Posted on 02/16/2007 10:03:13 AM PST by DeerfieldObserver
Jeb Bush, who hasn't publicly picked a favorite in the Republican presidential race, privately is talking up the candidacy of Mitt Romney and steering some of his closest advisers to the campaign.
The former Florida governor has said repeatedly he won't be a candidate in 2008 despite encouragement from his father, the former president, and his brother, the current one. But Jeb Bush's support, even tacit, would be critical in the state that decided the 2000 presidential election.
"Governor Bush said, 'Before you commit, I want you to meet Mitt Romney. He is the kind of guy you will like no matter what,'" said former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings. "The governor was very candid about the fact that he really liked this guy."
Jennings, the woman Bush chose as his lieutenant governor, is one of several former Bush confidantes in the Romney camp. Others include his hand-picked, former state party chairman Al Cardenas, and Sally Bradshaw, Bush's former campaign manager and chief of staff.
Now on Romney's payroll, these former Bush stalwarts are working to help the candidate overcome his lack of name identification in Florida. A recent statewide Quinnipiac poll of Republicans showed Romney in single digits compared to Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich, who has not announced his candidacy.
Romney was in Florida on Friday for private meetings in Jacksonville and a town hall meeting in central Florida at The Villages, a retirement community that's a must-stop for politicians.
Last fall, Romney campaigned with Bush to help Florida candidates. As head of the Republican Governors Association, he also brought a $1 million check to the state Republican Party. While the GOP suffered major gubernatorial losses elsewhere, Florida was a bright spot as Republican Charlie Crist was elected.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
In 1967, Gov. Ronald Reagan signed a liberal abortion law, declaring, “I’m fully sympathetic with attempts to liberalize the outdated abortion law now on the books in California.” Reagan later changed his mind and expressed regret for signing a measure that saw more abortions performed in California than in any other state before Roe v. Wade. He became a committed pro-life politician and backed the first pro-life plank in the Republican platform. George W. Bush ran as a pro-choice politician in his 1978 congressional campaign, but held pro-life views when he ran for the governorship of Texas in 1994. His father too once favored abortion rights, but took a pro-life position in the 1980 presidential campaign.
I like Giuliani on this, because a President really can't effect the laws on abortion. That can only be done by the Supreme Court, and Giuliani has said he support strict constructionists like Roberts, Scalia, and Alito.
The name of the game in 2008 is winning the election. Someone like McCain or even Gingrich could lose big in the Presidential election and destroy the Republicans in Congress for years.
Immigration has also been a big loser for the Republicans. Tom McClintock lost big in California while Schwartzenegger won big. I would rather have 4/5 of a loaf of bread then have nothing at all. I think Giuliani would win the general election, McCain would lose. Romney hasn't been gettting much traction either . . Gingrich is appealing but has so many negatives that I can't see him getting any of the Hispanic vote, which is vital in close elections.
Gingrich's nose is too small. (and probably other things) trust me...
Jeb ping
In 1967, Gov. Ronald Reagan signed a liberal abortion law, declaring, “I’m fully sympathetic with attempts to liberalize the outdated abortion law now on the books in California.” Reagan later changed his mind and expressed regret for signing a measure that saw more abortions performed in California than in any other state before Roe v. Wade. He became a committed pro-life politician and backed the first pro-life plank in the Republican platform. George W. Bush ran as a pro-choice politician in his 1978 congressional campaign, but held pro-life views when he ran for the governorship of Texas in 1994. His father too once favored abortion rights, but took a pro-life position in the 1980 presidential campaign.
I'll grant you that an honest man can change his mind about one issue over the course of his life (which is all you've mentioned - several people who changed their minds on one single issue).
But with Romney, we're not talking about one issue. We're talking about virtually every single social issue. He has radically shifted his stance on gay marriage, the Brady Law, CFR and stem cells.
Funny how all these reversals have occured in the last year or two. Maybe he's sincere and it's just a huge coincidence that he should reverse his position on all key issues at this point in his life, or maybe he just says whatever he thinks will get him the most votes.
Right now my candidate is Hunter and but I fear that he doesn't have the charisma to pull it off.
Rudy is probably the best on the stump but, as noted, he has his skeletons. If he's good on judges I wouldn't hold the lib social stands against him. He might be the one I'd trust the most on taxes, business and small government.
Living in the Seattle area, I would SOOOO like to get a "Jeb Bush in 08" bumper sticker, just to piss 'em off up here.
Screw the last name, Jeb, run for President. Jeb is a solid conservative Republican. I'd vote for him even if his last name was Clinton.
One RINO endorsing another. Big deal.
They happened. That's what matters. Reagan had the same transformation.
Do you need proof that he's a social conservative? Look at his personal life, at his family. There's nothing fake there.
On the contrary, an honest man can, and will, change his mind (perhaps more than once) on many issues over the course of his life. As John Maynard Keynes put it (and this is perhaps the only instance of Keynes getting something right):
"When the facts change, I change my mind".
Maybe he's sincere and it's just a huge coincidence that he should reverse his position on all key issues at this point in his life, or maybe he just says whatever he thinks will get him the most votes.
For now, I will give him the benefit of the doubt on this point. (Note that this is not an expression of support; I will not support any primary candidate until Thanksgiving of this year, at the earliest).
Duncan Hunter! :)
I think its clear that the Bush family would unofficially support Romney in the primaries (whatever thats worth).
Do you need proof that he's a social conservative? Look at his personal life, at his family. There's nothing fake there.
I know many social liberals who have rock-solid family lives, and many prominent social conservatives have been found sorely lacking in that department.
Romney flip-flopped on every major social issue right at the same time that he decided to run for President.
That doesn't concern you even a little bit?
Inward. ;)
On the contrary, an honest man can, and will, change his mind (perhaps more than once) on many issues over the course of his life.
Over the course of his life, sure. That's the mark of an honest and intelligent man, the willingness to accept that he might be wrong. But all at once? And right now?
As I said above, Romney flip-flopped on every major social issue right at the same time that he decided to run for President.
That doesn't concern you even a little bit? The timing is certainly suspect enough on its face to make me very skeptical. If a Dim had done it, we would be howling right now.
That doesn't concern you even a little bit? The timing is certainly suspect enough on its face to make me very skeptical. If a Dim had done it, we would be howling right now.
Sure, it concerns me a little bit, but coincidences do happen (and more frequently than most people believe). Perhaps I am more gullible than you; time will tell.
As I said, "For now, I will give him the benefit of the doubt on this point" (emphasis added).
Look, I hope you're right. But I don't think that five or six major and simultaneous flip-flops can be called a "coincidence."
Are you actually dumb enough to believe this?
Read my tag line!
So I should take that as a 'yes'?
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