jeb Bush told Spanish-language reporters in Miami, when asked about any possible political ambitions after he steps down next month.

The popular, two-term governor has often been touted as a savvy politician with a good chance of following both his brother and father, George H.W. Bush, into the White House.

But the unpopularity and dismal job-approval ratings of his brother may have scuttled any plans Jeb Bush may have had for a future in politics after running one of America's most crucial swing states for the past eight years.

Bush did not elaborate on his terse "no future" comment. But he has said repeatedly over the past year that he would not run for president in 2008 and has never seemed comfortable with talk about Bush III or the Bush presidential dynasty.

"Jeb would have made an outstanding presidential candidate," said Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who joined Bush at a luncheon on Wednesday hosted by a Cuban American political action committee.

Brownback, a Republican who launched an exploratory committee three weeks ago to consider his own bid for the presidency, added that he was "a Jeb Bush-type conservative."

In a backhanded slap at President Bush, Brownback cited "a heritage issue" as one factor currently weighing against a Jeb Bush presidency.

"People may be wanting to see a different name," he said.

[org.whodat]

Much as I like my governor, please, no more Bushes in the WH. There is too much of the like-father-like-son syndrome in that family. Both of the Bushes we have had have suffered from a lack of ability to see the bad guys as actually evil. W used the word in his Axis of Evil speech but in the end he seems to think of the enemy as "misguided" and reformable if you just show them a better way. The Elder Bush never understood that politics, once you are in office, is not a gentleman's tennis match in which you let the other side win from time to time to be fair.

Now that is the damn truth!

[org.whodat]

What kind of BS is that?

Simple the rats think the clintoons have done no wrong, and the United states Senate approve their point. But the conservatives think Bush is a joke and he proves that point everyday.

[org.whodat]

If he had run for Senate we would have control in January.

And another vote for amnesty and no border control. Sac off

[Lancey Howard]

LOL, it doesn't get any lower than Reuters.

[onyx]

I am far more concerned about a second Clinton in the WH, not a third Bush.

[Fledermaus]

Politcally it's a good thing. The idea we could have 28 years of Bush/Clinton presidents is disgusting.

[processing please hold]

Well, now even his own brother says, 'Bush's fault'. You'd think he have loyalty from his own brother.

[Wycowboy]

Do you mean, "Stay out the Bushes'? Didn't Jesse Jackson say that a few years ago? Was Jesse right?

Actually, I think he said "Stay out da Bushes".

[MadIvan]

Prior to 2000, had anyone asked, I would have said Jeb was the best politician in the family. It's a shame that the dice didn't roll in his favour.

Regards, Ivan

[Antoninus]

No more Bushes or Clintons, please!

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Sounds like he got the wind knocked out of him thanks to his brother...take a long vacation, Jeb, write your memoirs, and thank your lucky stars you saw the light early.

[ZULU]

"No tengo futuro (I have no future),"

Usted y su familia no tienen futuro en los Estados Unidos del Norte. Ustedes tienen futuro en los estados de la America del sur.

Bon voyage.

I hope my fractured Spanish conveyed my sentiments properly.

[billhilly]

"Actually, I think he said "Stay out da Bushes".

Thanks, I'm not fluent in the language.

[ReignOfError]

The last election with neither a Bush nor a Clinton on the ticket was 1976.

If the body politic ever needed an enema, now is the time.

[Gaffer]

"People may be wanting to see a different name," he said.

That says it all....I had high hopes for W, but incremental surrender to liberals is/was his downfall in addition to not controlling this government's spending. I don't think the Republican party could withstand another Bush in the White House. That said, I am grateful for his recognition of the true threat to this world - Islam (even if he has to qualify the religion by saying "radical" Islamists).

[LadyNavyVet]

"He could have won that seat no problem THIS year."

No kidding. He would have beat Nelson like a rented mule. Even after two terms, Jeb is very, very popular here in Florida.

[LadyNavyVet]

Jeb is the best politician, and a MUCH better communicator than his brother, not that that's hard.

I also think he's more conservative--Florida has a good business climate, a balanced budget, very low unemployment, no state income tax, etc. He privatized a bunch of state functions and handled the numerous hurricanes we've had in recent years remarkably well. And after being in office all these years he still has approval ratings in the 60s.

My only major point of contention with Jeb is that, like his brother, he's soft on illegal immigration.

[NeoCaveman]

Prior to 2000, had anyone asked, I would have said Jeb was the best politician in the family. It's a shame that the dice didn't roll in his favour.

If Jeb had beaten Lawton Chiles in 1994, things would be different.

[ARCADIA]

Totally agree.

One of my biggest complaints about Hillary's candidacy has nothing to do with her, per se. It's simply no more presidential relatives. It's like a banana republic where all the presidents are related to each other and the wives become presidents, too!