Jeb Bush pens campaign-like economic manifesto

With a little more than two weeks to go before Republicans begin voting in presidential caucuses and primaries, the GOP faces the possibility of a muddled result in Iowa; a primary race that may take months of bitter campaigning to resolve; and a large number of Republican voters who remain unhappy with the current presidential field. Some of those voters are still hoping another candidate might enter the race.

That is why a new article from former Florida governor Jeb Bush is likely to attract attention from voters and political analysts alike. In the Wall Street Journal, Bush has written an article, "Capitalism and the Right to Rise," that could be read as a simple statement of economic beliefs -- or a campaign manifesto.

Bush begins the piece with a nice word for House Budget Committee chairman Rep. Paul Ryan. After that, the article is a standard Republican call for an end to excessive and intrusive government regulation. "We have to make it easier for people to do the things that allow them to rise," Bush writes. "We have to let them compete. We need to let people fight for business. We need to let people take risks. We need to let people fail. We need to let people suffer the consequences of bad decisions. And we need to let people enjoy the fruits of good decisions, even good luck. That is what economic freedom looks like."

Perhaps Bush just wanted to say something. Or perhaps he wanted to join the presidential conversation, either as an influential voice or a possible candidate. If his motivation is the latter, it would be a change from months -- years -- of denying that he would run for president in 2012. Both Bush and members of his family have said repeatedly that he will not run, that after spending his peak earning years as governor of Florida, he needed to make money for his family. Were he to decide to take run, Bush would have to reconcile his action with his many, many denials.

Of course, he wouldn't have to persuade those Republicans who would still like to see another candidate enter the race. Polls have shown that a significant number of GOP voters, perhaps a third, are not satisfied with the current field. And some commentators, most notably Weekly Standard editor William Kristol, have suggested that the race might end up in a deadlocked convention, or with the entrance of a new candidate after early caucuses and primaries.

"It's quite possible no one will emerge from the January primaries with a commanding lead in the delegate count, or a compelling surge in popular support," Kristol wrote recently. "Four or more of the existing candidates could then continue to split votes -- and delegates -- through February and March. It would be even more likely to happen if someone new were to respond to a draft and enter the race belatedly, announcing his entry as early as mid-January or as late as early March -- missing some primaries, to be sure, but getting on lots of ballots and getting lots of votes in April, May, and June."

To many Republicans, that seems a highly unlikely scenario. But it's possible, and Jeb Bush's new article is likely to become part of the discussion.

Someone please draft Haley Barbour back into the race...

I'd vote for Jeb, but I'd prefer Haley.

Dear Bush Family:

Y'all done more for Mexicorruption workers than the average American worker. Run for president of Mexicorruption.

No need to thank me .. good luck!

22 posted on 12/19/2011 11:47:43 AM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)

Staged hysteria. If you’re not weeping, you will report to the camps immediately!

23 posted on 12/19/2011 11:48:13 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Occupy DC General Assembly: We are Marxist tools. WE ARE MARXIST TOOLS!)

Jeb is easily better than Mitt and Newt, IMHO.

Terry probably doesn't agree.

24 posted on 12/19/2011 11:52:39 AM PST by itsahoot (Throw them all out! Especially the Frugal Socialists who call themselves Republicans.)

"I will never vote for another Bush.",

Never say never and remember, 'words mean things'.

If it comes down to Hildabeast or Biden v. Bush...you'll vote for a Bush!

25 posted on 12/19/2011 11:55:55 AM PST by harpu ( "...it's better to be hated for who you are than loved for someone you're not!")

It’s a good piece and will hopefully enlighten the dialogue on the Repub side, but I agree with everyone else that we don’t need a dynasty.

Jeb Bush is just more proof that they have never understood conservatives.

The understand Conservatives perfectly, they just don't like them very much. All those gun loving Bible thumping red necks just don't fit into their world very well. They want you to vote for them, but they don't want you to get uppity, and think that you can cross the tracks.

27 posted on 12/19/2011 12:04:03 PM PST by itsahoot (Throw them all out! Especially the Frugal Socialists who call themselves Republicans.)

"It’s a good piece and will hopefully enlighten the dialogue on the Repub side..."

The problem is, it sounds great and all... but when it comes down to it, are the Bush-types really going to get down in the trenches against massive government and over-regulation, in the larger scheme of things?

We've seen this movie before with Bush 43 (the supposed "MBA President") who started this government-crony capitalist bailout train wreck.

29 posted on 12/19/2011 12:13:33 PM PST by Qbert ("The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry" - William F. Buckley, Jr.)

RINOS are a dime a dozen these days.

How about another REAL conservative toss their hat in the ring?

I’m looking at the content, not the author. I don’t think he would have a chance if he actually ran. Still I like the idea of the “right to rise”. Hope some of the primary candidates can embrace it.

Agreed, but only a few people are actually running. Jeb is easily better than Mitt and Newt, IMHO.

Only if you think a committed, hard-core globalist and Amnesty Loving Elitest Republican is better than Newt.

If it comes down to Hildabeast or Biden v. Bush...you'll vote for a Bush!

Not me or my family.

Our minimum set of litmus tests for a candidate includes the following:

1. Pro-Life
2. Anti-Gay agenda
3. Limited Government
4. Complete Anti-Illegal Immigration stance.
5. Strong support for the Military.

Jeb fails on 2 of the 5, #3 and #4.

We'll not compromise anymore. We're done.

I won't sit out the election if I can't find an appropriate GOP POTUS candidate, but I will vote 3rd party because I know I can find an honorable candidate that actually is a conservative in the American Independent party.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.